I’ve caught some of the action over the weekend. NBC is doing a fine job of balancing and setting the stories of the athletes and covering the actual events. It’s pretty satisfying summer viewing. With the time difference its a challenge to know what’s happening when…but it’s nice to watch some action LIVE.

My only complaint? Is it just me, or does Bob Costas’ hair seem to be getting darker and darker? Dude, lighten up!

******

I like to read.

I also like to vary what I read. If I read a non-fiction book, I generally like to follow it up with a work of fiction. I like thrillers, historical novels, biographies, and tend to vary what I read. I don’t generally re-read books, though. 

Once I have the experience, I move on to a new book.

Browsing in Border’s recently, I came across a paperback edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”on sale for only $3.00. I remember reading “The Hobbit” wayyyyyyyy back in Junior High.

While I remember the reading experience to being a great read, I didn’t remember much of the plot (outside the very basics.) Since Peter Jackson (”The Lord of the Rings” trilogy) will be producing a new movie version that will be released a few years from now I thought I would recapture the experience before I see the new movie.

The story is the prequel to the epic “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. “The Hobbit” follows Bilbo Baggins, a little Hobbit joining a band of Drarves to help them recover their gold and treasures from the evil dragon Smaug.

I had remembered it was a great adventure…but was that just a fond memory of a Junior High student? 

I was pleasantly surprised “The Hobbit” was still a great adventure on the second read (decades later.)

I was also reminded while I loved reading ”The Hobbit” as a youngster, I remembered trying to jump into the much denser and more complicated “Lord of the Rings” and eventually giving up on that.

Now I may have to try that one again.

“Hellboy” is a movie written and directed by Guillermo Del Toro, the guy responsible for the first Hellboy movie, last year’s fantastic “Pan’s Labyrinth” and will be directing the Peter Jackson production of “The Hobbit” next year.

“Hellboy” is based on the Dark Horse comicbook by Mike Mignola. If you aren’t familiar with Hellboy, he’s the fearsome spawn of the devil. Hellboy or Red as he is called shaves his horns to look more normal, has a job fighting demons and other evil for a secret government agency. He loves beer, cats and candy…but just wants to be a regular guy.  

This time around, Hellboy is having problems with his girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair) and fighting to keep an ancient civilization from taking over the world with a golden army or robots. A typical day for Red.

The movie is goofy fun. It has lots of humor, great action sequences, incredible creature design, and special effects. And believe it or not, the movie also has some very special emotional scenes. It’s funny/touching how much you end up relating to the outsider status of the big red guy.

One of the best scenes in the movie? Hellboy and friend Abe Sapien (a fish like co-worker played by Hoosier Doug Jones) sharing their misery over their respective girlfriend relationship problems, getting drunk and singing Barry Manilow’s “Can’t Smile Without You.”

See, I told you the movie is goofy fun.  

If you liked the first Hellboy, you’ll enjoy this one, too. It’s in the tone of “Men in Black”…but a little more out there. And this movie certainly sets itself up for another sequel in a couple of years.

On the Sandwich Scale, I’d give it a “7.”

*****

BTW, thought I would republish the Sandwich Scale for your rating purposes:

After viewing a movie, please refer to the “Sandwich Scale” to rate
accordingly:

1-10 Scale Defined:

1.  Bad story, bad acting, bad movie! You are upset that you wasted your time…15 minutes into the movie, you lean forward and start to groan…i.e. See the movie “Neighbors” or “The Stupids” or any Mel Brooks movie made after “Young Frankenstein”

2.  Movie moving…..this movie stinks so bad you decide to abort 30 minutes in and go to another show

3. One Take Wonder…..had one early scene in the movie that was interesting and went downhill from there….you decide to abort before the show ends

4. Bathroom and Refill Movie…..Movie had a few early moments but halfway through you decide to use the restroom and get another Coke…upon returning, you realize you haven’t missed anything

5.  Buck Movie…..you heard the polarizing reviews but decided it was worth a buck…and it was worth a buck.

6.  Matinee Movie…..okay movie….worth the $5 price tag

7.  Worth a look….has a few flaws but you’re generally entertained after paying full price

8.  Decent flick….worth paying full price once and possibly renting it down the road

9.  Great flick…..worth paying full price once and buying the Blu Ray

10. A MUST SEE…..You’re willing to pay full price twice, buy the Blu Ray and strongly defend this movie if someone else doesn’t like it. And you even find yourself reciting lines from the movie after you see it!