Hellboy II...over-hyped garbage or a helluva good time?

Ok, so I have to admit it...I am a fan of the first Hellboy movie!! I know, I know...how can I admit this publicly right? Well, for one thing...it's great fun in the way reading a comic book was fun when you were a kid (or yesterday, for some of you!) The difference is that instead of closing your eyes and imagining the fantastic images from the page coming to life...you pay the price of admission, wait for the lights to go down and poof, Hollywood does it for you.


He's big, he's red, he's ugly, he chomps cigars and swigs beer with the best of 'em...but Hellboy has a certain charm...yes, I said it, charm! He's the original superhero with 'tude...take that Hancock...and a heart of gold. We first see him as an infant demon conjured up by the Nazis in their effort to get the advantage in the waning days of World War II. Allied soldiers stumble upom the red apelike creature with a fist of stone. Upon realizing he's harmless to them, they offer him a Baby Ruth candy bar, rescue him from the clutches of the evil Third Riech and the rest is history Hollywood style. He becomes the mascot of the allied unit and is given the nickame "Hellboy" for obvious reasons. He grows to adulthood to defend life, liberty and the American way.




The original Hellboy was total brain and eye candy! A little violent, a few bad words but basically good old fashioned comic book fun. Hellboy II: The Golden Army is touted as being director Guillermo del Toro's genius in overdrive. Will it live up to the original? Time will tell, but as of this posting, it was pounding Hancock at the box office. Don't go see it with a lot of preconceived expectations due to overplayed trailer hype...go and look at it like it's the latest installment of your favorite comic book. They didn't always hit a home run, but they sure provided a couple of hours of killer entertainment.







Click here for theaters and show times.

Oregon Zoo to host Los Lonely Boys & Los Lobos

It wouldn't be summer in Portland without a visit from Los Lonely Boys or Los Lobos. Both bands have made it a regular stop on their warm weather tours. This year, we're in for an extra treat as the Oregon Zoo presents The Brotherhood Tour featuring BOTH Los Lonely Boys and Los Lobos in concert as part of their Summer Concert Series presented by Fred Meyer and Wells Fargo, Friday, July 18th 2008.

The amphitheater at the Oregon Zoo is one of the premier places in Portland to hear music...there's something about the setting that seems magical...perhaps it's the mystique of so many wild and wonderful animals being in such close proximity? Or, maybe it's that the zoo staff are such terrific good will ambassadors. They go out of their way to make sure everyone has a great time.

Everyone is welcome to attend concerts at the venue. Some of the extras include the great food and beverages available...delicious barbecue, salads, gyros, vegetarian fare, yummy desserts, sno-cones, snacks, domestic beers and microbrews plus premium regional wines, and the usual soda, lemonade and of course water...it's a great outing for the whole family. Easily accessible by car, bike or better still mass transit. In addition, folks with disabilities are offered extra assistance. My husband is on oxygen 24/7 and the zoo staff have always made sure he's comfortable and happy. Golf carts zoom up and down the walkways at the zoo offering assistance to anyone with special needs. In addition, priority seating is available for disabled access.

In this day and age when the price of everything seems to be constantly on the increase, it's nice to know there's still something you can do with the whole family that won't cost a mint. With the price of your concert ticket, you can check out all the zoo exhibits prior to the start of the show...please keep in mind the exhibits close once the music starts.

As of this posting, tickets for Los Lonely Boys/Los Lobos were still available for $24 each through ticketmaster. But the last tine Los Lonely Boys rocked the zoo, it was a sold out performance. In addition to your standard ticket purchase, the Oregon Zoo also offers several special packages ranging from a simple blanket reservation to a feast for your entire party complete with souvenirs!

Rain or shine, the hot ticket in Portland on July 18th is Los Lonely Boys and Los Lobos in concert at the Oregon Zoo. For more information, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/ and click on the icon for the Summer Concert Series.

Click here for a map and directions.