Sunday, October 23, 2011
Travis McGee Fight!
John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee books are among the best mystery series ever written. Yet, unlike other iconic American crime solvers, such as Philip Marlowe and Lew Archer, McGee has never been brought to the screen succesfully. There have been two attempts, neither of which I've seen in its entirety. One was a TV movie starring Sam Elliot as McGee, which just strikes me as weird casting. The other, Darker Than Amber, starred Rod Taylor as Trav. While the film received, at best, mixed reviews and isn't especially loved by MacDonald fans, I'd love to see it someday. I can easily imagine Taylor as MacDonald's cynical knight errant. Alas, it isn't available on video. However, the movie's justifiably famous fight scene is viewable online. It's nasty and brutal, just like a real fight.
As a side note, Darker Than Amber was directed by Robert Clouse. Bruce Lee was apparently so taken with this fight scene, he hired Clouse to direct his martial arts classic, Enter the Dragon.
As a side note, Darker Than Amber was directed by Robert Clouse. Bruce Lee was apparently so taken with this fight scene, he hired Clouse to direct his martial arts classic, Enter the Dragon.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Recession Booze: Cava
Times are tough, and for many people, money is tight. But that doesn't mean we have to consign ourselves to a teetotaler lifestyle. There are enough booze bargains out there to help us through the recession, drink in hand.
Today's recession booze choice is Cava.
Cava is a sparkling wine from Spain which has been called "the Spanish champagne," though only informally as the French are quite protective of the term champagne.
Some blends of Cava can be quite sweet, such as those designated Seco or Dulce, to dry, as in the Bruts and Extra Bruts.
One of my favorites is also one of the cheapest and most ubiquitous: Freixenet Cordon Negro. This is sold at countless supermarkets and liquor stores, and is easily recognizable by the stark black matte bottle. It's a Brut Cava, so it has a nice dryness to it. And, besides being very tasty, Freixenet Cordon Negro is incredibly cheap. I don't think I've ever seen it priced at more than $10 per bottle.
Obviously, Freixenet Cordon Negro isn't going to compete flavor-wise with real French champagnes (like my favorite, Moet Chandon Brut Imperial) costing 5-10 as much money. But not all of us can afford or even want to drink fine champagne on a regular basis. Cava, on the other hand, is wonderfully quaffable, and is the perfect sparkler for a warm evening. It's also a good choice for the holiday season. The Spanish would certainly agree, as they drink lots of Cava during this time of year, especially at Christmas dinner.Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Finding Real Life Inspiration from Fictional Heroes, Part Two
The post below originally appeared on my fitness site, Fit Monkey Hawaii.
I recently wrote about being inspired by fictional heroes. In this post, I'll take a look at some of my own sources of inspiration from films and television.
Caveat: The No-Atticus Rule... Atticus Finch is one of the most inspiring characters in fiction. However, my website is primarily about fitness and martial arts, so for the sake of simplicity I'll be focusing on fictional heroes who inspire physical greatness.
Casino Royale (2006)
I've been a James Bond fan since my early teens, but this film in particular had a big influence on me. In my previous post, I mentioned all the people who "Googled 'Daniel Craig workout'” after Casino Royale inspired them to get into better shape. I was certainly among them. What I found was a short article by Craig's trainer, Simon Waterson. According to Waterson, to get fit enough to be the new 007, Daniel Craig did quite a bit of bodyweight work. Specifically, lots of Dips, Pull-Ups, and Push-Ups.
By this point in my life I was pretty much fed up with the whole gym scene, so the idea of getting into shape using mostly my own body was very appealing. I quit the gym and started training outdoors, concentrating on running along with Dips, Pull-Ups, and Push-Ups. It worked, and along with some major changes to my diet, I dropped my body fat by nearly half in 18 months.
I should also note that it was nice to see James Bond use some good fighting moves. Check out the great fight in the staircase. BJJ fans will surely note 007 of a rather fatal Rear Naked Choke. He even has his hooks in!
The Bourne Identity, 2002
I was very excited when I first heard about The Bourne Identity. The idea of an old-fashioned thriller directed by Doug Liman (who had already directed the excellent films Swingers and Go) and starring Matt Damon sounded very promising. And then I discovered that Damon would be training in the Filipino art of Kali for the role. That was just the icing on the cake!
While I had not trained in Kali myself at that point, I was very interested in the art based not only on what I had read but on some family history. My grandfather--a Marine saber champion--knew some Kali from his time fighting in the Pacific during World War II. He was taught by Filipino rebels working against Japan. Plus, the idea of swinging sticks around just sounded fun.
Then when I actually saw Matt Damon's Jason Bourne in action, I knew this was what I wanted to pursue. The mixture of Kali, Boxing, and Jeet Kun Do looked practical, efficient, and (I must admit) cool. After all, the fight scene in Bourne's Paris apartment is far and away my favorite fight scene in any film.
When I finally got serious about martial arts training, I specifically looked for a school that would incorporate some Filipino martial arts as part of the curriculum. I ended up finding Burton Richardson's JKD Unlimited and Battlefield Kali, which utilized not only Kali but also kickboxing, grappling, etc. I started training with Burton back in 2002 and haven't looked back. Not only am I still a student of Burton's, but I'm one of his instructors as well. And all in part because of Jason Bourne. No wonder I still sometimes listen to Moby's "Extreme Ways" on the way to train!
Miami Vice (2006)
This is sort of a dark horse choice. Not many people seemed to like this film. As a big fan of both the original '80s TV show and of director Michael Mann, I loved it.
It terms of inspiration, I really liked how both Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell--not actors best known for their action roles--both got into top shape to be the new Crockett and Tubbs. Plus, Michael Mann made sure they got realistic training in assorted combat techniques, as can be seen in this video by trainer Mick Gould:
Full Contact (1992)
Probably the most obscure film on this list. In all due respect to John Woo and Jackie Chan, Ringo Lam's Full Contact is far and away my favorite Hong Kong flick.
If you've seen Lee Marvin on Point Blank or Mel Gibson in Payback, this movie will seem familiar to you. Chow Yun Fat plays a Harley-riding crook out for revenge on those who betrayed him and left him for dead.
While there's much I love about this movie--great supporting cast, awesome actions scenes, etc.--what earns Full Contact a place on this list is the short but cool montage showing Chow Yun Fat getting into shape and training himself to go wreak vengeance on his enemies:
The Crow (1994)
Lots of people love this film. I'm not one of them. While it has some great scenes, a fantastic soundtrack, and a classic performance by the late Brandon Lee, I just felt the overall movie had some serious flaws. The screenplay in particular could have used some work.
So why is it on this list? Simple: As slender, sensitive guy with Goth tendencies, I loved seeing another slender, sensitive guy with Goth tendencies kick some serious butt.
And to this day I find Stone Temple Pilot's "Big Empty" a great song to listen to on a rainy night, driving home from a hard evening of training.
There are no doubt other films I could list, but these are sort of the "Big 5." What are yours?
In Part Three of this series I’ll look at some of my own sources of fictional inspiration from books.
I recently wrote about being inspired by fictional heroes. In this post, I'll take a look at some of my own sources of inspiration from films and television.
Caveat: The No-Atticus Rule... Atticus Finch is one of the most inspiring characters in fiction. However, my website is primarily about fitness and martial arts, so for the sake of simplicity I'll be focusing on fictional heroes who inspire physical greatness.
Films
Casino Royale (2006)
I've been a James Bond fan since my early teens, but this film in particular had a big influence on me. In my previous post, I mentioned all the people who "Googled 'Daniel Craig workout'” after Casino Royale inspired them to get into better shape. I was certainly among them. What I found was a short article by Craig's trainer, Simon Waterson. According to Waterson, to get fit enough to be the new 007, Daniel Craig did quite a bit of bodyweight work. Specifically, lots of Dips, Pull-Ups, and Push-Ups.
By this point in my life I was pretty much fed up with the whole gym scene, so the idea of getting into shape using mostly my own body was very appealing. I quit the gym and started training outdoors, concentrating on running along with Dips, Pull-Ups, and Push-Ups. It worked, and along with some major changes to my diet, I dropped my body fat by nearly half in 18 months.
I should also note that it was nice to see James Bond use some good fighting moves. Check out the great fight in the staircase. BJJ fans will surely note 007 of a rather fatal Rear Naked Choke. He even has his hooks in!
***
The Bourne Identity, 2002
I was very excited when I first heard about The Bourne Identity. The idea of an old-fashioned thriller directed by Doug Liman (who had already directed the excellent films Swingers and Go) and starring Matt Damon sounded very promising. And then I discovered that Damon would be training in the Filipino art of Kali for the role. That was just the icing on the cake!
While I had not trained in Kali myself at that point, I was very interested in the art based not only on what I had read but on some family history. My grandfather--a Marine saber champion--knew some Kali from his time fighting in the Pacific during World War II. He was taught by Filipino rebels working against Japan. Plus, the idea of swinging sticks around just sounded fun.
Then when I actually saw Matt Damon's Jason Bourne in action, I knew this was what I wanted to pursue. The mixture of Kali, Boxing, and Jeet Kun Do looked practical, efficient, and (I must admit) cool. After all, the fight scene in Bourne's Paris apartment is far and away my favorite fight scene in any film. When I finally got serious about martial arts training, I specifically looked for a school that would incorporate some Filipino martial arts as part of the curriculum. I ended up finding Burton Richardson's JKD Unlimited and Battlefield Kali, which utilized not only Kali but also kickboxing, grappling, etc. I started training with Burton back in 2002 and haven't looked back. Not only am I still a student of Burton's, but I'm one of his instructors as well. And all in part because of Jason Bourne. No wonder I still sometimes listen to Moby's "Extreme Ways" on the way to train!
***
Miami Vice (2006)
This is sort of a dark horse choice. Not many people seemed to like this film. As a big fan of both the original '80s TV show and of director Michael Mann, I loved it.
It terms of inspiration, I really liked how both Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell--not actors best known for their action roles--both got into top shape to be the new Crockett and Tubbs. Plus, Michael Mann made sure they got realistic training in assorted combat techniques, as can be seen in this video by trainer Mick Gould:
***
Full Contact (1992)
Probably the most obscure film on this list. In all due respect to John Woo and Jackie Chan, Ringo Lam's Full Contact is far and away my favorite Hong Kong flick.
If you've seen Lee Marvin on Point Blank or Mel Gibson in Payback, this movie will seem familiar to you. Chow Yun Fat plays a Harley-riding crook out for revenge on those who betrayed him and left him for dead.
While there's much I love about this movie--great supporting cast, awesome actions scenes, etc.--what earns Full Contact a place on this list is the short but cool montage showing Chow Yun Fat getting into shape and training himself to go wreak vengeance on his enemies:
***
The Crow (1994)
Lots of people love this film. I'm not one of them. While it has some great scenes, a fantastic soundtrack, and a classic performance by the late Brandon Lee, I just felt the overall movie had some serious flaws. The screenplay in particular could have used some work.
So why is it on this list? Simple: As slender, sensitive guy with Goth tendencies, I loved seeing another slender, sensitive guy with Goth tendencies kick some serious butt. And to this day I find Stone Temple Pilot's "Big Empty" a great song to listen to on a rainy night, driving home from a hard evening of training.
There are no doubt other films I could list, but these are sort of the "Big 5." What are yours?
In Part Three of this series I’ll look at some of my own sources of fictional inspiration from books.
Samourai Soundtrack
A classic tune from a classic album. One of the best songs for a drive through the city on a rainy fall night.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Recession Booze: Gordon's Gin
Times are tough, and for many people, money is tight. But that doesn't mean we have to consign ourselves to a teetotaler lifestyle. There are enough booze bargains out there to help us through the recession, drink in hand.
Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?--James Bond, Casino Royale
Of course, the Gordon's of Bond's time and the Gordon's you buy at your local liquor store are not quite the same. As pointed out in Esquire, English Gordon's gin used to be 94 proof; now it's under 80. For those of us who enjoy cocktails but also like sobriety, this isn't necessarily a bad thing.
I still think Gordon's is a very good choice in bargain booze. Apparently, I'm not alone:
You can get a liter of it for about $15 and it's surprisingly good.--TheKitchn.com
This is my go-to value gin and my personal favorite of the list.--About.com Cocktails
This one is bright and piney, with a nose-crinkling shot of black pepper — a lot like Tanqueray, its imported stablemate.--Esquire
My favorite review comes from GinReviews.com:
In the world of premium luxury gins, it’s often easy to take a sideline seat to the bigger boys. Let’s not forget that Gordon’s Gin is a Diageo product the same as Tanqueray. So although they are different products, they are indeed on the same team.
Huge aromatics going on here, and Gordon’s Gin can be labeled as being overpowered by some. Not by me, keep them coming. Perfect as a mixer, or all on its own, by my standards. But be warned, Gordon’s Gin is for the seasoned gin drinker, if you are not ready for it, Gordon’s Gin will devour you.
I couldn't help but a connection to lemon head, as I sipped Gordon's Gin writing this review. Traditional indeed is what I like. Although I have an affinity toward the classic English bottle design displayed below. Lemon presence but not to the point of sweetness with enough bitterness to let you know you are drinking gin. A true English gentleman, Gordon’s Gin, through and through.
Sweet like candy soothes my soul, sweet you rock and sweet you roll.
This is the gin James Bond drinks, and if you want to be a 007 spy, this is where it’s at. If you want a traditional London Dry Gin, this is the Gordon’s Gin for you.
While Gordon's is certainly not as good as some higher priced gins--I still prefer Beefeater--it's a tasty spirit at an appealing price. Gordon's is a perfect choice for a bunch of Gin & Tonics, and contrary to many reviewers, it makes a very serviceable Martini.
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