GOIN' TO (The) TOWN

It used to be that when Ben Affleck was in a movie it was a sign for me to find out what else what playing.  Then in 2007 he directed Gone Baby Gone which in my opinion was a pretty damn good movie. Say what you will but Affleck knows Boston and he knows the people in that city even better. 

On September 17 he's back as star and director of THE TOWN.  I have to say after seeing the trailer I now want to see a movie with Ben Affleck in it.  He may just be on to something with this Boston thing.

QUITE A JOURNEY SO FAR...

I normally wait until I've finished a book before sharing my thoughts on it but THE ROAD by Cormack McCarthy is worthy of an exception.

McCarthy is a master of prose with a writing style that is unseen anywhere else. The story of a father and son's journey through a post-apocalyptic America, the author transports you to their world.  Incredible descriptions set in a mood you can feel right along with the characters.  It has been intense through the first 109 pages and should only get better.

And no, I never saw the movie.

VENERABLE EXPENDABLES? (WARNING: SPOILERS!)

As someone who grew up in the eighties, it was a foregone conclusion that I was going to see THE EXPENDABLES .

Was it a good movie?  Not too bad.  It definitely had its moments (Terry Crews blasting the hallway clean!).  Sadly, it didn't provide the nostalgia that I was hoping for.  It was good to see all these guys together but it would have been even better to see them play off some puns or situations based on their old films.  Why not a Stallone-Lundgren fight scene?  Why not have Mickey Rourke come out of retirement, join the mission then sacrifice himself to save the girl and thus give meaning to his speech early in the film? 

I wondered if the problem was that I'd been spoiled with the sophistication of films like The Bourne Trilogy or the Daniel Craig James Bond movies.   I discounted that theory since I believe the point of this movie was to get a bunch of stars from the eighties, mix them up with current stars and make an eighties style shoot-everyone/blow-everything-up romp.  That goal was met because if I was watching THE EXPENDABLES in 1987 I would have thought this to be a very good film for the genre and I would have enjoyed it tremendously.

The problem is that it's 2010.  It was a nice eighties twist to have Lundgren alive and back with the team in the end.  And you really can't go wrong with Eric Roberts as the bad guy.  That said, would it have been too much to ask Stallone to pick up that 50-Caliber machine gun one more time and waste that army to kingdom come?

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE TOKYO

Went to Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles this Saturday to check out the Nisei Week festival, an annual celebration of Japanese-American culture.

Big Steel Temple.  Red Steel Temple.

A good crowd.

Tanabata Festival.

Traditional dance

The Japanese have always been very fashion forward...

What's a festival without the food?

Sushi of course.

Don't worry, this is just the display.  They'll grill a fresh one for you.

Soft cakes.

Maybe next year.

Treats for the dyslexic.  This was actually a coffee and beverage stand.

Did you think that was bad?  Perhaps my mouth can be washed with this:

Natue's best.

GETTING OLD: "YOU LOOK F_ _ _ _ _G STUPID"

"I used to go to nightclubs like the Hacienda in Manchester in the eighties, when the rave scene was kicking off, and you'd see people who were like forty there and you'd just think, You look fucking stupid.  I guess we've had our go at being the epicenter of youth culture, and it's now time to leave it to the kids."

- Noel Gallagher of Oasis

While not quite there yet, I'm certainly closer to forty than I used to be.  That's why I found this quote from Mr. Gallagher more interesting than I would have ten years ago.  There are certain things that I really shouldn't (can't?) do anymore.

Take for instance, sneakers.  I used to be what is called a sneakerhead.  I owned more Air Jordans, Nikes and other sneakers than I'd care to remember.  Or at this point, wear.

Here's a pair I bought for a ridiculous not-to-be-repeated price and actually wore back in 1997:

This is the Nike Air Foamposite One.  It was one of the most technologically advanced sneakers for it's time and as the name suggests was made out of a polyurethane-foam type material.  It was actually very comfortable and, at the time, I thought looked really cool. 

I was in my very early twenties in 1997.  Now, should (could?) a forty year-old man wear this?  Some would say that regardless of age you should wear whatever you want and not care what other people think or say. 

I don't care what other people think or say but I do know what would be going through my mind if I saw a forty year-old man wearing these: You look fucking stupid.

Contrary to popular belief, I don't think getting old sucks.  In fact, I enjoy the transition and evolution that my tastes continually undergo.

Last week I bought these sneakers for the completely palatable price of $38.00:

This is the Gourmet Quattro B which I got on sale, down from $98.00.  They are made of ballistic nylon mesh with suede accents on the sides, memory foam insoles and crepe rubber outsoles.  In my opinion, very classic and stylish.  A bit more appropriate for this old man don't you think?

Or no?  Still too young a style you say?  Perhaps.

But for $38.00 I'm confident I at least won't be accused of actually being fucking stupid.  It's just my way of leaving it to the kids.

THE OC: AS NOT SEEN ON TV

Took a little drive on Saturday to SAN CLEMENTE, a small beach community in Orange County about 80 miles south of Los Angeles.  It was a bit overcast in the morning but the sun broke through in the afternoon.  Nice place.  Especially for surfers and birds.

San Clemente: Find a good spot and enjoy your day.