After a rather large lapse in current entries, I thought I would put a slight spin on the catching-up process by going in reverse, starting with yesterday and ending with obtaining my (then) new apartment.

So yesterday I saw "The Twilight Samurai," a movie that as of this writing has 24 out of 24 positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. I think it's close to being Kill Bill's diametric opposite in tone and depiction of the lifestyle. It made me want to be a samurai in probably much healthier ways than KB. The protagonist is a low-ranking samurai (it turns out there is such a thing, they are not all maverick maniacs), modest only until he is forced not to be, and very slow to draw a sword. There is great attention paid to the customs and rituals of clan life. The authenticity I found very rewarding.

It's interesting, one would think that movies like KB and lesser ones in the same vein would exceed those like "Twilight Samurai" in their combat scenes at least, because they are essentially throwing all their resources at that. And yet, the combat in "Twilight" was so cool and authentic and satisfying. The movements and techniques made perfect sense. The fighters actually tire. As I imagine it is in reality, it's not easy at all to tell when a hit has been made, until the blood starts flowing.

I know that style and homage was supposedly the point of Kill Bill, and that I really shouldn't compare it to this, but such comparison brought up many interesting questions. Is it better for a samurai to have no feeling about murder, or even to enjoy it as The Bride admits under duress, or should one be reluctant to do so? The latter certainly sounds more honorable, but even the protagonist of "Twilight" says his demeanor is not suited for his lifestyle. Should one always be modest and hide one's talents, so as not to give away the game? The two films might agree on an affirmative answer there. I'm keen to apply that lesson to my own life, because I think I've become far too eager to announce my own knowledge and accomplishments even when they are not truly anything great at all.

On a final note, the film itself is more modest about its nature than one might think. The original Japanese title translates to "Twilight Seibei," that being the main character's name. The "Samurai" was put in for America, probably by someone more concerned with business than art.