True love* - Elton John and Kiki Dee

During a discussion a couple of weeks back, we were asked how does today's culture depict "love". There were many suggestions - love today is based purely on feelings and emotions, love is sometimes equated with lust, love is always usually self-seeking - what i want, what i feel, what i can get out of it.

I watched another Jap movie last week. I was a little hessitant, to be honest. I was in the mood for some action flick - like Black Sheep, lol!!! But i've heard about this show and how good it is - so i decided to ctach it while i still can. It has been around for a while - since the Jap Film Fest last month.

The title in English is "Love and Honour".

It was simply brilliant. As i walked out of the cinema after the movie, i had that really feel-good feeling inside - the kind which i get after a very satisfactory and brilliant show. I have not had many of such moments in recent times.

It's about a samurai - but no, it's not a Jap martial arts samurai movie wif flying limbs and spraying blood. Altho the one samurai fight scene was brilliant.

No, it's a love story - and one with a so predictable ending. But to me, it's very refreshing to watch a movie about love which depicts what i believe to be true love. The love is unconditional love. The love is still given no matter how the other person changes, physically or otherwise. The love that sacrifices, that gives. The love that bears all things.

It reminds me of the famous passage in the Bible:-

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Now, that's true love!

p/s - I love Japanese movies!!! Well, except for Jap-horror flicks. A bit too scary for me! I really miss the free Japanese movies screening on campus every Friday evening. Some of the best movies i've watched are Japanese movies. They can be so hilarious and yet they touch on very simple truths about us humans. I'm always impressed by the depths of imagination that is potrayed in their movies. One of the best i've watched is The University of Laughs which simply revolves around a script writer and the Japanese goverment censor who is looking thru the script. When i came back from UK recently, i was watching another Jap movie on the plane - Christmas on July 24th Avenue. If only i have time to blog about all the Jap movies i've seen...

*The first single (i believe) from his album, Duets which went on to peak at #2 in the winter of 1993.