a pair of contraries

Life is of course, for each of us, a fatal journey.

Looking at a couple of recent movies, I see two protagonists,
opposites in almost every way, with totally dissimilar philosophies,
in a union of contrary head-trips worthy of the ancient greek
philosopher Heraclitus.

*Venus* with Peter O'Toole, released in 2006 and now out on DVD is a
myth of hedonistic but urbane old tragedians.
http://movies.about.com/od/dvds/gr/venus051307.htm

*Into the Wild* with Emile Hirsch, due for theatrical release October
17, 2007, is a myth of idealistic youth, a 'coming-of-age story' based
on a fact-based myth.
http://movies.about.com/od/intothewild/a/intowild91907.htm

the actual Christopher 'Alex' McCandless myth:
http://outside.away.com/outside/features/1993/1993_into_the_wild_1.html