lucidity

Well, it's kicking up some talk... good and bad. I am also compelled to see it.

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Spinach_Indeed

Aye. I pretty much agree with all the positive comments on this movie. It was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.

Most of the criticism I've heard about this movie is that it lacked plot or was anti-climatic. Not every film is about plot, people. Just look at the film "Celebrity" for instance. I totally agree with synic213 here. It's about an emotion. It doesn't have to be obvious to be powerful.

You know, It's really hard to tell whether critics (amateur or otherwise) are really genuine about the beliefs. Some people will go one direction simply because it's a "complex" or "artsy" film, and anything less that praise would show a lack in intelligence. Others are just rebellious and want to stir up dust. *shrug* Ultimately the only critic you can trust is yourself.

Good opinions in this thread though.

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-Ever-

Very true. I really disliked it, but really for my own reasons. I simply wasn't convinced that the two had any potential to build a relationship. I really don't mind anticlimactic films either. I liked its slow pace and all, I just really didn't like the acting.

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--Acknowledge your weaknesses--

Hrothgar

I want to see it. Even if I like it I will always think of Sophia Coppola as the bitch who ruined Godfather 3 though.

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amonkie

Having done some traveling, I can relate to culture shock. Even more so, I thought one of the main points in regards to Murray and Johannsson was the amount of impact a random stranger could have on your life in only a couple days. Most people are looking for romantic sparks to explode between the two. I think it's a little more subtle than that. For charlotte, she wanted to be understood and appreciated, not left in the dark. Harris was looking for something where he didn't feel obligated to be involved. The two actors did a really astounding job in bringing those desires from script to the screen.

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deepinjello

I think it's an amzing film on all levels and ARTelevison's post touches on and explains all that beautifully.

I think the majority of the people who dislike this film are the ones who have abandoned themselves to pop culture or become so ensared in it that they no longer see outside of it. I loved how the movie toyed with you by purposely not building to some huge climax; it didn't give you what you have come to expect from other romantic comedy type movies (if that's what you want to call this).

In summary, Just watch the movie and root for Murray at the oscars, he deserves one.

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Panopticon

I really liked it.

It made me want to visit Tokyo.

It was the kind of movie that, when watching it, made you think...Uhhh?? But by the time it was finished, it all came together nicely.

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.:Panopticon:.

dy156

I really liked it too. The lead actors looked like real people, even real washed up movie stars. I also liked the silence with no soundtrack which helped portray the lonliness in the hotel room.
I hate to say that it was realistic, because of the weird ending, but other than that, I could really see this happening.
What were the DVD extras? We have a DVD, but only in the den, and did not know much about it other than being told it was a romantic comedy with Bill Murray in Japan with a younger girl, so we got it on VHS to watch in our bedroom. Not really romantic, creepy even, but a good movie.

FaderMonkey

I just saw this film last night on DVD and I thought it was great. At about the halfway point I started to have my doubts that it was going to live up to the hype. I was starting to get a little bored, but in the end I think it delivered. I loved it because it seemed to capture the feeling of a budding relationship that few films capture.

With that said, I have to say that I think BIG FISH got shafted at the Golden Globes. LOST IN TRANSLATION was a great movie, but I definatly enjoyed BIG FISH more.

Derwood

Don't some of you think that the lack of emotional connection between the two leads was sorta the point? I don't think they really had any sort of emotional connection (until maybe the very end). They were just two Americans who decided to spend their time together to make their time in Tokyo bearable. Why does that circumstance necessitate them creating a bond or falling in love?

John and Charlotte are disenchanted with life, and the time spent together only slightly improves their lives for a few days. The point is that at the end, they will go back to their lives and nothing will have changed.

I like this movie a lot. I understand completely why some wouldn't like it, but I, for one, enjoyed it.

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Qazwsxedc

this movie wasn't the least bit funny and bored me to tears.. i ended up not even watching the second half.

I have no clue what the hype was about.

Derwood

I'll add that I also loved Punch Drunk Love tremendously. I guess as a person with a theatrical background, I enjoy movies with a slower pace and an unsual style more than your average movie fan. (I also HATE HATE HATE mindless action movies like Too Fast, Too Furious and any Chris Tucker/Jackie Chan flick)

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SecretMethod70

It amazes me how many people seem to feel like movies should hit you over the head with their point.

I could most certainly feel an emotional connection between the characters, but it was very subtle - and this is what made the movie so great, and so unfullfilling by modern movie standards. They bonded, started to care for one another despite it being socially forbidden on many levels (age, marriages), and never allowed anything to truly come of it. Not everyone has an affair - most people act exactly as these two characters did in this situation.

Anyway, I thought it was an excellent movie and it definitely deserved all the best picture hype it got before the Oscars (although I refuse to drop my allegiance to LotR and my pleasure at it winning )

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cynicalgrrlll

Sophia Coppola won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, so the movie is not based on a book. However Virgin Suicides was okay to me, but I had read the book before the movie came out and I had high expectations. The book by Jeffery Eugenides is really a work of art and I give her props for trying to fit it all into a two hour movie.

I've gotten mixed reviews around the board for Lost in Translation, my parents hated it but I guess I'll just have to judge for myself.

eawe

i loved it, it was just weird to see a movie that makes you feel something and actually remember it the next day.

diddagirl

After all the Oscar hype surronding it... i thought I HAVE to see it. Ohhh whyyy did I put myself through that pain. It was so miserably boring. And the plot?? nope..couldnt find one. Some deep hidding meaning?? nope..... none of that either. Trust me...save yourself the money and time. Rent a different movie.

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brianna

********SPOILER!************
(Sorry brianna, just wanted to be sure no one read something they didn't want to - SM70)









I enjoyed the movie and I was so happy that charlotte and bob never slept togehter -- i feel like mainstream movies have a very difficult time with male/female relationships that don't involve sex (one might argue that all of us have a hard time with them...) -- for me their relationship echoed the "death of the sweet heart" theme of the latest white stripes album ("elephant").

NoLa

********SPOILER!**********
(see above - SM70)




Beautiful movie!

I finally watched it last night, it didn't bore me at all. I thought it had the right amount of clever humor. No stupid Adam Sandler etc... humor. But you also felt the lonliness the two characters where feeling.

I liked that the romance was subtle, it wasn't them having wild sex through out the whole movie.

One of my favorite parts was at the end when Bob whispers something to Charlotte in her ear. You hear her reply okay. Then they go on their ways. Leaving it up to the viewer to imagine what he might have said.

Also, Bill Murry and Scarlett Johansson did an excellent job with their roles.

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KnifeMissile

Well, you can take comfort in the fact that, while the rest of the world really liked the movie, at least everyone in your world hated it...

matteo101

Dead on.
I actually really enjoy the movie. It captures the relationship perfect. I might not watch it again for a while, but I have to say that I enjoyed it.

Xell101

It entertained like few movies do now adays. I dind't care too much for it but I'd be a knucklehead to denounce it, it's got quality.

Ace_O_Spades

I agree with EVERYTHING that EeOh1 said... depicted exactly what I thought about this movie... so I don't feel the need to elaborate any more

I wasted my money renting this movie.

[edit]

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Feh.

Charlatan

Just saw the film... at long last... and I loved it. I would second Art's take on the film... I believe he said it was entrancing... I add haunting and beautiful as well.

Having spent a lot of time alone in hotels while travelling (especially in Asia) I can speak to the "authenticity" of the film.

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Porkchop

I was a little disappointed in the movie in truth, the critics gave it rave reviews but was no more than average really. imo.

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EeOh1

What does that mean? I've had people agree with me, so obviously "the rest of the world" isn't against me. Just voicing my opinion, sir.

Or perhaps I completely misread your message.

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Jadedfox

Good god, that was brilliant. I completely agree. Well said!

--jaded

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KnifeMissile

I don't know if you've misread my message, EeOh1. What did you read into it in the first place?

Why is calling Lost in Translation a "pile of garbage" a "bold" move? Would calling Bio-Dome a pile of garbage be a bold move? I assume you describe your opinion as such because everyone else in the world likes the movie, as can be seen by its critical acclaim and strong IMDb rating. This phrasing makes it sound like you're alone in your opinion. However, when you say things like:
Unless "everyone" you were with is really just one other person, it would seem as though your actual peers (and not just your electronic peers here, at TFP) share your opinion so why paint yourself as the bold minority?

EeOh1

You're being unnecessarily and ridiculously overly analytical and simultaneously condescending.

Everyone I was with - which was my family - did not enjoy the movie. Generally, after I see movies, I surf the net or read the paper to check the general consensus. "Lost in Translation" was critically acclaimed, so when I headed over to TFProject to see what "the average viewier" thought of the film and no topic existed, I started one.

"Lost in Translation" was made with quality, but I despised it. And after reading umpteen positive reviews for the movie, I figured myself in the minority - which, you would agree, I am in - and perhaps inaccurately described myself as bold. Although seeing as how I'm forced to the defensive here, perhaps bold is an accurate description.

I did not contradict myself, though. The critics praised "Lost in Translation" for its depth and true-to-life characterizations, and I appropriately found my opinion of the movie to be that of the minority. So, in my original review, I made sure to point that out. When my suspicions were confirmed by posters, I did state that the group I was with disliked the movie - but only to make the point that I wasn't consummately alone in my opinion, just outnumbered.

And as for my interpretation of your original message: I now understand what you meant. Everyone else liked it - except for the people that I was with. Which would be an inaccurate statement, but point received. Not taken, just received.

Unnecessary.

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Ace_O_Spades

I watched the movie with 5 other people... ages 12-47 respectively, and 3 of them ended up falling asleep, and the other two would not shut up about how much they hated it... I stuck it out, but didn't enjoy it

yet i still feel that im in the minority in this situation because of my friends, fallenangel and I are the only two people who haven't liked it (she fell asleep half way through)

I guess it just didn't speak to me the way it did to some people... who knows.

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Feh.

tehhappyboy

I missed it in the theaters and I head that ruins it without that experience.

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Mondak

I was going to refrain from commenting since this thread almost gives the movie cred. . . BUT

I thought it was junk from the get-go. It is just another example of a talentless Hollywood that is too caught up in itself to put any effort into deserving what they have. These boobs are all so entitled and when they put out a self absobed film like this, they want us to all line up.

Here is an off beat example from the DVD: When you pop it in, you cannot hit the DVD Menu key or skip the chapter button to get the movie going. Instead your only defense from the "we are so artsy and creative - love me mommy" Focus Features commercial is to Fast Forward it. I am insulted that they force you to see it even if you fast forward at high speed. They have been pushing me with the commercials in the theatre that I pay $9 to get into and then starting the movie 45 minutes after it is scheduled. This crap takes the cake.

As far as the movie itself, other than the fact that they are both in a similar situation (bad relationship) the charachters are never developed - Scarlett in paticular - to a point where you could ever find a reason why they would be a good match at all. So Scarlett is hot. We know that right away. So Bill Murray likes Scarlett because she is hot and young and his wife is not? BIG REVELATION! This has been going on since the insitution of marrage began. Other than hot, the only that you can tell about her charachter is that she is depressed.

Being bored or depressed doesn't make these two soul mates. It makes them just another set of people contemplating getting into a co-dependant, unhealthy relationship.

And then these people (Coppola, Murray et all) yell at Stewardesses, Taxi, Drivers, waitresses and retail sales people with the "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!!!" rant. Yeah, we know who you are - you are spoiled no talent hacks who make crap movies and then foam over each other at award shows.

Jerks.

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dirtyrascal7

i absoultely hated this movie. i kept waiting for something to happen, but nope... nothing ever did. i've never been overseas, so maybe if i had that experience i could relate to this movie and i'd have a different opinion. but as of now, i believe homer simpson said it best.... "BORING!"

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Derwood

And that is what the movie is about. You accidentally hit the nail on the head.

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asaris

Not to beat a dead horse, but...

I really enjoyed this movie. That being said, I did not think it was a great movie. I thought it was a solid movie. Nearly every aspect was well done, and I especially enjoyed the subtlety, and the fact that they did not get together in the end. The movie makes clear, I think, that both Bob and Charlotte love their significant others, even if neither has a perfect relationship. I think they also love each other, perhaps not in an especially deep way, but neither in a superficial "Oh she's hot" way either. There's a real connection between the two that goes deeper than merely being two Americans stranded in Tokyo -- consider the difference between Bob's relationship with Charlotte and his 'relationship' with the singer. I think that last whisper had something to do with this; that they did love each other in a way, but neither was going to leave their spouse either.

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cyrnel

I enjoyed it, but it's a victim of moods. I've compared with friends and it seems those who start this movie after a full day often find it annoys or bores. I'll venture that unlike the bulk of Hollywood this movie requires a clear mind going in. Expecting it to provide the usual distractions will be a disappointment.

Also, Murray tends to polarize opinions.

radioguy

a friend of mine copied it for me. after i watched it and realized i wasn't getting those 2 hours back, i flung the dvd off my balcony. i didn't like it.