Lost in Translation

Anyone see it? Opinions?

I saw it last night, and I had a lot of mixed feelings about it personally. I thought their portrayal of the relationship was excellent, that both of them acted exceptionally well, and that it had a touching ending.

However, I didn't laugh as much at the jokes, primarily because they are aimed at a person who knows nothing about Japanese people or their culture. I thought that a few of the scenes were amusing, like the translation of the director's... directions, and the 'massuse'. But because I could understand a good amount of what was being said, it kind of fell flat. Made me realize that most american's laugh at stuff simply because of their misunderstanding of it. I guess it's only natural. After all, how many people in the US speak Japanese, or better yet, how many of them are even interested in any culture but their own =P

 

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KTallguy said:
Made me realize that most american's laugh at stuff simply because of their misunderstanding of it.

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Hence, the title of the movie.....


....I liked it......a lot.....






















not gay

 

Did you guys spot some VF stuff?

 

Any movie which opens with an ass shot has something to recommend it.

Regardless, I dug the flick...even though at times it felt like I was only loving the movie so much cause Scarlett Johannson is so impossibly beautiful. It was the same as when I was digging Virgin Suicides cause of all the teenage girls in their underwear. I feel big played. I watch movies like these...y'know, real movies that you can talk to other people about in public and don't have to go to a curtained room to flip through so that I can seem to you civilized mutherfuckers like something other than a freckled monkey trying to squeeze me out more little freckled monkeys. I can only conclude that Sophia Coppola hates me. I mean, she won't return any of my calls.

Really though, I feel like the beauty of the girls in both these movies more points to Ms. Coppola's eye than anything else. Everything filmed in Lost just has that "this is a kickass movie" sheen to it. The little shot of teeing off in the shadow of Mt. Fuji, (besides sending up Caddyshack (!!) a tad) is a better argument to play golf than I have ever heard of or used. The leaves...Bill swimming...watching the lights from the cab. There are some terrific images in this movie. Ass shots notwithstanding. Beautiful stuff.

And then thematically, I'm a sucker for a love story. Especially one where some crusty old bastard could score with this hot young chick but decides not to because clearly their love couldn't become fully realized in their few fleeting hours together. That this old bastard can suck it up and realize that the love which burns in his heart is as strong...nay...stronger than the one which could burn in his bed with this (dude she's fucking hot) super hot chick means that I can go ahead and continue to plug away at the ol' punching bag while the 18 year old who juiced me for a fillup at the Texaco where I'm working nights can drive around with my little brother giving head to all his friends from Tulane and I don't have to feel bad about it one bit. I can rejoice. Next time she drives up I can whisper something neither of us can hear into her soft neck and go back inside and sort motor oil.

Ahh, the magic of film.

 

There IS an Evo running in the background of one of the arcade sequences, actually.

As for the film... it's wonderful, but I can't watch it again... when I do, I get homesick ;_;

 

yea u can see a couple o evos when she watches those silly arcade games where u sing/dance/whatever...

i think the film is fantastic
i was told by a friend that its kinda baised on the directors failed marage to spike jones
so i guess thats why the film really (for me) has that extra thing that makes it not as pertentious that it could of been!

i think her 1st film was really good as well,
shame the dvd aint got comentary
(still want an apolagy for Godfather3)

anyways its a shame bill didnt get an oscar, when i 1st saw misytic river i thought he'd get one, but know ive seen Lost in trans/Mystic river/21 grams...
i think the reason he got it was cos he also did 21 grams
which is also good, but take an hour to really get in to
Lost in... is still , (for me) the best film ive seen this year, its got range

 

Pop'n Music is not silly man /versus/images/graemlins/laugh.gif, IMO it's the most fun out of all the bemani games.

 

Fantastic film. Love the way it was shot - the scenes when they're out partying in Tokyo were so well done. In many ways the film had no real conclusion or character development, but I liked that. Was more like an episode than a story.

 

I loved the movie.

Mostly cause of Sofias directing and her use of the camera (and wonderful soundtracks). She's actually been on my directors to watch list since virgin suicides - she's one of those directors who could take any script and do something great with due to her way of getting a general feeling across and telling it beutifully without being to the point of pretenious.

Now that said; I actually disliked Bill Murray in many parts of the movie (but don't know who would be casted instead). Mostly due to how limited Dialogs between him and Scarlet Johansson was to him delivering a punchline (nobody does ironic oneliners like Bill but fuck that for a sec) and her laughing back at him with some kind of admiration in her eyes for many parts. Like she was compelled to believe everything he said was funny to the point of annoyance (although it felt natural... sometimes). I don't agree with him deserving an oscar nominee for his part but hey - it's the oscars =)

It was also abit of shame to have an actor like Giovanni Ribisi presented as so flat / not developed and even Anna Faris (both being highly underrated new actors) who got to the point of unvolounary parody. I know the story is driven by the relationship of Charlotte and Bob but it still felt like it was a waste of talent.

The night out scene would have to be my favorite as I've never, ever, seen a clubbing / whatever going out scene feel so incredibly life like and natural. Specially during the karaoke when Bob looked at her with a bit of sad "wanting but can't have" in his eyes; subtle details that you can feel personal reference to and understand without having it pounded forcefully upon yourself.

All in all, a really great (real) movie for once.

/KiwE

 

I cried

"Translation" was a beautiful movie. Visually, it was just arresting; Tokyo is such a beautiful city. And yes, Scarlett Johansson is exceptionally stunning.

The acting was sharp and both Murray and Johansson gave us nuanced, flesh-out characters we can root for or whatnot.

The jokes were pretty good, simply because the culture clash was so pronounced, especially the language barriers. But at the same time, it made the loneliness both Bob and Charlotte were feeling more intense. Heck, I started feeling it too.

I think the title aptly suits the film. There's so much that does get lost in translation. Like for example when the director was telling Bob to move his head a bit. The director might have been saying a lot of things, but the translation comes out to "Turn your head to the left" or something.

There's a lot to be said about Bob and Charlotte's relationship. Under ordinary circumstances (read: "in America), neither would have paid any nevermind to the other. But since they're both here in unfamiliar environs, they're all the other's got. It's surprising how well two very disparate souls can get along when they're isolated.

What really impressed me was how Sofia Coppola handled Bob and Charlotte's relationship. It could have easily been another hackneyed love story, but Coppola wisely sidesteps that. Instead, she allows us to step back and draw our own conclusions.

Definitely a must-see film. Yes, I did cry at the end.

 

Re: I cried

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Allyourbase said:
Yes, I did cry at the end.

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dude u r gay

 

Re: I cried

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Dandy_J said:

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Allyourbase said:
Yes, I did cry at the end.

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dude u r gay

[/ QUOTE ]

No I'm not. Cut me some slack, man, I'm sensitive.

 

Re: I cried

[ QUOTE ]
Allyourbase said:

[ QUOTE ]
Dandy_J said:

[ QUOTE ]
Allyourbase said:
Yes, I did cry at the end.

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dude u r gay

[/ QUOTE ]

No I'm not. Cut me some slack, man, I'm sensitive.

[/ QUOTE ]

NIce avatar for someone so sensitive. /versus/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

Re: I cried

he gotcha' back there /versus/images/graemlins/grin.gif,...sensitive and obsessive, what a combination! /versus/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

Re: I cried

jk /versus/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

Re: I cried

I find having a nice av makes the transition out of n00bness much easier. Worked for me on the Soul Calibur 2 forums... /versus/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

Re: I cried

Unless your ass is as powder white & beautifully rounded as scarlett johanson's, forget about it. /versus/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

Re: I cried

Thanks for the comments =)

I really liked her in the movie. Scarlett Johanson was beautiful, and she had this strange attraction that really drew me into the film.

What's interesting is that after the movie, I was trying to figure out what was so attractive about her. I went and looked at some non-movie pictures of her. It's interesting, but I didn't find her as attractive when I saw pictures of her from red carpet parties or other movies.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think she's ugly at all. But as I was looking at her I realized what was so attractive. It was her personality. That was the most attractive thing about her. She just seemed like the kind of intelligent girl that is laid back and fun, all at the same time. IMO it's really hard to find people that aren't superficial, especially in california.

That joke about the translation is more funny, now that I think about it. I think what the director is saying has something to do with thinking about an old friend, looking into the camera with rememberance, something like that. There was more to what he was saying than 'look to the left', I know that for sure. She was just simplifying it.

And her response, although it seemed really long, was just her being very polite and indirect. That's just the way japanese people are in that kind of professional situation. Very polite and not too direct (ie: pushy). =)

 

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As for the film... it's wonderful, but I can't watch it again... when I do, I get homesick ;_;

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I know the feeling. I'm outta here this fall, indefinitely. Work stuff. I never thought I'd love a job enough to go somewhere I don't want to live. /versus/images/graemlins/smile.gif

On the good side, my in-laws still lifve here, so I'm sure I'll visit once a year at least.

Until the move, I'm buying games like a banshee! /versus/images/graemlins/smile.gif