Rating: 
Summary: Lip your stocking?
Review: Sophia Coppola's Lost in Translation is an exercise in character presentation and development. As you probably know, there is little plot to follow, and no hair raising twists to shock you. What you do have are two characters you have never seen before, yet you can probably identify with both of them a lot of the time. Their platonic friendship is refreshing; it's so common these days for strangers to meet, feel attraction, and jump into bed for no reason except that it's in the script. Because this movie chooses not to go that route, the characters are forced to show us their personalities on the screen, and that turns out to be much more entertaining than I expected it to be.Bill Murray plays an actor who is in Tokyo to shoot a series of ads for a whiskey. He finds Japan strange; the opening scenes of the movie show him landing on his plane and looking at the culture shock before him. He has a lot of down time. We only see him working a few scenes. The rest of the time, he is wandering through Tokyo with no direction whatsoever. It is here that Murray's comic ability comes through. He has done so many comedies that require a large amount of physical acting, here, the looks on his face are all it takes. When he is in an elevator and he is a foot taller than every other man in there, he has a look on his face that evokes a chuckle. Scarlett Johannsen plays a young newlywed whose husband (Giovanni Ribisi) is a photographer on assignment. He is always working, leaving her alone to do nothing. She wanders around, just like Murray. Eventually they meet in a bar (which they both frequent often). They strike up a friendship and spend lots of time together doing various things. Murray is in his 50's and Johannsen is supposedly in her early 20's (although she is really only 18), which in recent cinema has meant a May-December romance. But not here. Both are married (Murray's wife calls and sends faxes asking him which color carpet he wants in the house) and there is a great scene where Murray tells Johannsen why marriage is tough, especially once you have kids. It's not so much about the characters being "real" as I have seen from reviewers here. It's about being able to identify with them. I was able to see myself and alot of what I feel from the characters on the screen. Kudos to Murray. I found him funnier and more entertaining here than I have in a dozen of his comedies before. Movies are not about special effects, or about shocking moments. They have always been, and will always be about characters. I found these two very interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!!
Review: The best movie I've seen in a long time. I understand why the average american Joe would not find it as good as others would. It had to do mainly with the fact this movie wasn't targeted for the typical hollywoodian audience. It covers a human dimension that doesn't necessarily exist in a north american civilisation accustomed to cliches and lacking true travel experience. Actually one would probably have to have lived abroad to understand this movie and the characters, as well as the whole atmosphere that being in Tokyo brings to the picture. But it's defnitely not necessary, provided one has an imagination. For my part I have lived in Japan for 7 years, 6months of which in Tokyo, and to my surprise, the first dance club they visited in the film was also the first one I was invited too.. very funky place with funky people. Good choice on Coppola! The choices of actors is excellent and Scarlett definitely shines and makes one nostalgic of those days in Tokyo. As for Bill Murray, he is the perfect choice to play the role of a family man bored in Tokyo, but experiencing something entirely new and refreshing. He doesn't bring with him the pretence that Japan is a stupid place, even though like most new foreigners in Japan would, he enjoys goofing around with the people. All in all, a refeshing and long overdue movie dealing with Japan, with true to life situations and characters. The only thing missing are the japanese women, but then again, who would care in the presence of the lovely and sexy Scarlett.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this movie
Review: This movie DOES require a specific mind-set. Most films hit you so hard over the head that they require nothing of the viewer. This film asks a lot of the viewer, the characters don't share every though and feeling in long, overly scripted monologues. Two disenfranchised people find solace in one another's company. It's so simple a premise, yet there is so much going on, on an emotional level. If I don't get this film for my birthday I'm going to hugely disappointed. I'm not going to try and generalize. I'm not going to say all people who like this film are this, and all people who hate this film are that. Things affect people differently. oh, yeah... ee cummings is dead. please use the shift key. no caps = annoying to read.
Rating:
Summary: Don't listen to "The Unbiased Movie Critic"
Review: The "The Unbiased Movie Critic" person who is a member on this site seems to think this movie is "racist", which shows that he/she is just too stupid to realize the simple truth that it is about experiences in a new place which is totally different, foe example: The lifestyle you had where ever you were is not going to be the same is Asia now is it and another example is, of you don't speak the language, how is god's name are you supposed to get around, I have lived in many different countries in my life and I can vouch for the things I have said here, this movie is not for everyone and I understand that, but it is not racist either, it just simply depicts two characters who met and hooked up in a place where they do not fit in at all and the main thing in my opinion is, if they were not in the place they are right now, they never would have hooked up.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite films now...
Review: I loved this film on a very personal level. It had great appeal as a story of an older man who accidently forms an important friendship with a much younger woman. Sometimes those friendships may have to remain friendships, and the feelings they leave in memory are bittersweet. Not every man and woman who meet and connect are meant to fulfil their desires with each other. However, this does not mean that such a relationship is not of great importance in the lives of the people involved. The film captured the essence of such a situation beautifully. There was subtle romantic and sexual tension, and the circumstances of the characters were believable. The backdrop of Japanese culture, plus the confusion and the sense of absurdity one feels in a foreign land, are presented and appreciated here. Of course, this story is not for everyone, but it was certainly a great experience for me. That said, I would still be very delighted if Ms. Coppola would choose to make a sequel that would bring the main characters together again.
Rating: 
Summary: A Top Ten Worst Movie
Review: This one makes my top 5 worst movies of all time list. I frankly fail to see what anyone would find entertaining or funny about this movie. Although I usually like Bill Murray's films, this one is a big loser. Even worse is the direction. This is a perfect example of Hollywood getting behind "one of the family" and hyping a movie that should have never been made.
Rating: 
Summary: I got Lost
Review: I really tried to like this movie. I went in with high expectations. I had heard so much about it. I love Bill Murray and I thought the premise sounded interesting. I wanted to like it so much, I tried to convince myself as I was watching it, "Yeah, I like this. This is good." Well, thirty minutes later, I realized it wasn't working. Bill Murray plays a washed up actor that has traveled to Japan to do a Bourbon ad. Scarlett Johansen is there with her photographer boyfriend. They are both feeling isolated and bewildered by their surroundings and gravitate towards one another. That is the premise and it is a good one. There is a little sexual tension and there is supposedly a profound connection made. I don't see it. I did not see the connection made. To make this kind of film come across, it must be sparse and subtle, but there has to be something there. The scenes between the two leads are so empty; nothing is expressed or communicated. Therefore, the intended catharsis at the end falls flat. Like I said, I really expected to love this film. It sounded so promising.
Rating:
Summary: apt title
Review: apparently i have missed the boat on this one...i simply did not 'get it'. it wasn't arty or quirky or challenging. i came away with only two thoughts: "what did i miss?" and "bill murray is an actor who was not born for closeups". while the japanese love of karaoke is good for a giggle or two,
a whole movie it does not make.
Rating:
Summary: funny and soo realistic!
Review: I saw this movie with my friend and i really really liked it! Sure, its slow paced but thats what makes this movie so unusual. It's also very realistic and not soo fake, like other movies. It's like looking at a sneak peak into these people's lives. Also, its very funny too. Seeing Murray totally bewildered by these Japanese people. I thought it was a really thoughtful, in a way educated movie. Just a smart, worth watching movie. This is not a trash movie. Watch it!!!
Rating:
Summary: Lost in the translation IS RIGHT!!
Review: What am I missing with this movie? I thought it was just awful and I basically can watch anything brainless. Plus it won all those awards?!? I will never understand....
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