Rating: 
Summary: LOST IN A NAP
Review: What a horrible movie. I can not even begin to fathom why ANYONE would even BEGIN to award Lost In Snoozland --- I mean Lost In Translation. I rented this movie over the weekend. It was completely stupid. It was so boring. I sat with my remote in hand constantly on the fast forward button looking for the actual plot to begin. It never did. So my question is, why is this movie being touted as one of the best of 2004? I think every year there has to be a movie that Hollywood embraces to make the rest of America feel stupid. It exists to make those of us who are not part of the Hollywood elite stop and think, "am I not smart enough or deep enough to understand what this movie is saying?" You see my theory is there is this one guy in Hollywood, we'll call him Lou. Lou is probably a washed up old Hollywood power player. Perhaps he was (or still is) a talent agent or head of a prominent studio. Several years ago, Lou was somehow wronged by the Hollywood community. He was able to dust himself off and make it seem as though he survived the cruelty. However, something in Lou's mind snapped. He is bent on revenge. Every year Lou finds the worst movie made and embraces it. He says I LOVE this film. Then Lou sits back and laughs his fool head off as the lemmings of Hollywood follow suit. Every year Lou gets his revenge by watching how DUMB the Hollywood wackos really can be. Now this may seem like an elaborate story but trust me Lou must exist. How else can we describe a movie like Lost In Translation being nominated for Best Picture? How else can Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray receive awards and accolades for the most sleep inducing film in recent years? Just a thought. But the next time you are in a dark movie theater or you own living room and realize that you have no idea why ANYONE would think the snoozer of the film that you are suffering through seems to be such a hit with other people, remember poor old Lou and smile as you picture him with a cigar hanging out of the left corner of his mouth, a wicked smile plastered across his face saying, "Gotcha!" Then just chalk it up to revenge getting the better of us all.
Rating: 
Summary: A Gem. Thank you, Ms. Coppola.
Review: I watched "Lost in Translation" again last night. I am truly amazed that a young person could create such a detailed, mature, moving, and personal film; one that connects with such assurance. There is no waste, every frame contributes to the film and to the story told.
What really struck me about this movie was that the main characters weren't connecting in an "in love" or even an "in lust" way, though there is a beautiful restrained sexual tension portrayed, but that they are connecting soul to soul. The filmaker's brilliant choice in the ending underscores the intimate bond created between the characters. In many ways "Lost in Translation" reminds me of Krzysztof Kieslowski's work, specifically "Red". From me, this is the ultimate compliment.
Rating:
Summary: A Zombie in Tokyo
Review: What a yawn! The plot? The sexual tension? What is all the hoopla about? This is a bad movie: it drones on and on. We serioulsy considered leaving after the first hour, but we kept saying it has to get better. We should of left. And if Bill Murray wins an Oscar, it should be for the part he didn't have in "Night of the Living Dead." He plays a perfect zombie.
Rating: 
Summary: KINDA OVERRATED
Review: Even though I find this film kinda overrated,I did find things I enjoyed.The locales of Japan's biggest city.Bill Murray singing 'wHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT (PEACE,LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING}.I really liked Scarlet Johannson's performance.She's smart and has a enchanting sexiness that's just jake with me.I seen her in a better film called,'GHOST WORLD'before this.I know the theme of this film,were all looking for someone to connect with emotionally,is sadly a feeling many of us,young and old share in this modern world.I just didn't think this film broke any new ground.This is a good film but, 'GHOST WORLD'or a film I recently seen the amazing,'CITY OF GOD'is better.The good thing about this film is it deals with real human feelings,something I find lacking in so many of today's hollywood big films.Check out some of the other independent films.They don't get hyped,they don,t play in the multiplexes,you gotta sometimes look for em,but I find there's still compelling and not brain dead films out there.
Rating:
Summary: An Accurate Look at Modern Japan
Review: Lost in Translation is the closest look one can get to the way Japan isolates and keeps foreigners on the outside without actually visiting the country itself. After living in a very modern Japan for seven months, I found the film full of the moments that make daily life here seem quite dream-like and surreal sometimes. The film is tasteful and sweet in its portrayal of Japan to an outsider and much more honest and accurate than films such as The Last Samauri or Kill Bill. If you are at all interested in seeing Japan the way that it really is for a gaijin (the Japanese word for foreigner - literally translating as "outsider") visiting the country, this film is dead on.
Rating: 
Summary: Gets better each time you watch it
Review: In this film, Bill Murray is sublime and lost, and Scarlett Johansson convincingly intelligent, sexy and lost - and Tokyo is both their playground and prison. When I first watched this film in the theaters, I'd likely have given this film a lower score. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson's tense friendship, on first viewing, tends to overshadow the other marvelous aspects of this film. But watching it again on DVD, and by knowing the film's resolution, I was able to fully enjoy Coppola's unique and highly accurate take on the quirky experiences of Americans in highrise Tokyo (I know, I've been there myself). So, what that means is that this movie bears many repeat viewings. It's filled with so many small, beautiful, moments like when Johansson takes the bullet train to Kyoto and wanders around templea and witnesses a traditional wedding that touches her and redeems Japanese culture in her heart. And this movie is hilarious, even more so if you know how true-to-life all the bizarre and hillarious cultural items are: from the garrish fey talk show, to all-night karaoke, to bizarre sex clubs, to the fact that there's a telephone in the bathroom. So if you saw it in the theatre - check it out again. I think you'll like it better. If you've never seen it, why not take a chance?
Rating:
Summary: Best Movie of the year
Review: One of the best films I have ever seen! Made me laugh all the way! I'm rooting for Sofia for best director Oscar! There are two types of people, those who get this film and those who don't.
Rating:
Summary: A disappointed Bill Murray fan
Review: What did I miss in this movie that the critics thought so highly of it? This movie was like watching two people wandering across a desert dying of thirst! This movie proves that critics have as much credibility as weather forcasters. This movie stunk, rent the Care Bears instead!
Rating:
Summary: Nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay?!
Review: How is this possible?! This movie is dull and lifeless, and makes no point whatsoever. Sofia Coppola gets all this praise lavished on her just because of her famous father. Obviously, she's never read Syd Field's book, "Screenplay" or taken any screenwriting courses. I suppose she's so rich and powerful she doesn't need to waste her precious time learning how to write a well-constructed script. At the Golden Globe Awards, Sofia looked about as unexcited and depressed as the characters in this movie. Perhaps she's based the movie on her own experience? Maybe this is why all the film critics are praising her film. Has there been a leak? Is Sofia fighting deep depression? Are film-industry friends of her father doing everything in their power to try and save her from committing suicide by bestowing all these nominations and awards upon her? Now that would make a great story that could be turned into a feature film worthy of an Academy Award nomination for best picture of the year. If this movie takes even one Oscar away from "The Return of the King", there should be riots in the streets. At the very least, we should all stop going out to the movies and turn to books and video games for our entertainment for the next few months. Wouldn't it be great to see the weekly total box office receipts for all the current movies at zero?
Rating:
Summary: Not a good "art film"....simply, a bad, BAD, BAAAAD one
Review: Some people have complained this is a dull, boring film. Others say this is simply a slow-paced artful film that only sensitive intelligent folks will get. Is LIT one of the latter? In LIT, Scarlett Johansson portrays Sofia Coppola in this apparently autobiographical film. In the film, Johannson sits around in her hotel most of the time (in TOKYO!!!), despondent over her failing marriage to her emotionally distant photographer husband (ie.Coppola's ex - Spike Jonze). He seems to enjoy the lighthearted phony company of Cameron Diaz....I mean, the character who plays a Diaz-like actress. Anyway Charlotte (that's the Johannson/Coppola character) rolls her eyes whenever she speaks, so we the viewers, will know to prefer the less-vulgar and sensitive Charlotte. Why cannot her husband see that his own wife, while displaying no intelligent ideas or thoughts or emotions, is the preferrable one to hang around with?! I mean, Charlotte IS beautiful, but like many beautiful women she is actually VERY sad. She admits to Bob (more about him later) that she has no idea what she wants to do and her various artistic endevours are "mediocre". She has tried photography (apparently not out of love for the medium, but rather to "find herself"), and still her photographer-husband cannot seem to connect with her. What is HIS problem?! Anyway, because of all this, she sits day after day in her hotel room. (BTW, did I mention she's in Tokyo?). Eventually, she picks up with dull-man #2, Bob (played with even more hound-dog-face than usual by Bill Murray - STILL one of my heroes, despite this venture). You see, Bob is a movie star who is going through a "mid life crisis" as Charlotte puts it. Whatever THAT is, exactly, is never really displayed. Anyway, Bob is being paid 2 million dollars for 2 days work on a whiskey commercial, but he remains sad, as he truly wishes he were "Doin' a play somewhere". Aside from this deep display of love of theater (and strong argument for the revival of Communism), Bob is confused by all these funny people around him. For one thing, they talk funny. And what they are saying, nobody knows! Well, these funny-faced people constantly get up in Bob's face and jibber-jabber all the time!! Why won't they stop?! They talk on and on, but the funny-faced translator says next to nothing....just like the bugs bunny cartoon on the Pacific island. Regardless, these people are truly frustrating!! Will someone please make them act normal! What is it you call them again? Anyway, Charlotte hooks up with Bob at the hotel bar after their glazed eyes meet, and they soon become the dullard-duo. She teases him with insightful cliche's about his probably wanting to buy a Porshe. He concurs he is lame. Later, they sing bad karoke together, while the viewer's mind begins to wander about how nice it would be to drive a Porshe. Meanwhile, their encounters continue with the energy of terminally-ill cancer patient. You see, Bob has a shallow life...I mean Wife. We know she is shallow, because she is only concerned over picking the right carpet color. This is illustrated in a long scene where Bob cannot seem to choose from carpet square samples over himself and the floor, as he further succumbs to a barely-breathing motif of wealth does not equal happiness. Still not convinced of our hero's circumstance? Well get an earful of his deathbed rendition of Roxy Music's "More Than This", which he sings as if he has never heard (how cool to be uncool, eh?). Anyway, Bob and his newfound glob seem to connect, despite their decades-separated mix of world-weary apathy and beautiful-but-misunderstood depression. Unfortunately, all this must soon come to end. You see...aside from some kids he's squeezed out, Bob must go back to pick out that carpet square in person. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention...Bob has 2 kids back home. Anyway, our heroes eventually part without saying the appropriate soulful goodbyes, so Bob chases down our mallrat-with-undeserved-money-and-opportunity until he finds her...and soulfully....kisses her. Then, he wanders off with the activity of a digestive tract, presumably only to be seen on various subway ads. She smiles and cries. The audience smiles and cries. I cry. Then we all try to get the DVD back to Hollywood video ASAP so we can get a buck back. Want to see a GOOD "pointless" movie about 2 people connecting in Japan? Try the absolutely beautiful "Hiroshima Mon Amour". All the arty-farty you'll ever need, but time well spent. Plus, it ain't racist. Want another good film? Try "Being John Malkovich" by Spike Jonze. IT'S excellent! AND it has a great performance by Cameron Diaz!
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