Lost in Translation... who's seen it?

[Cindy B]

I picked up this movie at Blockbuster yesterday.

It was different than I expected, but I enjoyed it. I knew it wasn't going to be roaring laugh out loud like say Meatballs (remember that one?) or Caddyshack.

It was a different tempo, but still interesting.

 

[Grog]

I loved this movie. I thought the role of Bob was tailor made for Bill Murray. I really liked the fact that they were able to go the whole movie without having to resort to the two main characters jumping into bed together.

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, I liked that fact as well. I know that the two main characters had opportunity and "motive", but they still didn't sleep together..

That scene at Club Orange though...

 

[Princess'Mom2]

What is the movie about?

 

[Grog]

That scene at Club Orange though...

That did kind of catch me off guard

 

[RNMOM]

I saw this one by myself and I really did not like it at all. I usually find something to like in nearly every movie but this one seemed like a lot of scenes of them looking out the windows. I guess I just didn't get it.

Yes, I liked Bill Murray's performance but it seemed like, uh, I can't even come up with words to describe it. Just didn't get it.

 

[Grog]

What is the movie about?

Here are a couple of summaries from IMDB...

Americans abroad, almost innocents. Charlotte, fresh out of Yale with a degree in philosophy, is in Tokyo with her husband, a photographer whose work takes him away that week. She's adrift, her soul on ice. Bob, mid-50s, a semi-retired movie star, is there to make $2 million doing a Scotch ad. At home are a wife and young children, but he's jaded and melancholy. Both are jet-lagged, and Tokyo's culture and language push them further off kilter. When they meet in the hotel bar and spend their free time together for a few days, possibilities arise amidst the losses. Their friendship becomes an experience: does he have something to teach; can she reconnect him to life?



Bob Harris (played by Bill Murray) is an American film actor, far past his prime. He visits Tokyo to appear in commercials, and he meets Charlotte (Scarlett Johannson), the young wife of a visiting photographer. Bored and weary, Bob and Charlotte make ideal if improbable travelling companions. Scarlet is looking for "her place in life," and Bob is tolerating a mediocre stateside marriage. Both separately and together, they live the experience of the American in Tokyo. Bob and Charlotte suffer both confusion and hilarity due to the cultural and language differences between themselves and the Japanese. As the relationship between Bob and Charlotte deepens, they come to the realization that their visits to Japan, and one another, must soon end. Or must they?

 

[ducklite]

I agree with RNMOM, I just didn't get it. In fact I thought it was one of, if not THE most overrated movie I've ever seen.

It was one of the few times I've thought about walking out of a movie--it was that bad. Scenes From a Mall and Night at the Roxbury were probably about the only two I've ever seent that were worse!

During the movie I thought it was me that just wasn't getting it, by DH didn't get it, or like it, either.

Anne

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, it was different.

I interpreted the looking out windows, as sort of a metaphorical looking out to the horizon, seeing what it out there, seeing the horizon of the new day, new beginnings...not just "hey, look at the city of Tokyo"

It was a more serious role for Bill Murray, but not as serious as one he did in the early 80's (I think that was called Razor's Edge).

It wasn't utter hilarity, but it was sort of an ironic, deep movie.
I think some people are saying that they don't like it because they picture goofy, screwball comedies when they think of Bill Murray.

This was a different role for him, more of a thinking role. There were no physical comedy/slapstick to overcompensate his comedy (think Caddyshack), or silliness (think Meatballs or Groundhog Day/even Ghostbusters).

It wasn't action packed, but think the characters didn't do action packed things... Charlotte sat around waiting for her hubby... didn't know the language, couldn't do much. Bob, didn't know the language, and couldn't even understand the director of his commerical shoot. (hard to do your job when you don't know what the boss is saying)

 

[SideshowBob]

Was one of SSB's favorite films of the year...

Last September SSB stood in line at Toronto Intl Film Festival to try to get to see the world premier (even had tickets to "Girl with a Pearl Earring"s premier and skipped)... but alas, did not get in. There was lots of good buzz about it, before the festival. SSB did not see... but Jennifer was able to see Sophia Coppola and Scarlet Johanson as when the arrived.

Saw it myself at theater in Orlando later... and totally connected with the film. Thought that Sophia's writing and directing brought a whole different (and wonderful) flavor to the this film. Bill Murray has said that it was his favorite done, ever.

Bought it myself over the weekend... but for a gift!

 

[GEM]

We just watched it last night and my husband and I both loved it! There was something about the whole feel of it and the way it was shot that really grabbed me. Plus, it was one of the few things I've seen recently that really seemed to say something to me. It was definately something different, but that's fine with me. If you take a look at most movies today, you will probably decide that different is definately good!