I lived in Tokyo for 5 years and I think LiT conveys pretty well how the city looks and feels, but I don't think it went far beyond that. What I didn't understand was the contradiction in that Coppola obviously has a great affection for the city and wanted the audience to find it alluring, and yet the two main characters seemed indifferent. I also think she confuses being lost and lonely with being bored. I found Bob and Charlotte fairly realistic but very unengaging. I didn't really care for them at all. And to John S: Tokyo is full of caucasians - thousands of students, tens of thousands of English teachers, thousands of business people. And plenty of people speak English, if not fluently, especially professionals such as the doctors in hospitals.… Expand

to say this movie is unworthy of recognition because it's "degrading japanese culture" is kind of ridiculous. thats like saying "chicago" shouldnt have won an oscar because it, in fact, needled american culture. this movie was excellent. the characters acted how real people would probably act if dropped in the middle of a strange environment.

There are a few redeeming qualities to this movie: (a) scarlett, (b) bill, (c) the ending. Why there are more non-redeeming qualities are as follows: (1) it's frankly not believable, (2) cliche' typical daddy save me complex-fantasy, (3) creating boring mood is plain boring (4) annoying by design to group Japanese culture as boring & silly, (5) it's pretentious & works hard to be clever (6) it's devoid of making a connection (7) effectively leaves audience empty. The most frustrating part is this movie has more potential. Both these characters could have pulled off so much more, could still keep that somber mood & developed more mystery & intrigue. I kept wanting more of Bill to step out, and needed more of Scarlett to bust. I have no patience for shallowness. This girl is in Tokyo. He is in Tokyo. Hard to be lost (souls) That is not believable. If they were in the middle of the Guam - maybe. If they can't bring energy to Tokyo, then they can't bring energy at all, and therefore these characters are frankly hopeless and that is the most unattractive part of this film. Why waste time with people that cant barely save themselves in the best of world-class circumstances. Yawn..ZZZZZzzzz.… Expand

Definitely overrated by the critics. The humor is rather crass, and much of it stems from ignorance/intolerance of other cultures.

"Lost In Translation" is an interesting and satisfying film. It is a second film made by Sofia Coppola who both wrote and directed it. There is tenderness, sensitivity and pathos throughout this extraordinary film with kudos to Bill Murray and a very charming and talented Scarlett Johannson who literally own this picture. It is hard to imagine anyone else playing Murray's character. His timing, his subtleties and his genuine film presence alone make this a movie worth seeing. Nothing is overdone in this picture and each movement and iota of dialogue is used sparingly and with precision. It is filmed beautifully and written and edited with a maturity and seasoning far beyond Ms. Coppola's years. There is always a burden on the offspring of a celebrity to try to approach the talent and creativity of the parent who in this case is daddy Francis Ford. Ms. Coppola need not worry. She has done a really fine job which proves that the apple, especially the "delicious" kind, does not fall far from or off the family tree. Although the film moves slowly throughout, it is paced like thehe lives it is describing and always keeps your interest. This is not a comedy but it has comedic moments just as does life itself. I recommend this film and give it 9.0 … Expand

For all of you who loved this movie don't take it personally, but I think we saw two different movies. I found this one tedious and hard to stay awake through. Now Groundhog Day; there's a good flick.

Great movie for people who don't want to see cars blow up. It is a mood based film, and most of us Americans are too lazy and impatient to understand it.

A gem of a movie that limits itself to telling a small touching story very well. Most world travelers should recognize the phenomenon where, after returning from a foreign land, one suddenly realizes he/she has no idea what was said to them or how they came across. And yes, sometimes mature guys don't pursue sex with very sexy women in sexually tense situations and risk breaking the spell of the moment, a spell that can exist guiltless in spite of domestic commitments at home. This movie is about such a spell, which seems quite plausible on Planet Jet-Lag populated by quirky aliens. As for stereotypical racism, one with a limited worldview might dwell on this non-issue. It is not prejudice to not pretend one simply does not connect with a different people or their culture. Murray is tolerating the Japanese, not judging them. Overall, this is a movie without a single pretense, and its main characters are just people as they cope in the real world (including the mundane non-entertaining moments).… Expand

Another excellent example of the lofty, artistic opinions of most critics differing greatly from those of the average viewer - but they are right. Beautifully directed, amazingly acted, and incredibly moving, this is the type of movie that deserves the word "cinema".

Two lonely people meet in Tokyo, and wonder around the town in travel channel fashion; Could of seen the same thing on the travel channel. Spent the entire movie wonder when it was going to get funny and when the movie was going to accomplish something. The humor is nonexistent. Don't waste your money on this turkey.

A masterpiece; a stunning film of 2 lost souls finding some salvation with each other, in a super neon-lit Tokyo crammed with colorful characters and a wondrous cacophony of arcades, parties, strip joints and hotel bars. Bill and Scarlett are perfect, as is everything else about this movie.

Most of the kiddies are NOT going to get this one, due to the fact that it's an honest to goodness MATURE film! ::GASP:: Not in the sense that it's filled with senseless gore and #!#@$ profanity, but in the sense that it takes an older mind, filled with doubts and grown up fears, to appreciate some of the issues dealt with and reflected upon. One person offers another some of those fears, in the form of the aging actor played by Bill Murray, reinforcing the hopeless cliches of lost happiness upon one's mid-life -- but also some hope and encouragement. All the while, we're thrown through a topsy-turvy culture not our own, feeling lonely, out of place, and confused. These aren't themes that make up a Bill Murray comedy... but that's probably because this isn't a comedy. But it IS a fantastic film.… Expand

Nothing happens. Honestly, this may be the worst movie I have ever seen. It's a long movie where a guy goes to Japan and meets a friend. Theres no humor, no drama, no climax, no resolution, no theme, nothing. NOTHING! It's not like I'm missing some underlying plot, or missing the subtleties of the love/friendship these 2 lonely people share in a foreign land, but that entertainment lasts all of 5 seconds. I implore you, don't see this movie and then later pretend it meant something, because it certainly did not.… Expand

Don't listen to the pretentious reviews here, this is a bad film plain and simple. Boring, meandering tosh.

A film should have one of the following: Good plot/story Good dialogue Visually good looking Action Lost in Translation has none.

This may be the worst movie I have ever seen. I'm only giving it a "1" because I love Bill Murray. This movie is an hour and some odd minutes of my life I will never get back. Unfortunately, it is highly representative of a generation that needs to stop complaining and get off it's ass and get a life. No real plot, no drama, no climax, no deep discovery culminating in a social statement. It's about two pathetic souls that don't even know how to amuse themselves let alone each other.… Expand

Both me and my Asian wife thought this was way too slow with no real content. Very boring. I see very little humour, most of which plays on the Asian culture, which was not funny to one familiar with it. No real plot, no finish, no point.. I got all the subtleties, but I was expecting some amount of entertainment, I want the two hours of my life back.

I didn't get this movie. Is there something wrong with me?

While there were some funny parts and some lovely scenes, this movie was boring -- the scrip was too sparce and the result was not entertaining.

It was Horrible. It wasn't funny. It wasn't interesting. Just like another person on this site "I had to watch this film in small half hour segments" - it was so boring...

I agree with many that the movie showed a more shallow view of part of Japanese culture but part of our American culture is just as shallow. I think the movie brought out both aspects of shallowness ? although it might not have intended to do so. However you do get the impression that Charlotte and Bill think they are above it. Being Bill's age I thought he was somewhat a weak character. OK, he isn't too thrilled with his life and it lacks meaning and depth. That's life with no truth. Not being Charlotte's age anymore maybe the movie/character 'spoke more'. I could be too old to hear anything. She definitely found no answers in Bill. You're left with a "what is it worth" view of life. If our deepest questions (Charlotte) are left with liquor, one night stand and a miserable marriage (Bob) what's the use. Kids - He mentioned kids change your life completely but it is worth it. His kids didn't even want to talk to him on the phone. He missed a birthday. Those things happen but what life is he or his wife giving his kids. Are his kids destined to Charlotte's question or Bob's life in a glass? No, we get some "hope" by what is whispered in Charlotte's ear. … Expand

A film that can only be described as a histrionic bout of lesbionic despair. I LOVE YOU SCARLETT. lovey-dovey smoochey-smooch.

Most people like "action movies" or "answer movies". This movie is more of a poem, and a lovely one. You don't get car chases, and you aren't left with answers - just an excellent metaphor for the modern human dilemma, in which we are born in one culture but inevitably grow up to find ourselves in a very different and ultimately impenetrable one in which all the young people talk funny and say "word" at odd times, etc. etc.. Lost in Translation asks us to be nice, anyway, and give a damn anyway, even if the world has changed; but for those extremely attached to the culture of their youth - say because they're still hanging young enough to want to hang on to it desperately, I'm guessing that's a threatening message. So many movies exist to confirm the laughable but comforting prejudices of the audience. Be glad there's at least one that doesn't - this one.… Expand

Best music by Peaches, fun Bill Murray's acting and lovely hips by Scarlett mmmm.

One of my favorite movies. Bill Murray is incredibly, one of his best performances yet.

Beautiful, funny, touching, great acting, great direction, great cinematography, really great soundtrack. One of the best mood pieces ever. The thing people don't understand about this movie is that you don't WATCH it, you FEEL. it. Most movies are like classical music. LiT is like jazz. Most movies must follow rules, LiT doesn't follow any rule. There's no structure and that's a compliment. Like jazz, it's free flowing and to enjoy it you must let yourself go and just enjoy the ride. If you can't do that then you're going to be disappointed. Watch it alone late at nightand it just might change your life, but only if you let it.… Expand

For those who have an inner life, this is a great movie.

A thinking person's movie, with powerful performances by the lead actors....clearly not everyone's cup of tea but the movie is actually a mirror of real life with all of its sadness and poignancy.

Just a simple film told in the most graceful, lyrical way, with subtle, perfectly cast performances but Murray and Johanson.

lost in translation is one of those movies that makes a person feel good for watching it. most of its viewers love its small "Anti Hollywood" feel, but BELIEVE me, aside from being a respectable piece of art (at best), lost in translation really doesnt offer much more to its viewers then that nice little indie feel. the problem with the movie is that there isnt enough character development involved. at no point did i as a viewer have a specific feeling for anyone in the movie because theres really not enough that i knew about them as people. its hard to say this movie does much more then offer the occasional chuckle. the characters are too distant to be relatable so of course when they say something funny it feels like a sad attempt to be witty. im not asking that every movie have characters that i can identify with, but its really important that at some point in a movie the audience member has a see where the character is coming from. this movie is beautifully acted. the only problem is that they play roles of people that no one really wants to see. these are 2 very distant people who eventually come together to make sense of it all, but its hard to think that the director does a very good job in showing the audience any of that. at no point later on in the movie are these characters really more developed then they were to begin with. for what its worth the movie did have a small amount of its dry humor, but in NO WAY is this movie a comedy. (NO SPOILERS AHEAD....) the ending is much different from the rest of the film and just for a second the audience gets a little piece of emotion. and you really see the characters for who they are. problem is the entire rest of the movie never set us up for such an ending. nobody wants a romantic happy ending garbage heap, but this movie was just so fixated on trying to be real that it just ended up being boring. as a viewer i felt that i was finally given the ending only because the director knew its what i wanted to see, and NoT because it was the actual direction the movie was meant to take. life doesnt always have a clear cut road and there arent always yes or no answers. this movie tries so hard to convey that message, but from actor to audience, somewhere in between the message seems to have been Lost in Translation.… Expand

Along with Sideways and No Country For Old Men this is one of the three best films of the decade. I love how these two characters connect for a brief moment in time when they are at very different places in their lives. It becomes a bond so intimate, that by the end, even we arent allowed into the privacy of their love(Im thinking of their last scene together). Great film. This film creeps up on you and lingers. All of a sudden this simple story about strangers in Tokyo becomes something more, about the fleeting bonds of unexpected friendship, love and time and chance, and how it can change your life even though it goes so quickly. I love how there is no real time limit on the space they inhabit together. Like, it doesnt go from point a to point b and then end at point c. One minute they are there, amidst the swirling lights of Tokyo, the next moment they are gone. Back to whatever reality is for both of them. Its almost like a dream. All you know is, they connected. If only briefly, they got lost together.… Expand

If it weren't for Bill Murray's brillant acting, this wallflower of a movie would be a waste of two hours. Coppola is a still-immature director who has gotten undeserved fame on account of her family name. In this she does pointless exercises, such as opening the movie with a shot of Johansson's panty-clad derriere. For no good reason. The movie is also heavy on stereotypes of Japanese. … Expand

Bill Murray was great, but that's pretty much it. I don't know what film the critics saw, but the one I paid 8 bucks to see was the slowest moving vehicle this side of "The English Patient." Sure, the romance was sweet and had to build very slowly, but the whole thing seemed like real time to me. Bottom line -- very disappointing.

Great! Beautifully filmed and acted. Funny, poignant and thought-provoking. Go see it.

Coppolas' writing and direction is solid. I loved the juxtapostion of a growing, simple friendship with the fast paced, busyness of life in Tokyo. Murray and Johansson are fantastic! Other than freeing two Junior Mints stuck in the bottom of the box, my eyes never left the screen. This is a great movie!

I feel that this would qualify as both one of the bests movies I have seen in a long time, and a movie worthy of several oscars. I would like to respond to some of the criticisms of it first. Some argue that it is unrelated to "real life," and that an "ordinary" person could never enjoy it, only an "artsy" critic. Frankly, that statement is flat out bogus. Look at the reviews posted here. None of them are professional critics, and at least 70% of them have awarded this movie a 9-10 rating. Second, it has been said that the movie has no plot, or is exceptionally boring. In case you didn't notice, life doesn't have a plot. This isn't a typical movie; you should have realized that before you got to the theater. This movie is about the characters, their lives and emotions and pain. Certain posters have stated that the movie is racist and that it portrays Japanese in a stereotypical manner. I've never been to Tokyo, or Japan for that matter, so I cannot in good conscience respond to that allegation. There is an obvious disparity in the reviews here. Some have found it excellent and beyond compare (such as myself), and others have found it just so much garbage. One of those who felt the movie was not all it was cracked up to be commented that people who liked this movie (and I am paraphrasing) "are those who spend more time whining than actually doing things." In a sense, this is true. People who enjoy this movie probably are more contemplative than not. They can look back on their lives, and forwards as well, and feel regret and the sense of roads not taken, or raods that could not be taken. Look at the ending - they part and go their seperate ways, leaving this strange and isoltaed incident in their lives behind. And yet they had a powerful connection; they had each found someone they could relate to on a very deep level. Can you imagine forming a relationship like that, knowing that it's only for a few days? Could you leave it? And that bried incident will stay with them throughout their lives. Yes, people who enjoy this movie are those who can look beyond this moment and reflect on their lives, times both happy and sorrowful, and feel a sense of melancholy. Perhaps those who have a personal experience that they can somehow relate to this movie found it enjoyable. In case you couldn't guess, I feel some melancholy at times. However, this does not mean that I sit around all day whining about my life and how much it sucks. That's the part of that comment I find offensive. Though I may feel regret, I still live my life, and am not a whiner. Before I sign off, one last comment - I'm sixteen. Just thought it should be known that people from the younger demographic do not universally find this movie worthless. Even people my age can find something to relate to in Lost in Translation.… Expand

The majority of the negative reviews seem to emphasize the current of (non-existent) racism in the film. Does everyone work for the ACLU now? Have any of these naysayers been to the 24-hour Tim Burton nightmare that is Tokyo? When a film is set in New York and some of its inhabitants are portrayed as rude or careerist or trendy, no one complains because they know it's pretty accurate. Anyway: brilliant music, muted and poignant cinematography, human performances. Great movie.… Expand

So, the movie itself was ok, but the biggest problem was that it was a really cliched (and inaccurate) depiction of Tokyo and Japanese life. You name the cliche about the Japanese, , it was there -Those Japanese love Karaoke! -Those crazy Japanese dance games! -Those crazy Japanese TV shows with their crazy hosts -Those Japanese can't R's -All those crazy Japanese streets with their neon! -They love American pitchmen! ...If only Tokyo was that interesting. The movie was ok, obviously semi-autobiographical (based upon Sophia Coppola and Spike Jones) and, amazingly enough, the character based on her is smart, sensitive, etc. I never bought the romance angle between the two protagonists. An ok film...not worth the backlash, but not the greatest movie either. I can't understand why the critics are all fawning over it. … Expand

So good.

This film is actually a fascinating study of human nature. While Sofia Coppola has given us two completely characters to study, she pushes them toward each other in a steady "Matchmaker" type of way. This movie definitely marchs to a different drummer, as we're allowed to voyeuristically become the observer as these two personalities intermingle and react to each other. Coppola's deliberate pace will not please everyone, as she deftly manages to inch forward in character development by small steps instead of leaps and bounds. And while this May-December romance seems doomed to failure from the start, we are allowed the privilege of watching these great actors work their magic as they try to connect with each other on a more personal level. For example, while Murray labors at his obligation to shoot a whiskey commercial ("More like Roger Moore, please"), Johannsen tries to cope with the solitude of being stranded in a foreign city. And yet, this strange concept ends up working in the end. It's not that Murray's performance is such a departure from his typical physical slapstick, but because we begin to accept these characters as human beings with real needs and emotions. Is this what we were expecting from a regular night out at the movies? Probably not, but it's almost certainly one of the most pleasant surprises of this moviegoing season.… Expand

Easily the most overrated film of the season. I knew going in that it was meant to be a "film about nothing" but it turned out to be a film that lacked purpose instead. It is not so much a film as a collection of scenes, some of which are very good. On the whole, it is mildly diverting, but I put a strong emphasis on the qualifying adverb. The critical gushing is hard to understand. Murray is good, great in a few scences, but is generally given very little to work with, as is Scarlett Johansson, a relative newcomer and the granddaughter of the former heavyweight boxing champion Ingemar Johansson. The direction is first rate in some scenes, but most of the film is essentially background for a feature on Japanese hotels. This could have been a terrific short film of 20 or 30 minutes, but it turned into an overlong exercise in ambience creation. After reconciling the reviews with the film I have to ask if this is a case of grade inflation for a trustee's daughter. This is the kind of overselling reserved for the cute foreign film perceived to be the intelligent alternative to the usual blockbusters. … Expand

Don't know why, but the shot of her ass at the beginning set the tone... Very entertaining throught-out and Murray was really engaging to watch (good witty humor). Also, you have to love any movie with Peaches and My Bloody Valentine in the music score. Too cool!

Not for the Adam Sandler crowd. Subtle and full of charm and at times outrageous. It was worth the price of admission to hear a karaoke version of Sex Pistols " God save the Queen."

What a shame to waste money on such a bland, uninteresting, cliché movie. My family has not yet forgiven me for bringing this video home one evening. Humour? Where? I am not quite sure where the Oscars came from and I wonder what the critics have been watching lately. It must be one of the worst films I have ever seen and I normally like Bill Murray!

Skip this movie! There are too many other films much better than this over-rated bore.

I could not believe when I saw this film that it was the same thing all the critics had been raving about. Overlong, underplotted, little or no character development, overtly racist...it's well acted and shot, but the film has no heart.

Another great movie with Bill Murray in it. I've always loved Japan and many things that come out of that country so the setting of this movie was a real treat for me, with a beautiful plot and a great cast. All of these things make this movie one of my favorites.

This film was great. Great actors. I realy enjoyed this movie because it was based in the best countrie ever tokyo. For the people that did bad reviews. Fine you have your own say but the film is a good one. Because it doesnt contain sex. fights etc. They dont make a film good. Its the acting. And if you think that then you should go back to watching thomas the tank engine and the tweenies. They will be more up your street. The film was good and imma gonna see it again.… Expand

If you have ever spent any time in Japan you will love this movie!! The filming is great and I think the story has more to offer than most are saying. Go see this movie!!

Excellent movie. It was not racist! At points did not bob embrace japenese culture?(the music?) The chemistry between them was great! It truly captured human emotion and internal struggle and does it with some comedy. For everyone that raves racism: learn to relax and laugh. I can laugh at myself.

Sublime, Bill's performance is totally worth this year's Academy Award.

Just after finishing the film I felt that it was less than fantastic. It seemed to me as though the tourist-cam bits were a cheap way to keep the viewer intrigued but that they failed to engage. Less than 24 hours later, the damn film won't get out of my head. I lived in Asia for two years and I am reminded, poignantly, of some of the darker moments of that experience. Tears well into my eyes as I reflect upon the cold emptiness of being in a foreign place, of having had to face all that I am and am not. Within our own cultures and in our day to day interactions, we wear a frail veneer of confidence and control. This falls away too easily when we find ourselves Lost. And, so, what is left? Often, it is the realisation that we do not live up to our own expectations; that the veneer only covers our disappointment and our sadness. It is this emotional state that Coppola so carefully and exquisitely constructs within this film. Of course, Coppola has created this film with more in mind than just human isolation and its companion despair. Coppola has given us a love story, a tale of friendship, a taste of rudderless youth and of the quagmire that is middle-age. With each of these gifts she fills out the human experience in this film and thus allows us to enter into a small, simple story and yet we leave with a feeling that we?ve passed through something greater than the sum of its parts. … Expand

Most movies that tried to establish a relationship between two such diverse people would have been unbelievable and trite. Sofia Coppola has struck the perfect notes with these characters and shows a very poignant and completely believable relationship. It's also amazing the way Tokyo is shot - it makes you feel like you are experiencing the city rather than it just being a backdrop for the movie. Murray and Johansson both put in Oscar-worthy performances. This is a slow-paced character study about two people feeling disconnected in a foreign city - anybody expecting uproarious comedy obviously didn't do their homework before seeing this movie. Definitely one of the best of the year.… Expand

This is a spectacular movie, and is a huge step foreward for Sofia.

I went to see this movie with nothing more than a simple interest, mixed expectations I suppose. Surprising to me, when I left the theater, that simple interest had been manifested into a pure love for this film. There was not a single moment of this movie that I did not enjoy...whether you marvel at the neon lights of Tokyo, the intricasies of the story, the brilliant acting by both Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, the cinematography, or the superb direction by Sophia Coppola, this film offers nothing short of a masterpiece in every meaning of the word. I always use emotional involvement/intensity as one of my criteria when reviewing a movie - not only was I emotionally invested in each of the two main character's, I very nearly felt intimately involved in the relationship that developed on the screen in front of me. This movie draws you in in ways I've never been before. One of the best developments in this film is how the two characters fall in love and share an intimate relationship without ever compromising their marriages by involving any physical lust. They bond in a truly pure and genuine manner, which I think is what allows the viewer to become so involved as well. Anyone who overlooks this film as one of the best obviously doesn't appreciate the process of adapting and perfecting a story into a film that can be appreciated by many for years to come. If you are the type of person that looks at a movie on the surface and doesn't delve into the intracisies beyond the surface, then don't go see this movie. And for those who think it is in some way racist or demeaning to the Japanese, c'mon...you're really reaching. This film is definitely one of the best I have ever seen and is without a doubt a must-see for any avid movie-goer. It's a shame that it has to share it's bid for picture of the year with Lord of the Rings III because each film deserves the award and is a masterpiece in it's own. … Expand

Best Movie of 2003. Listen to the real film critics who rate this movie highly and not the Philistines who post low scores here.

The essence of this movie is sexual tension. This tension fills all of the long moments of silence, avoided eye-contact, and action frozen by uncertainty. What is lost in translation is not an understanding of Japanese, but the cultural wall that divides the generations of Americans. Bill Murray's character and that of Scarlett Johannson cannot fully connect with each other because they know that wall between generations will go up again when they return home. They connect emotionally, but they live in two different worlds back in the States. Watching them struggle to break this cultural divide by jumping into teen Japanese culture is half the fun of the movie. A sidelight in this film is the great cinematography around Tokyo. … Expand

Beautiful, delicate film!

I can appreciate artsy-fartsy films, I worked in video stores for eight years, but this was just crud. Vain and pretentious. Bill Murray was the only saving grace in this stinker.

I was glad I checked out other Metacritic opinions made by "regular" moviegoers before I saw this movie, because I noticed that the response was not as overwhelmingly favorable as the critics. Well, add me to the list of dissatisfied, and I'm completely clueless as to why the critics slobbered all over this one (as well as American Splendor, but that's another board!). I kept waiting and waiting for something to happen. Then I realized that this film had just about no plot to speak of. If you're a great writer like John Sayles (see "Sunshine State") then you can get away with it. This film needed a Sayles-like screenplay to succeed. It wasn't even close. … Expand

The most boring movie I've ever seen. Nothing happens, and the "atmosphere" is cloying and tiresome, not as clever as the director and her admirers seem to think. I couldn't wait to leave the theater -- so I walked out 15 minutes before the ending. If this hadn't been directed by a Coppola, it would have sunk without a trace. Don't waste your time.

Good Title as the storyline was evidentially "Lost In Translation." A better art house film with story included is found in "The Magdalene Sisters." You won't walk out of the theater thinking that you just wasted two hours in a bad seat.

Downright boring and awful. If you are thinking about seeing this dull film you can save yourself the money and stay home and watch the paint dry!

Had a few funny bits, but otherwise very dull, my partner and I took turns dozing-off...."is it over/do you wan to leave?"

Along with Leaving Las Vegas, this has to be one of the most overrated movies of recent years. It's an incredible bore. There's no story to speak of, the characters are boring and very little of interest happens. The Japanese are reduced to stereotypes. I just didn't care about anything in this movie. Why is Bill Murray's performance deemed to be so wonderful? He pretty much sleepwalks through everything. Call this "Leaving Tokyo." I should have left during the opening credits.… Expand

This movie is such a breath of fresh air compared to the majority of crap that surfaces from present-day hollywood. The lack of sexual contact between the two characters made the movie and the fact that Harris (Murray) did not abandon his responsibilities was respectable. Those critics who did not like this masterpiece are too engulfed in the current trend of 'if the characters get intimate, they have to f.ck for it to be a good movie'. To step away from that current norm is such a delightful shock.… Expand

Lost in Translation is an average rather depressing movie that seems to have captured the attention of the paid critics. Watch them all jump on the bandwagon.

As you can notice, this movie received excellent reviews by the critics and about half of the public. After seeing Lost in Translation, I was compelled to reexamine why it was viewed so highly which led me to see it. The only thing I could conclude was the critics fear denouncing the director, who is the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola. The acting of Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson was first rate, however the story lacked meaning, interest, and quality. My wife and numerous people leaving the theatre agreed. Even the cinematography was mediocre. I also agreed with other reviews who noticed the jokes were racial and portrayed the Japanese as caricatures. The racial jokes did not bother me as much as the recurring, prolonged periods of mundane events. I think there is a place for showing slow scenes and reflecting, so as to develop the story and emphasize the characters, but in this case it was nearly the whole movie and came across as extremely boring. Throughout the movie I remembered the wonderful reviews and was just hoping the good scene was next, which would pull the movie together, give it purpose, and in the end I would appreciate the slow meaningless scenes, but it never came. I really enjoy Bill Murray and I think Metacritic.com is the best, however this movie is so inaccurately reviewed by the critics, that I forced myself to express these opinions. … Expand

What a pretty movie to look at. And the music was good. I can see so many L.A. hipsters rushing to Amoeba to buy the soundtrack. But I don't understand the hype. Lost in Translation was good, but it wasn't ground-breaking or cathartic or pitch-perfect or like manna, like the critics are leading us to believe. Were they all taken by the Coppola mystique? Scarlett Johansson was the biggest let-down, for starters. Not only did the story fail to establish why she was so taken by Bill Murray's character, her performance amounts to an 18-year-old flirting with a tired, droopy old white guy. It didn't seem like acting (Isn't she 18 anyway?). Murray though was very good. But was he acting? His performance was the same we've seen from him, and he might have been better in Groundhog Day. Worse, the way he interacted with the Japanese and how they were portrayed in general reinforced backward cliches and didn't seem to shed any light or nuance on stereotypes. This is something this movie should probably have been conscious of as Coppola put it together, because, look, you've already got one critic saying she can't wait to fly to Tokyo, presumably to meet those, nudge-nudge, wacky Japanese and be a lost, wandering, (privileged) American misfit. That's just lame.… Expand

Boring! Once again the professional critics miss the mark as they do not understand the audience they report to? How do they get the job?

Best film I've seen in a long, long time.

Incredible. Coppola's fantastic attention to detail and mood provides a delicate and heartfelt study of the characters. She continually surprises with gorgeous little moments allowing us to peer directly into her characters. Then, as we begin to predict and define, she deceives us and proves to us that humans are incredibly detailed and often unpredictable. A beautiful, emotionally charged, understated vision.… Expand

Simply a beautiful film. In my theatre, when the credits started to roll, nobody moved. The emotion between Bob & Charlottte is palpable, and the relationship is explored in an entirely fresh, original, and honest way. I'm going to have to see this one at least a couple more times. I'll be shocked if it's not nominated.

This is the kind of film that you think about for days afterwards. Understated instead of the usual over-the-top, manipulative stuff produced today. Funny, sad and powerful. I loved it.

Easily the most elegant film I've seen this year.

Simply one of the best movies to be released in a long time. Certainly the best movie I've seen all year. Sophia Coppola improves on her superb debut, creating a film that is equally part a mood piece and captivating entertainment. Multi-layered and more complex than the simply, beautiful imagery would lead you to believe, Lost in Translation is a treatise on change and transition. Perhaps the best recommendation I can give it is that it's incredibly honest, more so than perhaps any movie I've ever seen. Truly amazing moments and epiphanies are few and far between, the movie tells us, but those are what you have to live for. It's also remarkably honest in some less than flattering ways. Those that have bashed the movie for its supposed xenophobia or racism are missing the point. Bob and Charlotte are the archetypal Americans touring the world, something we're honestly not very good at. Though they try to appreciate the culture (and Charlotte definitely has multiple scenes in which she appears to have realizations about the culture, Bob to a lesser extent), they're feeling of superiority and disconnect as Americans ultimately leads to their isolation in Japan and their discomfort with local customs. Coppola doesn't condone Bob's and Charlotte's politically incorrect banter, but she does force the viewer to question its source and meaning. This is the story of two complicated, complex, but oddly endearing characters searching for meaning in a world that seems nonsensical to them. They are flawed, yes, but the movie isn't. Indeed, the careful writing and directing (both Coppola's work) as well as the glorious cinematography and music (Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine contributes some choice moments) work together to create a whole, nearly perfect work of art.… Expand

Absolutely wonderful film! As far as any silly notions that there's anything insulting to Asians in this flick I can tell you after having spent time living and working in Japan that this film doesn't even come CLOSE to portraying all of the weirdness that a traveller will encounter over there.

Excellent work from Bill Murray, Sofia Coppola, Scarlett Johansson, and Lance Accord. This is easily one of the finest films of 2003, but is surely not for those who feel as though great films must be humorless and overly dramatic. This is a fine, down-to-earth film, and I only wish more people made films like this.

A very special film. Without ever once wandering into nostalgia or trivia, Coppolla defines yearning and melancholy in a way I've never, ever seen. To those sensitive to the nominally politically incorrect Asian jokes peppered throughout, I would argue that they only emphasize Bob and Charlotte's emotional and physical limbo, as well as their connection.

Although Bill Murray's performance was wonderful, and the story line was realistic (2 lonely and bored people were drawn to each other in a foreign country), I was unable to enjoy the movie due to its racism. What the director and the majority of my audience thought funny, I thought was racist. And, I felt that the audience was to view Tokyo as a strange city. But, the city was very much like NYC, with the tall buildings, flashy and always available resources and strange behaviors of its citizens.… Expand

I empathized a lot with the characters and my take on the theme; that happiness and that moment when you click with someone is fleeting in a confusing world, so you better enjoy it while you can. It especially struck a nerve with me considering my current personal life. However, about the racist jokes. They are stingers, though not enough for me to be taken out of the movie. Yeah, the jokes are supposed to convey the insular views of Bob and Charlotte. But those characters are suppose to mirror Sofia too, so she comes off as a cad. An extremely hip and gifted filmmaker with a knack for visuals, but still a cad.… Expand

great performances by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. just a great movie.

"The best rapper is white, and the best golfer is black," said Chris Rock, "and the best director is a woman," is my appendage to an astute observation, which sounds like hyperbole, but Sofia Coppola may live up to that billing someday. "Lost in Translation" feels like a working heart, and is a perfect antidote to reality TV, the Billboard Hot 100, and the other films playing at your cineplex. You fall in love with the characters, the Japan exteriors, and even, the hotel. In a studio film, once the characters meet, you wouldn't have dialogue-less scenes of solo introspection. It's this sort of finesse which makes Coppola an artist, and "Lost in Translation", a work of art. More than this? No. This is, it. … Expand

The beauty of Murray's acting lies in the fact that you can barely tell he is acting. I thought the film was a gem, more of a study on aspects of life than anything else. As for stereotyping the Japanese, I think most who would accuse Copolla of this are individuals who think the entire world shares the same culture and features as the USA. It was more about Murrays fealings of isolation in relation to this alien culture and its people.… Expand

The opening shot should have been the clue: Nothing! For all the critics are gaga with Bill Murray I must say it is difficult, no impossible, to sympathize with this dull and cyncial character. His slight ability to realize his own dull atrophied life and relationships doesn't save the film. What's happened to cinematic storytelling? It needn't be traditional but it has to allow us to participate on some level. Boredom and ennui is not enough. … Expand

This film sucks big time. I really don't know what it's about or where it's going. For example, Coppola sets the film in a foreign land and Murry and Johannsen (the girl) are sort of stuck there together by chance, and maybe they both share problems with their lives, but they have fun together, and then the film ends. Murray flies back home with a smile. This is no meaningful exploration of the problems they have, nor do we even get a hint of how they will be solved. As to them as a couple: it .... is closer to a really good friendship rather than anything else. So, what do we get? what did i get after watching the film? a sense of emptyness and a feeling of being ripped off 2 hours of my time. Perhaps during the film i got a sense of "would they get together?" but this is destroyed by the really slow pace, and the fact that the director never really puts in anything else into the film apart from the couple's really close friendship and a confirmation of all the Japanese stereotypes. I'd say the balance was 50/50. Half the time we see scenes cut straight from those "cwazy-foreign people and their cwazy traditions" parts of films; e.g. the part where they dine and couldn't make out the sushi menu.....or was it the part where the Japanese director couldn't say his Rs properly.....or was it the other part where the Japanese photographer who couldn't say his Rs properly......or was it the fact that perhaps arcade games and Karoke are popular in Japan??or was it that Japanese people sometimes idolize western filmstars?..etc etc. The other half of the scenes were also repetitive and boring pictures of Murry and Johannsen never actually doing much, with hardly any dialogue, or good dialogue. I would neither go as far as saying the two main actors were good. In a film with roles like this, it?s impossible to say anyone was good. NB: only watch this film if you really really have time to spare?..don?t say I didn?t warn you!!! And how this film ever got above 5/10 remains a mystery to me … Expand

I dragged three friends to watch this movie, which had incredibly good reviews from the critics. Half way into the movie, one of my friends said he had to go to the restroom....he never came back. The second friend fell asleep. And the third kept giving me a mean look, whispering to me, "You're gonna get it !" I don't get this movie. I thought it was supposed to be funny. I can literally count how many scenes that were funny: (1)Shower scene with the short shower head, (2) commercial shooting for that japanese alcoholic drink, (3) the scene of the two ladies trying hard not to laugh at Bill Murray talking to a japanese, and (4) the quirky japanese tv show. About 5-7 minutes total for these 4 scenes. The rest? I don't know. For the life of me, I do not understand this movie at all. I heard so many good reviews about this movie. And after watching it, I go back to these reviews (on this site). And I still don't quite get it. I notice on this site that people either love this movie (giving it a 10) or they think it's the worst thing ever. For me, maybe I'm just not sophosticated enough to understand this movie, but it's like watching a documentary of how snails move. … Expand

CLASSIC!! The BEST film of 2003 hands down!!

This movie is based on real life more than hollywood. Sometimes things don't work. Not everything is in perfect harmony. Accepting the world we live in, and knowing what cannot be, but still dreaming of the possibilies of the impossible. As you can see by the scores, some people just won't get it, and yet others will love it. If you want strickly hollywood plots, please seek another movie.… Expand

Don't listen to most of the people who have posted here, you're better off listening to the real critics. This movie is amazing, funny, intelligent and moving. It may be slow, but that isn't a bad thing in this film. 'Lost in Translation' restored my faith in movies.

I viewed this in a group of savvy film fans. We thought it was boring, mis-directed, and a waste of time. Not many films in our lives fell into such a low cubby hole of class, in our estimation. If it weren't for the antics and talent of Bill Murray, it would have been a thorough waste. We are returning our DVD copy for a refund. Let's see Bill get into a film company that has talent.

I could not believe how much attention this film has garnered given its use of offensive Japanese stereotypes which inadvertently and ultimately detract from the artistic merits of the film. I found the protagonist played by Scarlett Johanneson so unlikeable when she continued to say such dumb comments about why the Japanese mix up their r's and l's. She's supposed to be a Yale graduate but yet she doesn't know that there are more a few thousand languages in the world, which don't have a r's and l's in their alphabet? There was a continual undercurrent theme of the Japanese being strange and incomprehensible, which definitely verged on racism. They are mocked at because the characters in the film did not care to delve further into the culture of the country that they were visiting. The characters are portrayed as isolated and lonely because of their ambiance (foreign and strange Tokyo) not by their choices to remain aloof and uncurious. These characters were not intelligent cultured people though I believe it was the artist's intention to depict them as such. The dialogue was grossly insipid. The only real parts of the film are when Bob, Bill Murray's character and Johanneson's character share some beautifully orchestrated intimate moments. It's a film poking ethnocentric fun at the Japanese with art-film veneer. It's only veneer with pressboard as its substance. I understand that the isolationist element was the backdrop to the romance between the 2 leads. But must Coppola resort to racism in order create to the effect that she did? A more skillful artist would NOT. … Expand

Those not conforming to this never have a voice of their own. They simply don't have a story to tell, or at least not one that interests "us". This is the ignoble tradition into which Lost in Translation fits. It is similar to the way white-dominated Hollywood used to depict African-Americans - as crooks, pimps, or lacking self-control compared with white Americans. The US is an empire, and from history we know that empires need to demonise others to perpetuate their own sense of superiority. Hollywood, so American mythology has it, is the factory of dreams. It is also the handmaiden to perpetuating the belief of the superiority of US cultural values over all others and, at times, to whitewashing history. The caricatures play to longstanding American prejudice about Japan. The US forced Japan to open up for trade with other countries in 1864, ending 400 years of isolationist policy by the Tokugawa regime. The US interned thousands of Japanese during World War II and dropped two nuclear bombs on the country. After Japan's defeat, America became more influential in East Asia; Japan was occupied, not only by the US forces but, more important, politically and culturally. Some have hailed the film's subtlety, but to me it is reminiscent of the racist jokes about Asians and black people that comedians told in British clubs in the 1970s. Yet instead of being shunned, the film this week received eight British Academy award nominations, and has four Oscar nominations, including for best picture. Coppola's negative stereotyping of the Japanese makes her more the thinking person's Sylvester Stallone than a cinematic genius. Good luck to the director for getting away with it, but what on earth are people with some semblance of taste doing saluting it? … Expand

A story has to have guts. Structure is nice, but not critical. It needs parts. Internal pieces, working together to form a greater whole. Not a like, say, a mannequin, that only has shape but is ultimately hollow. When anyone sees a film or reads a story, they project themselves into it, onto it. They picture themselves there. They fancy themselves as silent observers, but then become one of the characters. Some films give you less to work with. This may be a matter of disagreement over exactly what is ?less? and ?more.? Some films are extremely talky and leave nothing to the imagination; others offer long, ambiguous lingering pauses and wordless stretches where you, the viewer/reader, must mentally fill in the blank. For example, I recall a scene from Legends of the Fall with Brad Pitt. One scene stood out in my mind, but only because of how absurdly it was executed and how obviously it was meant to have played: Brad and Julia Ormond are separated by jail cell bars, and look into one another?s eyes for, oh, I?d say a good minute. But blankly. Both of them. Nothing happening. Maybe a little head tilt there and there. But nothing. No reaction. No spark. No information. Mystery in a film is fine, but don?t leave me guessing what the characters are thinking unless that?s your goal. And given the length of the scene, I can only imagine that wasn?t the goal of the scene. The trick?no, the essential need?of making a great story is walking that line. I feel I can tell when a director means to say something with a pregnant pause or an idle rumination, but I can also tell when they simply don?t put forth enough effort to make it happen. So many films have only the shape of an effectively communicative scene that should truly, genuinely resonate, but don?t have the guts. Show me a scene like that again, and you?re basically saying, ?See what I?m trying to say here? If not, fill in the blanks.? I feel as if I?m invited to go home and make up my own story. I watch a film to feel something and know what it is that?s being shown, not play Madlibs. Minimalism?s great; Nothingism ain?t. Finally, a story only works if something happens. Yes, in real life, sometimes nothing happens. ?Nothing? happens in real life as often as ?something? does. But it?s not interesting to watch something be static, stagnant. Transformation is intriguing. Journeys are interesting. Connected sequences of events are interesting. Cause and effect. My Dinner with Andre is just two men sitting and having dinner, telling stories. No plot, but by the end, there is change in the characters and you see it. You know there has been a change made. If your characters learn nothing or do nothing, or have some new thought in their heads, then they are stagnant, unengaging, and not worth anyone?s time. Lost in Translation commits all the above sins. It looks and smells like a great movie, but it fails to do the aforementioned ?walking the line? trick. It does, however, appear convincingly lifelike, with even some real moments along the way. But I was taken aback by how many alarming cliché moments and characters popped up throughout what was supposedly an original film. True, there?s nothing new under the sun, but the trick, again, is to make it seem new. And there was nothing new I could find here, and nothing old that seemed worth saying again. There are those who?ve criticized the stereotypes in the film and considered them bordering on (if not altogether) racist. Let?s forget that for a moment, since I don?t feel that stereotyping is the film?s fundamental flaw. Frankly, it barely registered, and not due to any cultural insensitivity on my part, but only because the stagnant nature of the characters left me so busy searching for any reason to care, I didn?t really notice. Many ?10? point givers here speak of the depth of the insight and the genuine expression of the actors in their roles. Well, they?re certainly trying to get that across, but what do they do about it? They seem intelligent enough to do something about it, yet do nothing. They don?t ring true. Either they should have been even deeper in their own holes of depression, or enlightened enough to do something. In other words, something shoulda gave, and nothin? did. Score: 1. … Expand

While the performances seem geniune enough and the atmosphere is intriguing, the film isn't nearly as engaging as it should be. I have no issue with "meandering" films such as this one (I love My Dinner With Andre, one of the great examples of fine plot-free thought-driven cinema), but the way the moments in the film are connected is loose, increasingly repetitive and obvious, and lacking any urgency. The truly funny moments in the film stand alone from the rest when they should gel together. And, with the two leads gaining little more insight than "I'm unhappy" and not doing much about it, the film peters out when it should have soared. Bill, hope you win an Oscar, but it should have been for Rushmore, not this.… Expand

This has got to be the most overrated movie ever. The fact that it's nominated for a Best Picture Oscar alongside fantastick movies like Mystic River and Seabiscuit is just WRONG.

Too boring. I have never seen such a ridiculously boring film all my life.

The matter of taste which will divide all viewers over "Lost in Translation" is really one of maturity: of course I am speaking of many different aspects of this film. Modern day cinema has been reduced to seeing one absurd spectacle try to top the last(often in ludicrous sequels) such as the extreme cruelty and violence of "The Passion" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", the over the top special effects of "The Matrix" movies, and the juvenile humour of gross out films like "American Pie" and "Club Dread". Chances are if you really enjoyed these movies that you will probably not find "Lost in Translation" very appealing. It's a movie that's goals are not in fufilling the popcorn stuffed stocking of the average viewer. It is more documentary like in it's approach to both alienism and the passage into an affair. More for the History Channel viewer than the MTV, Lifetime, or Spike TV fan. There are no special effects. The acting is that of restraint in an attempt to appear real instead of attempting a charicture. There are NO special effects. And Sofia Coppola does not feel that it is neccessary to explain her actors actions or emotions by detailing them through dialogue. Instead the viewer is asked to analyze the expressions of the actors and their actions. There is no overdubbing of inner dialogue, instead a grimace and enviroment is supplied, as Sofia does not spoonfeed the obvious(sic. not condenscending toawards the audience). For example as Murray's character begins to toy with the idea of having an affair he begins to distance himself from his married life. However if one does not know or recognize the tell-tell signs such as dwindling care for the decoration of their house(as it is becoming less their house and more hers) one may become oblivious to the focal plot line. The failure to recognize these points is not due to Coppola or the actors failing to convey them but rather that one of two things has occured. Either the viewer does not have the life experience(hence maturity) needed to view this movie or much more likely their minds have been turned into tripe by the wasteland of trash that passes for a modern movie going experience (see vertical limit for a good example). If you are going to the theater or renting a copy from your local movie store I'd suggest not checking your brain in at the door. This post is not a critique of the movie but of those who go to see the movie.... The movie itself is as brilliant as it will be timeless. Superb acting, beautiful cinematography, a mature and intelligent plot, and perhaps the only movie I have ever seen that I could say was truely filled with joyful melancholy or melancholy joy(I forget which one).… Expand