New this week is "Lost In Translation," I guess a romantic comedy set in modern day Japan. The story was entertaining, even if a little unbelievable, but I don't think it was really necessary that they set it in Japan if they're not going to bring out the uniqueness of the country. They could have filmed it in Bolivia and the "I don't understand what you're talking about" gags would have been the same.

The story revolves around two characters, Bob Harris who's a tired Japanderer and Charlotte, a young wife who doesn't feel loved enough. Misery loves company and through each other, they find their way to restarting their lives.

Like I've mentioned, I enjoyed the story. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, who play the protagonists, don't seem to fit each other too well. But that's probably how it should have been as he's old enough to be her father and they're not supposed to fall in love, but rather re-evaluate their own lives. The strongest message of the movie is that you don't need to fall in love with someone of the opposite sex for them to have a strong impact on you.

Now this living in Tokyo backdrop really wasn't necessary. It was nice that I could understand what they were saying despite not having subtitles, but even with that, all the gags in the movie were trite. Hyperactive gameshows and hosts, karaoke, "Lip my stockings!" and the likes. I've never been to Japan, but there has to be more than that.

Anyhow, good movie. Good date movie if I might add.

Rating: 3/4

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