So many people said to watch this if I enjoyed reading Strange Weather in Tokyo, and so here I finally did, but frankly — I'm utterly disappointed. ˎˊ˗ 

08/17/25

 ❛ Lost in Translation ❜ 

Dude. This movie played at about 5 frames per whenever it wanted when we watched this (do NOT stream movies on Discord), and I was sleepy, so that might have contributed to my negative perception of this film, but regardless, the plot just did not appeal to me much.

I see the vision, but I didn't enjoy the execution. The pensive soundtrack was good, and I really liked the colour grading at some scenes. Moreover, they captured those feelings of alienation and loneliness quite well on camera. But even so, it's not exceptional, it doesn't feel so organic, and it's rude. 

I think the main actors did a decent job with showing the subtleties in their relationship and with the unspoken part, but there were often scenes that felt exaggerated and stuck out like sore thumbs. Many of their interactions felt just like blocks, in the sense that the development of their relationship doesn't seem organic, and is instead just a series of isolated, escalating events between them. I did have high hopes though, after watching the first scenes of them; when they were lonely and isolated and all that. After that, though, it was just alright.

A note I really wanted to make: the casual making fun of Japanese accents also just rubs me the wrong way (the "l" and "r" pronunciation jokes); that in no way contributes to the actual storyline, and it just wasn't necessary. How are you making a movie in Tokyo and just so unappreciative of everything? It just screams superiority and privileged to me and it's dispiriting of them to make fun of Asian culture. It's just counts of microaggression everywhere. So yeah, those small details did make my overall perception of the movie worse.

And I feel like there were random points that were just padded in, like the random redhead he slept with near the end. Their relationship progression is just boring...other than the fleeting partying scene, it's not much except for bland mush with a side of forced intervals of intimate eye contact. Everything feels like it's for the sake of the plot, and not out of real chemistry. 

Overall, this movie is mediocre, and though it does have some strong points, it's also not the most conscious movie, and it definitely could have been executed a lot better. My five cents are: stick with Strange Weather in Tokyo instead.
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