Never trust a woman
So, I finally got around to watching Lost in Translation. I had already seen it, years ago, when it initially came out. And I loathed the movie. After visiting Japan and reading all the plethora of references to the movie in all my guidebooks, I figured it might be worth it to see it again. It just took me five months to do it.
After having seen it again, I still stand by my original review. The movie terrible. Its too much in love with itself. There is NO plot (none whatsoever). If the editor had done his job correctly, the movie would be a scant 20 minutes long.
Nevertheless, I was able to identify (or at least empathisize) with the characters. When both lie awake at 4am because jet lag screws you over, or Bill Murray can't understand, "Lip my stocking!", or you just stand in the middle of the street starring at an unending crowd of men and women dressed in black suits and white shirts and ponder how a society so conservative at work can be so absurdly neon at night (I know, neon isn't a great word there, but I think it encapsulates Japanese non-working culture).
When I first returned from the country, I was exceedingly disappointed with the vacation. In retrospect, I guess I was just pissed at the weather. Of the 11 days we were there, it rained all but one. Fortunately, the dry day was the day we went to Kamakura. I very much preferred Kyoto to Tokyo; the latter just seemed too much of a caricature of Japanese culture. All I can say about Osaka is that's its the Detroit of Japan. Although having recently gone to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, I can say the Osaka aquarium really is one of the best in the world.
And David is a good travel buddy. In fact, I was surprised to realize that he and I have actually traveled to quite a few places together (Germany, DC, Philly)...odd. Overall, its difficult to travel exclusively with someone for 11 days. The only time I really got pissed with David was when he kept making me walk through an army of pimps and prostitutes in Shinjuku. He claimed he couldn't decide on a bar, but I think he just really enjoyed seeing people offer themselves to me. Interestingly, this is the third straight vacation where I've been targetted by ladies of the evening (do I have something on me that says I'm willing to pay? 'Cause I'm not)
I know David's going to South Korea (to which I was graciously invited), and Prosh just suggested another trip this year, but I don't know where I'll be going next. Its coming up on six months since my last trip, which would be a good time to get going. But, alas, airfars have skyrocketed from the lows set last year. Case in point: Out of curiousity, I looked up flights to Barcelona for the last week in April (the same time I went last year), only to discover were up 50% from what I paid in 2009. After having paid just $400 to go, I'm hesitant to shell out more than $600 to do it again...even though interest rates are good.
This entry sucked. I only talked about boring things. I think Lost in Translation made me sad and ruined me. Damn you Sophia Coppola!
After having seen it again, I still stand by my original review. The movie terrible. Its too much in love with itself. There is NO plot (none whatsoever). If the editor had done his job correctly, the movie would be a scant 20 minutes long.
Nevertheless, I was able to identify (or at least empathisize) with the characters. When both lie awake at 4am because jet lag screws you over, or Bill Murray can't understand, "Lip my stocking!", or you just stand in the middle of the street starring at an unending crowd of men and women dressed in black suits and white shirts and ponder how a society so conservative at work can be so absurdly neon at night (I know, neon isn't a great word there, but I think it encapsulates Japanese non-working culture).
When I first returned from the country, I was exceedingly disappointed with the vacation. In retrospect, I guess I was just pissed at the weather. Of the 11 days we were there, it rained all but one. Fortunately, the dry day was the day we went to Kamakura. I very much preferred Kyoto to Tokyo; the latter just seemed too much of a caricature of Japanese culture. All I can say about Osaka is that's its the Detroit of Japan. Although having recently gone to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, I can say the Osaka aquarium really is one of the best in the world.
And David is a good travel buddy. In fact, I was surprised to realize that he and I have actually traveled to quite a few places together (Germany, DC, Philly)...odd. Overall, its difficult to travel exclusively with someone for 11 days. The only time I really got pissed with David was when he kept making me walk through an army of pimps and prostitutes in Shinjuku. He claimed he couldn't decide on a bar, but I think he just really enjoyed seeing people offer themselves to me. Interestingly, this is the third straight vacation where I've been targetted by ladies of the evening (do I have something on me that says I'm willing to pay? 'Cause I'm not)
I know David's going to South Korea (to which I was graciously invited), and Prosh just suggested another trip this year, but I don't know where I'll be going next. Its coming up on six months since my last trip, which would be a good time to get going. But, alas, airfars have skyrocketed from the lows set last year. Case in point: Out of curiousity, I looked up flights to Barcelona for the last week in April (the same time I went last year), only to discover were up 50% from what I paid in 2009. After having paid just $400 to go, I'm hesitant to shell out more than $600 to do it again...even though interest rates are good.
This entry sucked. I only talked about boring things. I think Lost in Translation made me sad and ruined me. Damn you Sophia Coppola!