Just watched this and I must say I'm sooo positively surprised! For us (me and the wife) this was two hours of pure joy. Cinematography is very nice - Tokyo in its colors stands out so brilliantly! I have to admit at first I was somewhat sceptical about Bill Murray... but he did it this time. This role seems like it's been die-cast for him and he just shines.
In terms of picture quality: very good, very sharp (although I can only judge this on a 720p projector); I particularly liked the vibrant city colors and the the more subtle tones in some of the indoors and outdoors scenes. Scarlett Johansson is superb! I find it very satisfying to have this on HD-DVD. It's a movie that's relying a lot on cinematography, and still, it benefits tremendously from HD.

Agreed. One of my all time favorite movies. Seen it countless times. The HD-DVD is great, far better than most around here give it credit for.

This is one of those love it or hate it films. I love it, need to get it on HD DVD.

her butt looks great in HD!

i felt like the pq in some of the indoor shots were not as good as the outdoor ones. i dont know if that was the director's intent.. to have 2 different looks to the picture, but i really dig the movie so it didn't bother me much.

I found it a really odd movie. Even if it was a realistic depiction of life in Tokyo and was well acted... it still felt like a non event

Nearly as good as Broken Flowers.

Steve W

I really enjoyed that movie as well.

Great to read about another person's discovery of this gem. Lost In Translation is a favorite of mine and probably my most anticipated release after it was announced. I hadn't yet start paying much attention to film quality when I saw it in the theater (not sure if for better or worse ;)). So I'm not certain how accurate this disc's presentation is. The colors are certainly vibrant, contrast can be quite good (with a few exceptions) and the grain appears very natural. Fine detail is the only suspect attribute of the transfer and it seems to me that its intentional. Anyways, I'm a happy owner of this HD DVD and have to agree with above that it doesn't get enough credit around here.

Saw the film multiple times theatrically back in 2004 and I remember what it looked like well, and this HD DVD is incredibly faithful to the original presentation. I've said before that when I saw this on DVD for the first time, I was disappointed at the presentation and how disconnected I felt from the movie compared to seeing it at the theater, but when I saw this on my projector and turned the sound up (it has a very engaging ambient soundtrack that gets very little recognition, but, in my opinion, is fantastic) I enjoyed the movie as much or more than when I saw it for the first time. Something about this movie just does it for me. I'm an aspiring director, and this movie is one that I consistently go back to for pointers when writing characters. Sometimes the less said, the better.

Saw the film multiple times theatrically back in 2004 and I remember what it looked like well, and this HD DVD is incredibly faithful to the original presentation. ....
....and turned the sound up (it has a very engaging ambient soundtrack that gets very little recognition, but, in my opinion, is fantastic)

You're so right! I noticed this when watching it yesterday - very ambient soundtrack - fantastic!!

Something about this movie just does it for me.
.... Sometimes the less said, the better.

Hear hear!!!

"Lip my stockings!" :D

Just recently I was telling a friend that this is one of the most watchable movies I own; every few weeks I pitch it into the XA2, then I relax and enjoy!

As much as this film "did it" for some, it disappointed me.

Sophia would not have been in Godfather III without her family connections.

I don't think she would be directing if not for that either.

As much as this film "did it" for some, it disappointed me.

Sophia would not have been in Godfather III without her family connections.

I don't think she would be directing if not for that either.

I agree with your first point--she was pretty bad in "The Godfather, part III. "Lost in Translation," however, is a great movie and Sophia Coppola appears to be the real deal as a director.

"Hey, Hey! Lip them?! Lip them?!"

Yes, I loved this film and watch the HD-DVD every couple of weeks. Some scenes look great but the lack of contrast in a lot of the darker scenes leaves me less than impressed with the transfer at times (though they are few).

All in all it was a great investment though, because I'll always enjoy this film. I like both Murray and Johansson. I thought even Ribisi did a good job in the film. Definitely not one for everybody, but for the few that find its' magic it is a film with lots of replay value.

I also went to see it about 4 times in the theater. I love this movie. Subtle and affecting. Universal's Focus Features has quite a few treasures to enjoy and I am really glad that HD DVD has access to some with hopefully many more to come.

I found it a really odd movie. Even if it was a realistic depiction of life in Tokyo and was well acted... it still felt like a non event

+1

Yeah, put me in the "what evah" corner on Lost In Translation. Love Bill Murray, but this flick to me was proof that me that the banal and mundane as art isn't confined to the museum...

Yeah, put me in the "what evah" corner on Lost In Translation. Love Bill Murray, but this flick to me was proof that me that the banal and mundane as art isn't confined to the museum...

Some love action.

Some love comedy.

And others love movies like "Lost in Translation"

I'm was in the hated it section.

jcg

This is one of those love it or hate it films. I love it, need to get it on HD DVD.

The HD DVD presentation was good. But I didn't like the movie at all. Very disappointed -- especially after all of the hype. I yawned and looked at my watch an awful lot.

To each his own, I guess.

I've said it before - I adore this movie, every second of it. I'm very pleased to have it in my HD DVD collection. Bill's performance is sublime, and Scarlett - well, she's just lovely.

Nearly as good as Broken Flowers.

Steve W

I really enjoyed Broken Flowers.

But if I had to choose, I'd choose LIT. It left me wanting more. It left me yearning for the story to continue and what would happen next.. even though deep inside, I knew that.. that was it. Boom, no more. End of story, move along.

I enjoyed both movies (Broken Flowers & LIT); but I would have to say that I liked Broken Flowers a touch more. These movies certainly don't hit you over the head like typical Hollywood movies do. These are much more subtle in how they present their message to you.

I am in the enjoyed it and got it category. Regardless of her familial connections Ms. Coppola showed that she could direct. Nicholas Cage has familial connections as well and needless to say had made a name for himself with his talent and not his connections.

Broken Flowers is garbage compared to Lost In Translation, which is pure art. There's a reason the academy completely ignored Broken Flowers, it was dull. Yes, the story of LiT was dull but the filmmaking and the craft was as vibrant and full of life as anything I've seen in years.

I think it's a great movie, similar to Japanese slice of life dramas that I love. Very happy to have it in my collection.

I absolutely love this movie. I don't know how often I've seen it by now, I just can't grow tired of it.

Lost in Translation is one of my few all-time favorites, everything about it is simply perfect.

Now all I need is "I heart Huckabees" in HD and life will be complete.

her butt looks great in HD!

i felt like the pq in some of the indoor shots were not as good as the outdoor ones. i dont know if that was the director's intent.. to have 2 different looks to the picture, but i really dig the movie so it didn't bother me much.

I agree. I picked this title up last night and the first scene with her inside looked almost dvd quality or dare I say it.. VHS. I thought the outdoor scenes looked awesome but indoor deffinetly had alot of grain to them.

It is good that there are now enough titles for almost every taste. I like this movie and think it is well worth purchasing. In contrast, the just released Tremors is a movie I would never want. But that is fine, and we can all be happy with our choices.

It is definitely a unique movie but a must for anyone who has conducted business in Japan. From what I recall, it was a very low budget movie which makes it remarkable wrt to how much entertainment value it has relative to high dollar productions. Bill Murray was a great role for the film. He must have done some business in Japan prior to this :).

The HD DVD presentation was good. But I didn't like the movie at all. Very disappointed -- especially after all of the hype. I yawned and looked at my watch an awful lot.

To each his own, I guess.

+1

I found it boring too.

excellent film. I was once in Tokyo for 2 weeks and had alot of free time when my fiancee was working so I wandered and this film nailed that vibe perfectly.
A mood piece that you have to, well, be in the mood for.

I dug it alot.