by Goji66 » Sat Feb 19, 2005 11:49 am
I've always argued in the past that the Matrix is a pastiche of past genre films. It's 'machines' plot goes back to Terminator, Westworld, 2001, Brave New World and dozens of pulp sci-fi magazines. The fight scenes are HK mixed with leather fetish which had already been seen prior to 1999 in films like The Crow and the Batman series. And in the past I've noted the similarities to the works of Masamune Shirow as well as Sergio Leone. Even so, the Matrix combines these elements into something with a new flavor, while GFW's pastiche does not rise above its influences. GFW doesn't expand on what it borrows -- it merely apes it in a substandard way.
About Lost in Translation, I did notice two scenarios that bothered me. One was the scene of Scarlett in the arcade, half-amused and half-smirking at how involved the Japanese gamers were with their hobby (as if videogame otakus didn't exist in America). The other scene was where Murray commented that someone in Japan was bound to find black toe appetizing, and went on to say "burack toe" as a taunt to the Japanese cook. It was funny, but too much at the expense of the Japanese for my tastes. Despite these scenes, there are other moments when those same characters reach out to their hosts. Like when Scarlett joins the women who are arranging flowers, or when Bill really wishes to understand the old man in the hospital (contrary to popular belief, he was not mocking the little guy, but following his lead in the hopes of figuring out the message. Note the women laughing at Bill, as he is the object of comedy rather than the old man).
And don't forget, Lost in Translation depicts two people who'd rather not be in Japan to begin with (as opposed to most MZ members who'd love to be there, myself included). It's a plot device to make the characters bond, and in all honesty probably reflects how average Americans would react in that culture anyway.
Edit: BTW, about the scene with Bill and the woman who screams upon being touched. She makes it clear when she arrives at the room that she is a 'Premium Fantasy' escort girl sent to Murray by his Japanese contact. She is attempting to engage Bill in a "rape fantasy" role-playing game. I thought this scene was hilarious.