Advantages: well-paid and calm
Disadvantages: see opinion

...Judging by my clumsy style, you won’t be surprised to know that the degree I have reads: Artistic Translation from Spanish to Russian, prose and poetry. Living outside Russia (and Spain), I certainly have very little future in particularly this profession. Notwithstanding, I have spent almost all my weekends for the last seven years translating restaurant menus, brochures, catalogues, contracts, private letters and all the other interminable stuff. There are essentially two good things about translating: it’s considerably well-paid, and you are never out of work. As in any job, some initial contacts are very useful, but even if you don’t have them, it’s quite easy to get employed via the Internet, in virtually any country. The third good thing is a total lack of stress. Once you have learnt... Read review

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Advantages: Great characters, beautiful soundtrack, fantastic scenery
Disadvantages: None in my opinion

...I can't think of many films that I have seen in my lifetime that affected me as much as Lost in Translation did when I first saw it in cinemas way back when. I'm not sure exactly what aspect of the film it was that grabbed me, but Lost in Translation is a film with many beautiful qualities. I also can't think of many films that have divided people so. If ever there was a Love/Hate film, it is this one. I remember the conversations clearly after seeing this film. "What did you make of it?", I would say. And each time I would either hear that the person had loved it, or despised it. I think it depends very much on what you look for in a film. Lost in Translation isn't a quick fix film. It's not fast paced and it is not a typical Hollywood film. It is, however, a rewarding experience. Invest your time and attention in Lost... Read review

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Advantages: Easiest thing in life! Amazingly functional!
Disadvantages: No Mac or Linix version yet

...Babylon is FREE. Well, this is probably not a very amazing statement anymore since almost everyone has something free to offer. But what I mean and experienced is not free - it's FREE!!! If you consider the value they add to your life when you are not an English or American native I would even pay a pretty solid price for it. So, what is it? Babylon is a little program that runs in the background (you can chose either to start it up with every boot sequence of Windows or use it on demand) without even noticing any memory use. My NT server monitor does not even show a percentage for memory use! The simplest and easiest and only thing this program does is: by a key stroke combination that can be user-defined hovering over any word or phrase, the program would launch a little window with the translation of the source language terms... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: excellent performances from scarlett johansson and bill murray and also great direction from soffia coppola
Disadvantages: erm maybe a little slow for some people and not an extensive plot....

...Unlike many of her contemporaries Sofia Coppola writer and director of both The Virgin Suicides and Lost In Translation appears focused upon making films that are honest, acutely observational and believable. It’s testimony to her apparent refusal to indulge viewers’ expectations or resort to Hollywood contrivances that Lost In Translation is immeasurably more genuine and charming than the majority of thoughtless films that Hollywood churns out. Coppola also makes sure to give her actors freedom to perform, unlike many heavy-handed Hollywood directors. And it pays off brilliantly as Bill Murray gives what is the most reserved and understated performance of his career, which is also his absolute finest. Scarlett Johansson is an actress who is also currently on top form. She has a truly intoxicating screen presence and produces... Read review

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Advantages: Great direction & acting
Disadvantages: There aren't more films like it!

...Lost in Translation stars: Bill Murray best known for his great comedy work (Groundhog Day, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Kingpin, Charlie’s Angels) as Bill Harris Scarlet Johansson (Ghost World, Girl with a pearl earring) as Charlotte and is both written and directed by Sofia Coppola (yes of THAT family pedigree). The film is set completely in modern Tokyo, Japan and features an ageing American actor (Murray) going there to make a whisky ad for TV. His background is shown as a successful but flagging career of which he is visibly exhausted and a young wife left at home with their child who is obsessed with carpeting his study whilst he is away, but nowhere near obsessed with him. Johansson is the young bride of a rock photographer there snapping a Japanese band. He spends most of the time working whilst she sits bored in the hotel...