A good movie with beautiful sound.

Rating: 8/10 (16 February 2004)

Overall it's a good movie with a few weakness. I don't think it was well written, and I'm not sure if it was well directed. Like Bilbo Baggins it feels a little 'thin and stretched'.
However, it did have two good performances, although I'm not sure they deserved to win BAFTAs'. A little to often it felt like the film was being padded out with bits of improvised dialogue that didn't really move the characters and the story forward, or add any real depth.
The cinematography was good and it evoked an atmosphere of Tokyo that was much as I remember it fro my own visits. The soundtrack was superb, and the sound was absolutely beautiful.
The sound and visuals captured beautifully the chaos and contrast of Tokyo. While the story and dialogue at times made fun of Japanese culture, the sound and cinematography captured the essence of the place, and portrayed outsiders sense of awe and wonderment without judgement.