Shawn Mendes Lost in Japan / Lost in Translation Comparison

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Shawn Mendes' music video for his song "Lost in Japan" is more-or-less a remake of Sofia Coppola's movie "Lost In Translation". It's a clever idea, but it left me thinking about when an homage is satisfying and when it's not.

Music Video "Shawn Mendes, Zedd - Lost In Japan (Original + Remix)"

#VideoEssay #ThomasFlight

[mjrubxw]

I like how two different stories could be told and two different moods could be established with the same visuals

[allthingsfascinating]

I'd say it's a good homage because it reminds me of a film I love, while at the same time not getting too serious about the themes. It's nostalgia in a fun way.

[TheDiscardedImage]

Interesting to see the two side by side just in terms of cinematography. The Mendes video has really punched things up, as if they thought the original cinematography was too murky. But that decision goes to your general point too.

[sincerelysof]

The song is upbeat, so no wonder Shawn's character is upbeat. The lyrics fit the scenes ("I was thinking I could fly to your hotel tonight"). Both were lost in Japan for the sake of having fun. Shawn never intended a melancholic video. You might even say he tried to take a total different approach on the movie on purpose. The movie showed the story of a middle-aged man and Shawn is showing his. Nothing bad about it?

Also, let the kid have fun recreating bit and bops of some movie he likes. Let him give that movie a little shout out. 😂✌🏽

[DidrickNamtvedt]

I've never seen "Lost In Translation" so when I watched the Shawn Mendes music video for the first time, I just thought it was a very good music video and it wasn't until I read the comments underneath that I was made aware that it was inspired by the film. Your video shows how closely inspired it was and they indeed paid an impressive attention to detail to make the scenes match up as close as they did. The mood of the character in the movie is definitely seemingly different from Shawn's character but like you point out, maybe that was intentional, to turn the vibe on its head. In either case, this is the first time I've seen a music video pay homage to a movie with this much resemblance to the original material. Great comparison video! :)

[albertomasini]

Personally, I think Mendes perfectly understood the meaning of the film. He wanted to start from the situation of the film but then making his character escape from that condition of melancholy/loneliness and follow his love feelings, as shown especially with the last elevator scene in the video, in which Shawn runs after the girl while in the film this doesn't happen. Of course I am not saying I am right but I think you should have said something about that scene too. It is one big difference in my opinion. By the way, very nice video

[vicenteortegarubilar]

When meaning is completely lost we are just left with iconography, wich can be cool and all of that, but is also sad.
I was hoping the video would use some of the themes of the movie in order to change the meaning behind the pop song, but I think it ends up creating the image of what someone wants the movie to be, just a love story, instead of the more depp and meaningful story.

[muhammadhamza]

It Is how we see it.
Being 'lost' can be a good thing for some and bad for some. Can be bad for old (Bill Murray), good for young (Shawn). The video shows, that for old and young the visuals are the same it is how we feel it.

[allthingsfascinating]

Long time, Thomas! Nice to see your notification.

[TheDevinShamel]

This is a great video! Never noticed Shawn Mendes’ video did this. It’s a unique spin on the film as an upbeat teen love story in my opinion.

[kierstenburton]

He literally isn’t happy about filming a whiskey commercial he literally acts like he is falling asleep

[mironnabokov]

Not only the upbeat mood is subvrerting the movie's theme, but the washed out dark colours and flashier lights. I guess the point is, however lost, you can be happy

[ZacharyAllen-Thierry]

The cuts and blends between both videos side by side is oddly satisfying lol

[iblame_nargles]

As much as I agree with you, I think that the love shown for Lost In Translation is purely based around the aesthetics. Looks to me like he enjoyed the film, thought that the film was very pretty and then decided to "pay homage" to the film by replicating shots for his music video. Is it pretty fun/cute? Yeah. Would I consider it a homage? Not really. It's more like a love letter to me. Except, instead of talking about how much he loved that time they spent hours chatting to each other, he's more talking about how much he loves that one time they had great sex.

[likopinina]

I guess you could say it lost something in translation from film to music video ;)

[OliverObz]

Another movie I've been needing to watch!

[caleculating]

I think it’s different. I think that Shawn Mendes perfectly understood the meaning, he wanted to pay homage to a movie he likes. The song lost in Japan would never fit the same sort of melancholy lost in translation had; it’s ultimately a love song. He sings about a kind of impulsive love for a person that he would fly to her/his hotel tonight without hesitation.

I think it was never meant to be as deep as lost in translation, he probably thought that the movie and his song fit very well visually, they were both in Japan and they were both “lost”. The lost in both titles mean completely different things, and forcing the sort of melancholy lost in translation had on such an upbeat song would have ultimately made no sense.

Ultimately, I’m impressed by the detail that was put into the shoots; how they tried to recreate many of the shoots firms by frame, like the curtain opening and the karaoke. I think that he just really enjoyed the film and wanted to introduce it to his younger audiences. Most of my friends are talking about watching the film together now during our staycation. I love that.

[jenniferoakes]

I had never ever seen Lost in Translation and am shocked to learn this music video went to such lengths to copy the film. Everything you said sounds on point. However, for someone like me who never saw the film, I'm not upset about how it failed to copy the melancholy.. I'm glad it did the upbeat love story thing. I feel like life itself has enough melancholy. 🤷‍♀️🤔😆 music can be a good escape.

[KhushiSharma-iwpk]

Great video! I think that while it is a homage, it's also Shawn Mendes' music video so it's bound to bring his character and his story behind the song to the forefront as well.

[hectorrodriguez]

It’s a great homage, Shawn’s character wonders about all the fun and good times he can have with the lady whom he got some attention, imagining how wonderful would be to spend some fun times with the young lady in a country where he doesn’t know much.