Cliché
Ugly tasteless geek must get the most beautiful angelic babe available! So unbelievable. The girl was just way too perfect and doll like - she was just a projection of Otoko Fantasy.
shareI haven't seen the film, but as far as the original BBS posts go, that's basically the point... that something so clichéd and unbelievable could really happen.
Keep in mind that the film is a dramatization, and presumably adds/changes a lot (especially since very limited information is available). Also, remember that all information on Hermes comes directly through Trainman, who progressively comes to see her as perfect over a period of time - so all may not be precisely as it seems.
Translation of the original posts here:
http://www.rinji.tv/densha/
Edit: For that matter, all information on Trainman /also/ comes through Trainman (apart for what can be learnt from his writing style). He has a low opinion of himself, but who's to say how accurate his opinions are?
...comes to see her as perfect over a period of time...
I understand that Hermes is a projection of Trainman's fantasy, but we as the audience get to see Hermes in her real life (within the film) interact with her other friends and family in the absence of Trainman, and she is still, perfect.
The Cliché I was talking about is how men perceive the women they are infatuated with, as perfect.
The expectation is that the protagonist must get the most perfect and good-looking girl.
The perfect Hermes was able to excuse all the bad qualities of the short, ugly, and poor otaku; however Trainman required perfection from the one woman he chose to love.
I was a lot more intrigued by the other girl who was less pretty, rather aggressive (but more down-to-earth), and was daringly promiscuous. She broke all the Clichés of what it means to be a gentle Japanese woman, but was the ultimate Cliché herself because she was a home-wreaker and heart-breaker (Femme Fatal). In the film, women are either perfect or inconsiderate, mean and promiscuous.
share
FYI, Train Man isn't an otoko (well he is but that's not the type of person he is), he's an otaku. The title, Densha Otoko, translates roughly as Train Man, densha translates to electric train and otoko is man.
shareAh, well you could be right there... as mentioned, haven't been able to see the film. It was my intention to reply in defence of the forum posts the film is based off. I've seen a lot of people talk about how implausible the Trainman story is (how could anyone ever believe that it really happened/etc.) who have only seen the TV drama (which, judging from the first episode, bears only a vague resemblance to the original story and is indeed implausible). Just didn't want people to get the wrong idea.
It sounds likely that the film isn't much more accurate (the second female character you mention either doesn't exist in the original, or is not described with any of those qualities, for example)... which is a pity, as the original is simultaneously remarkable and highly genuine (regardless of any possibility of hoax).