HK actress for "Memoirs of a Geisha"?

[Taro Toporific]

Welcome to Kyoto, CaliforniaThe Japan Times: Dec. 15, 2005, By KAORI SHOJI
....There are just so many things wrong with the whole package, which is plastered with kitschy oriental cliches. We're talking about a Chinese actress speaking in that stilted Hollywood Asian-English (immortalized by Mr. Yuniyoshi in "Breakfast at Tiffany's") in the role of a Japanese geisha during the Sino-Japanese conflict of the 1930s. It's hard to know how to handle this: go ballistic, start apologizing, giggle nervously or what?....more....

[Mulboyne]

I see Zhang Ziyi was nominated for a Golden Globe. Perhaps the producers were hoping for a few more, though.

[Mulboyne]

I suspect that the more you know about Japan and movies, the less you will enjoy "Memoirs of a Geisha."

From Roger Ebert's review.

I object to the movie not on sociological grounds but because I suspect a real geisha house floated on currents deeper and more subtle than the broad melodrama on display here. I could list some Japanese films illustrating this, but the last thing the audience for "Memoirs of a Geisha" wants to see is a more truthful film with less gorgeous women and shabbier production values.

[gkanai]

"A more fitting title for 'Memoirs of a Geisha' would have been 'Cliffs Notes of a Geisha.'"
-- Dustin Putman, THEMOVIEBOY.COM

"'Memoirs of a Geisha' builds a beautiful garden, then runs an interstate through it to let more people in."
-- Rob Vaux, FLIPSIDE MOVIE EMPORIUM

"This is, in fact, quite an ugly film."
-- Eric Lurio, GREENWICH VILLAGE GAZETTE

"An Eastern movie made to resemble the most unchallenging Western ideal of what the East is."
-- Jeffrey Chen, REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS

"Robin Swicord...who adapted the novel for the screen, doesn't bother much with Golden's prose, apparently because it wasn't cliched enough."
-- Luke Y. Thompson, NEW TIMES

"The filmmakers make characters crasser, ignore nuances within geisha tradition and give characters attitudes and dialogue highly unlikely for Depression-era Japan."
-- Kirk Honeycutt, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

"A bloated melodrama more interested in poses than inner lives (according to some Japanese-culture-vultures, it gets the poses wrong, too)."
-- Peter Canavese, GROUCHO REVIEWS

"More like 'Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's Memoirs of a Geisha'."
-- Ed Gonzalez, SLANT MAGAZINE

"...if ever a movie represented Hollywood marketing, this is it."
-- Laura Clifford, REELING REVIEWS

http://www.kanai.net/weblog/archive/2005/12/14/01h48m30s

[Captain Japan]

Still, "Memoirs" has too much that's hard on the eye (and mind), not least of all the love scenes between Sayuri and her protector, who goes by the name of Chairman (played by Ken Watanabe at his most insipid). It's one thing to see the city of Kyoto misrepresented, but when we're asked to believe that a much older Japanese businessman and a young geisha during the 1940s would engage in physical contact in broad daylight, standing under a willow tree in a Japanese garden . . . surely that was when the theater should have released some emergency oxygen masks from the ceiling to save us all from hyperventilating. I looked around to see if everyone else felt the same, but no. This being Japan, the audience was restrained, respectful, polite. If only the movie had some of the same qualities.

I think people go to the movies for different reasons. I imagine if the movie removed a lot of that razzle dazzle it might be less appealing to a large part of the Japanese audience as well. Who says all Japanese viewers demand historical accuracy in Japanese movies?

[Mulboyne]

The film is now officially open in the US so most reviews are in. Rotten Tomatoes sums up all the reviews and estimates an average rating with 60% being the pass mark. Last week, the film was above that level but has now dropped sharply to only 29%.

The producers will be hoping for good word of mouth now. The Golden Globes signalled that, outside a possible nomination for Best Actress/Supporting Actress, the film's Oscar chances look like being limited to mostly technical awards (music, costume, photography etc) so the box office won't get much of a boost there.

[Taro Toporific]

[Greji]

[Naniwan Kid]

Metacritic has it at 54, which is "mixed," out of 100 possible points. But the highest score is only 83. Even really crappy movies usually have a higher score than that by at least one critic.

http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/memoirsofageisha

[AssKissinger]

I saw it and it gets an AK thumbs up.

Youki Kudoh is so hot!

[Mulboyne]

I saw it and it gets an AK thumbs up.
Youki Kudoh is so hot!

Did Mrs AK see it too? If so, how does she rate it?

[AssKissinger]

Did Mrs AK see it too?

No, I went with my brother. He was like 'Isn't this a chick flick?'

Just for the record, I enjoyed the book a lot more (and, yes, like everyone else I always say that). Also, I don't think it was as good as Lost in Translation. In one scene I think I saw Sayuri poor her client a drink one handed with her left hand! You know, when I lived in Korea they were still pretty anal about all those drink pouring rules (more so than the school enkais in Japan) and one time my Korean friend didn't use both hands to pour her teacher's drink and I asked why and she told me that she was so far beneath him that it would be rude to take the honor of honoring him. Go figure...

[Mulboyne]

Finance commentator William Pesek wades in...

"Geisha" Offers Asian Business Lessons: William Pesek
Roger Ebert put it well: "I suspect that the more you know about Japan and movies, the less you will enjoy 'Memoirs of a Geisha.'" So began the Chicago Sun Times critic's review of a film that's created more hard feelings than buzz in Asia....The dustup actually offers some insights for Asian governments trying to get along, corporate executives struggling to compete and investors grappling to make sense of it all.

The film at the center of this controversy isn't a very good one...The end product plays more like "Desperate Housewives" in kimonos. Even so, "Memoirs of a Geisha" has become an unlikely flashpoint in Japan-Chinese relations....Just like director Marshall, the leaders of Japan and China are missing the real story and focusing on the theatrics surrounding it.

...Japan's qualms with "Memoirs of a Geisha" miss a bigger point relevant to Asia's largest economy....Japan's large domestic market creates few incentives for film studios and actors to search for audiences or projects abroad. There's a lesson here for Japan Inc. Japanese are ravenous consumers and, until now, a 127 million-person market seemed big enough. As sales soared in the heady 1980s and stayed reasonably brisk during the recession-plagued 1990s, companies were slow to look abroad...That insular focus is a problem amid Japan's rapidly aging population and competition from countries such as South Korea. The real story behind the "Memoirs of a Geisha" ruckus is that corporate Japan needs to think more globally.

...Chinese critics are missing the point, too. Seeing homegrown actresses eclipse Japan's should be reason to celebrate China's rising dominance not only in the area of economics, but culture.

...Finally, there's a lesson here for investors. While it may come as a surprise to folks in the West, Chinese, Japanese and Koreans don't tend to think they look alike. Hollywood's who'd- know-the-difference mindset in casting films is comparable to how some investors view Asia. Some see it as an undifferentiated collection of nations that are hard to get their arms around. Asia's economies are incredibly diverse. Those who think China's rise is a repeat of Japan's do so at their own peril. The same is true of India's development versus China's. If you think Europe is having a tough time getting the 12 euro zone economies on similar footing, just wait until Asia tries.

[Mulboyne]

[Mulboyne]

Independent: Nervous censors in China delay release of 'Memoirs of a Geisha'

Memoirs of a Geisha, the hit film based on a best-selling book, has run into trouble in China, home to its leading actresses. Prompted by fears that it will further inflame already rampant anti-Japanese feeling, Chinese film censors have cancelled the planned release of the movie next month...more...

[Tsuru]

Saw it yesterday, and I liked it quite a lot. A movie with lots of hot girls in kimono, pretty pictures of old Japan and a reasonable plot can't go wrong in my book.

I didn't know about this mizuage thing and I have to say I was struck with a profound feeling of I fucking knew it!

[Mulboyne]

Scotsman: Actor defends 'Geisha' movie roles

Ken Watanabe has defended the casting of ethnic Chinese actresses for the main roles in Memoirs of a Geisha. The Japanese actor said the geisha art was like Italian opera and people with different nationalities should be allowed to perform..."I thought a lot about the meaning of geisha in Japanese society, and during shooting it occurred to me that geisha has always been like opera - beautiful costumes and beautiful music and amazing dancing and maybe some love," the actor said. "Opera is totally Italian. But sometimes German or English or Chinese or Japanese people play in the opera. The same thing with this movie. Talent is the most important thing. A beautiful soprano. A wonderful tenor. Not your nationality," Watanabe argued.

[IkemenTommy]

Watched it yesterday as well.. finally.

Few comments (spoiler warning)..










Right when you got used to the characters speaking English (with an occasional insertion of Japanese "ne-san"s here and there), you have the American invasion and everyone is still speaking English.. wtf? I wish the whole movie was subtitled as in "Hidden Dragon Crouching Tiger", but then, the actors and actresses weren't really Japanese.

I have not read the book yet, but I wished Sayuri jumped off the cliffs after the Chairman walked in on her.. oops. But then, it's Hollywood, and they don't tolerate sad endings.

Anyone else noticed that the entire theater was little sappy and about to ball at the very end when the Chairman reunited with Sayuri. Good thing they cut the movie before it got out of hand. I still wished she jumped off and killed herself.

[Taro Toporific]

Citing Public Sentiment, China Cancels Release of 'Geisha'
NEW YORK TIMES, 11PM 31 Jan, byDavid Barboza (MovieNews):The Chinese government has canceled the showing of "Memoirs of a Geisha," reportedly because of concerns that it could spark public anger and rekindle anti-Japanese sentiment. ...more...

[Mulboyne]

The film has missed out on major oscar nominations. No acting, directing or screenplay awards. It is up for sound mixing, art direction and sound editing and original score but any wins there will do little to boost the box office. It ought to make money eventually but the US gross has been distinctly underwhelming. If it doesn't get an extra lease of life on DVD then it will have fallen short of expectations.

[AssKissinger]

The film has missed out on major oscar nominations. No acting, directing or screenplay awards. It is up for sound mixing, art direction and sound editing and original score but any wins there will do little to boost the box office. It ought to make money eventually but the US gross has been distinctly underwhelming. If it doesn't get an extra lease of life on DVD then it will have fallen short of expectations.

Getting banned in China won't help either.

Already the film industry is bending over to take a Chinese sickle up its ass. Just like puss-ass-bitch Google. Meanwhile, the Western media cowers from Muslim nutters everywhere.

[GomiGirl]

The film has missed out on major oscar nominations. No acting, directing or screenplay awards. It is up for sound mixing, art direction and sound editing and original score but any wins there will do little to boost the box office. It ought to make money eventually but the US gross has been distinctly underwhelming. If it doesn't get an extra lease of life on DVD then it will have fallen short of expectations.

Well as somebody who saw it on Friday - I can tell you why it is not up for any oscars in acting.... the acting was B-A-D!!! While it was a beautifully put together film - the images, the long scenic shots, the actors, the costumes, the sets - all stunning. But the acting, the script and the adaptation was woeful. I was really disappointed.

They tried to fit too much of the book's subplots into a 2 hour movie which just left you feeling that the dialogue was choppy and rushed. It would have been much better if the actors just said less - the accents were distracting but I was doing my best to overlook that - and a Japanese purist view of things like the kimono and hair styling.

They should have just concentrated on the visuals which were stunning.

[IkemenTommy]

They tried to fit too much of the book's subplots into a 2 hour movie which just left you feeling that the dialogue was choppy and rushed. It would have been much better if the actors just said less - the accents were distracting but I was doing my best to overlook that - and a Japanese purist view of things like the kimono and hair styling.

Yeah, the movie is VERY long. I wanted to take a piss so badly halfway into the movie but I was afraid the movie would just end all of a sudden or that I would miss some important parts. Highly advised to do your bathroom deeds before watching this movie..

[Mulboyne]

Der Spiegel: China's 'Geisha' Complex

...The ban, however, only applies to theater screenings of "Geisha." DVD stores in Beijing quickly began selling pirated copies in English for about €1 per copy. "It's been sold out for days now," says one dealer, who sells his wares in the state-owned "Friendship Stores" in Beijing's embassy district. "I have no idea what it is about this film that people like so much."

APWire: Actress plays down 'Geisha' controversy

Veteran China actress Liu Xiaoqing said there was no reason Chinese actors shouldn't play Japanese characters in films such as "Memoirs of a Geisha," which stars two Chinese actresses as Japanese entertainers and is banned in China. "It's nothing to be concerned about," Liu Xiaoqing said Wednesday during a visit to Singapore. "It's only acting."

Director Chen Kaige seems to have no problem with mixing nationalities. He has just cast Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada as a General Guangming and Korean actor Jang Dong-gun as his slave Kunlun who compete for the love of Cecila Cheung's Princess Qingcheng. "The Promise" is the country's most expensive film production to date. He was quoted as saying "The real meaning of being an Asian director is we can put the power of culture from all Asian countries together and show everything people can possibly imagine...It shows our attitude, from the Asian point of view, toward life - magnificent but short. And what I also wanted to talk about is the freedom of heart".

[Mulboyne]

[Greji]

Citing Public Sentiment, China Cancels Release of 'Geisha'
NEW YORK TIMES, 11PM 31 Jan, byDavid Barboza (MovieNews):The Chinese government has canceled the showing of "Memoirs of a Geisha,"

It would seem that Memoirs has also become a vehicle for shooting at the cast also and as is normal with the local press, they don't spare any bullets!

"Hong Kong Media Bashes Actress Zhang Ziyi
Monday March 27 5:08 PM ET

She speaks English with a funky Beijing accent. The beaded black and gray Armani outfit she wore to the Oscars was frumpy. She squats on the floor like a Chinese farmer when she goes shopping.

So say Hong Kong media, which just love to bash Zhang Ziyi the movie world's hottest young Chinese actress.

Although Hollywood is enthralled with the spunky beauty who starred in "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," Zhang's critics in this movie-mad city enjoy picking her apart. And the criticism can be downright vicious.

Zhang Ziyi's Armani evening gown made her look so flat-chested it was scary," the Sing Tao Daily, a major Chinese-language newspaper, said in a headline about the 27-year-old starlet's appearance at the Oscars earlier this month."more....

I'd do her in a flash! I wonder if she likes dogs?

[Mulboyne]

Here's another example of cross-casting. The new US film "Americanese" has a Chinese-American character, Raymond Ding, played by Japanese-American Chris Tashima. His Chinese father is played by Saburo Shimono. A Japanese-American character in the film, Brenda Nishitani, is played by Kelly Hu (she also played Yuriko Oyama is X Men 2) and another, Aurora, by Allison Sie. Vietnamese character Betty Nguyen is played by Chinese actress Joan Chen. Directed by Chinese-American Eric Byler based on a book by Chinese-American Shawn Wong.

[GomiGirl]

Not sure if this has been posted before..

MAD TV - Memoirs of a Geisha

Kinda funny..

[Buraku]

well at least the FG here arent bursting in cyber tears like the loser japanophiles at Japantoday.

worst website - ever !

[AssKissinger]

Fake historical movies

Memoirs of a Geisha
The geisha coming-of-age, called "mizuage," was really more of a makeover, where she changed her hairstyle and clothes. It didn't involve her getting... intimate with a client. In the climatic scene where Sayuri wows Gion patrons with her dancing prowess, her routine - which involves some platforms shoes, fake snow, and a strobe light - seems more like a Studio 54 drag show that anything in pre-war Kyoto