Memoirs of a Geisha

[Door]

I just read that anthropologist Liza Dalby (the foremost Western expert on Geisha), was a consultant on the film. This appeals to the dork in me, as an anth major who wishes she had Liza's job.

[SluttyMary]

I plan on watching the movie, but I'm kind of bothered by the fact that it seems like each time an Asian lead is required Zhang Ziyi is the choice. I like her all right, but there doesn't seem to be much diversity. I'm Asian (Vietnamese), but not Japanese and I get a little offended. Like in all of those Vietnam war movies where any Asian will do, and they don't even bother to speak the language correctly.

[Deleted]

I never cared enough to buy the book - I've heard tons of great things about it, but I didn't like the writing style when I flipped through it - but I had considered seeing the movie until one thing. No, it wasn't the bad reviews. No, it wasn't the interchangable Asian issue (I'm half Chinese myself). It wasn't even the credible opinions found on this very thread. It was the coloured contacts that did me in. Coloured contacts freak me out. I can't look people in the eye when their wearing them, and I'll be damned before I pay $8.75 to watch the sticky theatre floor. It's too bad, really. I'd gladly spend a couple of hours staring at whoever this is.

[lallybroch]

This movie is like Cold Mountain with geishas. Gong Li's character seemed on the verge of >>ending at least half her scenes with girl-on-girl makeout sessions<< which would have made the movie considerably less boring. Ken Watanabe was hot, but lit up the screen more in Tiny Tom the Samurai. I loved how Chiyo went from being Japanese to Zhang Ziyi with puberty (though it wasn't as good as that time on One Life to Live when Blair went from being half Chinese to a green-eyed blonde).

[slanderous]

I won't see this because of the terrible line in the trailer, "You! Will! Become! Geisha!" delivered in that weird, stilted style that registers as an "Asian" accent to Hollywood.

[monkeypants]

It's too bad, really. I'd gladly spend a couple of hours staring at whoever this is.

Aludra, that's the lovely and very talented Gong Li.

Here's a picture of her with Aishwarya Rai and Laetitia Casta at last year's Cannes Film festival.
festival

(May not necessarily be work safe, because there's a heck of a lot of cleavage in that picture).

Anyway, *small voice* this is totally the minority opinion, but I think she's a lot more talented and prettier then Zhang Zi-Yi. I'm actually kind of sad she's not as well-known.

*scampers off and ducks oncoming tomatoes*

[shawnalanne]

admin said:

I've been re-reading the book so the story will be fresh in my mind before I see the movie. Now I'm thinking that wasn't such a good idea.

Actually...it's a horrible idea. I suspect it will make you hate the movie even more. The book is fairly heavy on historical fact...it works hard to put everything in context. The movie doesn't, so as a result it plays like a hollywood melodrama.

Glad to read this. I read the book when it first came out and thought about it for a good 6 months afterward. It moved me. Now I know not to see the movie. I will pick up the book again, though.

[slanderous]

*small voice* this is totally the minority opinion, but I think she's a lot more talented and prettier then Zhang Zi-Yi. I'm actually kind of sad she's not as well-known.

That's a minority opinion? I completely agree.

[Deleted]

Beautiful movie, even if it was a little soap-operaish. I also wish they wouldn't automatically stick the current most famous Asian person into any role that calls for any kind of Asian ethnicity. Surely there are plenty of talented Japanese actresses. It didn't ruin the movie for me, but still...

As a side note, I just get sick of seeing the same actors over and over again in any genre.

[sleepy]

I haven't seen it, but I had to be mean and post about how on another site I go to, someone was excited about going to see "Memories of a Geshi." Der.

I am so superior.

Now I feel bad for mocking them. Sigh.

--

It's too bad, really. I'd gladly spend a couple of hours staring at whoever this is.

For fans of Gong Li, I recommend The Story of Qiu Ju. It was really really good. I showed it in a class I taught, and the students really enjoyed it, too.