Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful, Brilliant and One of the Best Performances I've Seen in Years!, April 9, 2006
I'm not sure we're all seeing the same movie here. One comment I keep hearing is that the actresses did not perform well, and I cannot comprehend it. Ziyi Zhang especially gave one of the best performances I have seen in years, at least. Just look at her physically shaking during her last scene with Ken Watanabe. This complete giving over to the emotion of the character is nearly unsurpassed in anything I've seen in years, and I'm a huge cinemaphile. That's not to mention the flawless way she carried the postures and demeanor of the child star that played her young self through-out, giving a sense of consistency that I have almost never seen done this well. It's early impossible to remember that these two actresses are not really the same person with the way their performances meshed. So, maybe it's the reserved nature of Asian women, and the dualing of this nature with a sense of individuality and self-expression that people are interpreting as "not understanding the character"?
All I can say is, the cinematography and settings are gorgeous, as are the actresses (and what a stellar cast!), the performances are great (maybe the bar has been lowered so much lately that the degree of skill brought to the screen here is more than some people can handle). That's the only reason I can offer for the bad reactions I have heard.
The story is involving, and very realistic in terms of human nature. The romance is wonderful. There are flashes of humor and some of the script is pure poetry (and as a poet you can believe me on that!) I could go on all day, but let me just say this.
The movie is awesome, and the time flew by for me. It is not the over-wrought heart-rending sap that some may want it to be, but it is very true to the way most people behave, and especially in the reserved manner of the Japanese. In my book everyone involved in this deserves a huge round of kudos, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys beautiful things, and incredibly realized films.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful movie @}->---, February 18, 2006
Memoirs of a Geisha is a stunning movie. I haven't read the book, but now wish I had. The movie is close to 2 1/2 hours long, but the story and scenery are so captivating, it seems so much quicker. The costumes are fantastic and it's no wonder they are nominated for Oscars.
It tells the story of a little girl called Chiyo who along with her older sister, is sold by their father who has no money. The people who bought her, want to make her a geisha so she goes off to school but brings disgrace to herself and therefore they make her their slave. Upon chance, she meets a kind man who buys her a sweet cherry ice cone. She never forgets him and sees him again by chance some years later. Now she has hope and learns again (in a crash course) how to be a geisha and her new name is Sayuri.
The story that unfolds from there has ups and downs but the ending is so moving that of course I cried my head off. The setting is beautiful and it made me want to go and visit Japan. The music too is lovely and I hope they do get some Oscars next week because it's a very deserving movie. There is also a great performance by an actress called Li Gong who plays 'Queen Bitch' Hatsumomo and look for a small role played by Ted Levine who we normally see in a funny role as Captain Leland Stottlemeyer in Monk.
Beautiful move that you absolutely have to see. (Especially on the big screen if you still can).
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19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely Beautiful and Exotic ... Scenery and Story, December 11, 2006
Rob Marshall the director engaged the author Arthur Golden to assist in making his book come to life on the screen. It is a visually stunning artistic masterpiece. The landscapes of Japan are shown in their exotic magnificence with long shots and skilled cinematography. The entire story can not be put on screen but the most unique and intriguing aspects of Chiyo's story were chosen and come to life. Chiyo is a young girl of 9 years who is sold along with her sister to a Geisha house in Kyoto, to be trained for the Geisha lifestyle. Her mother is ill and dies. Her father, a simple fisherman, can not cope with raising two young daughters. He does what he thinks is best to ensure their place in the world.
Chiyo has distinctive alluring eyes which set her apart from her peers - they will likely ensure her popularity and fame, if she develops the skills associated with the geisha training. Her eyes create jealousy in the Geisha named Hatsumomo, whose working skills and talents provide the money to support the lives of everyone associated with the establishment which bought Chiyo. A rivalry develops within the establishement over who will be chosen as successor to Mamasan/Mother, the owner of the Geisha house. Mother had no daughters of her own. She keeps Hatsumomo and the geisha trainees guessing as to her plans. She is a skilled businesswoman and plays her cards very close-fisted ...
Chiyo feels locked up and imprisoned in the Geisha establishment. She wants very badly to see her sister, Satsu. Hatsumomo, the head Geisha uses this knowledge against Chiyo. Hatsumomo is a selfish spoiled Geisha -she treats the young trainees badly as she looks to satisfy her every whim. Chiyo manages to escape the establishment looking for her sister and by pure chance meets a kindly gentleman in the park who lends her his handkerchief and is the first person to show her kindness since she came to Kyoto. She never forgets his face and longs to meet him again ... when she is full-fledged Geisha ...
Her wishes come true much later ... In this instance, despite being punished for escaping the establishement, some kind of miracle brought Mameha, a very famous Geisha to ask to train Chiyo. She takes her under her wing and Chiyo becomes Mameha's "little sister". A strong rivalry develops between Hatsumomo and her little sister nick-named "Pumpkin" (due to her round face) and Mameha and Chiyo. Mameha has connections and uses various techniques to bring Chiyo to the attention of famous patrons of the Tea houses where the Geisha perform and entertain. Chiyo is renamed "Sayuri" and performs a beguiling dance for the patrons at a party which establishes her as ready for "bidding" ... Very wealthy patrons bid for the right to her "mizuage" (virginity). The higher the price, the more famous and established a Geisha she becomes. Mameha uses her expertise to ensure Chiyo/Sayuri's bids go higher and higher. Hatsumomo uses all her power to try to prevent this and get Pumpkin her "little sister" to be the most popular and recognized newest Geisha ... Through Mameha's help, Sayuri manages to gain recognition and bring in high bids. Her fame is established. She does indeed meet the Chairman, the man who was kind to her in the park whom she discovers is the Director of the Imawura Electric Company. But due to his personal relationship and honor debt which he owes to his partner Nobu, it is Nobu with whom Sayuri must develop and cultivate a friendship ... Sayuri's rivalary with Pumpkin continues as Sayuri's popularity triumphs. The complexity of their rivalry causes grief and heartache to Sayuri ... as Pumpkin knows exactly the right time to strike a blow to her former friend's plans. This film provides a historically accurate portrayal of the lives of the Geisha at a time when world political events come crashing down on Japanese society. The changing social and economic structure of the country affects the lives of everyone in ways unimaginable. Fortunately, the conclusion of World War II brings about good fortune for Sayuri and her relationship with the beloved Chairman of her dreams ...
Gong Li plays Hatsumomo to perfection, it is excellent casting. The young Chinese girls who play Chiyo and Pumpkin are superb in their roles. Ziyi Zhang plays the adult Chiyo/Sayuri with great depth of feeling and is highly believable as perhaps the most famous Geisha of Kyoto ... Unfortunately, Michelle Yeoh who plays Mameha comes off as too business-like, she does not exude the beauty and charm which are attributed to her character. Occasionally, the story is told in a two-dimensional manner which makes the characters seem less warm and a bit distant. This is why I deducted one star. Never-the-less, overall this film is a tremendously beautiful production worth viewing. The subject matter and cinematography over-ride any other considerations. This film is an intriguing and wonderful entry into the well kept secret of the Geisha lifestyle. Erika Borsos (pepper flower)
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