Memoirs of a Geisha is a film that has been whispered about for a LONG time. And with a cast like this (The fantastic Ken Watanabe, Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh) it’s difficult to imagine it going wrong. Here’s a synopsis for the film:
Based on the international best-seller by Arthur Golden, “Memoirs of a Geisha” is an epic story of love and betrayal set against the broad and rapidly changing social canvas of 20th century Japan. Nine-year old Chiyo, a poor fisherman’s daughter, is taken from her family and sold to a geisha house. From her start as a common household maid, she blossoms into one of Kyoto’s most renowned geishas, surviving the envy and treachery of the competition.
The scope of this project looks breathtaking. So much story… so much depth. The trailer only got me more excited. You can catch the trailer for Memoirs of a Geisha here.
Does anyone know where the music in the trailer comes from when Sayuri is dancing?
in an answer to the music question, the second half of the score played in the trailer is hans zimmers beautiful work from Last Samurai. Check it out.
You know guys its not about who delivered or whoever is playing the character, the thing is the story…we should focus on the story and not on the characters…as long as we like it and we understand the story we will surely all like it :)
I am very upset by what seems to be of this movie. I’m currently almost all the way through the book, but this movie doesn’t seem to be true to the book at all. Sayuri said in the book that it was the trend at the time to not paint the upper lip at all, and also that they never painted the entire mouth, but just a portion of it. The make up is also not white enough.
If Quentin Tarantino had directed this film, it would be in Japanese, as it should be, for one. For two the visual would be true to the book, and not true to the “trends”.
This is stupidly Americanized, although I will go see it, and will TRY as I can to ignore the changes. I jsut can’t wiat until someone that actually LIKED the book redoes it.
Well, it does look epic, dramatic, beautiful, etc. I’m sure it will be well-acted and likely entertaining.
However, while I’m no expert in Japanese history or culture, I live in Kyoto, and to anyone just a bit familiar with Japan, the dramatic style feels way off.
Sure, we know that the lead actresses, Zhang Zi Yi, et al. are Chinese, and that they do not have Japanese accents. But, perhaps worse, their body language is wrong. Whether by direction or by them being from outside the culture, their posture and motion seems too loose, too flowingly sensual, their faces too expressive.
True, the movie is playing to a mainstream American audience, so arguably the dramatic style should adapt, but isn’t it a little sad that a major motion picture centered on a major component (at least to the West) of Japanese culture could feel essentially un-Japanese?
I was a bit disappointed. I hate how Mameha leaves her hair down, and they’re totally off with the eyes, they should be grey not blue. And one of my favortie characters in the book, Pumpkin, doesn’t stick out her tongue to the side =( hopefull she’ll do it in the movie. I hope the movie won’t disappoint me, I’ve been looking forward to it for a looooonnngg while!
Yes, they used HoFD score, but that’s a normal thing, using music from other films in trailers. About the film itself, I don’t like Rob Marshall’s work in Chicago, but this one looks different. The ending of this trailer is brilliant. Is that last music from the score itself, composed by John Williams?
i’ve been waiting for this movie..but when i saw the trailer..i wasnt really happy with the cast selection..they should get real japanese women for the movie..or at least korean since japanese and korean people are almost alike..but not chinese..japanese and chinese feature are so different..to me, it’s like watching a chinese movie..oh well all the best for the movie..=)i hope people who dont read the book will like it
I have to say I am a bit disappointed, the casting should have been a bit more Japanese, how typical of White Hollywood What I find most disappointing is the blue eyes, they were not blue but referred to as grey. All in all I hope it does well.
Anyone notice they used some of the score from “House of Flying Daggers” for the Geisha trailer ??!!!
It does look like they’re being very faithful to the book, which is great. I’m another one that’s been waiting for this movie for years now, and I have to say that I’m glad they took their time with it (at least the trailer makes me think I’ll be glad). The trailer was a little long, though, and I think it revealed a little too much of the story.
Since I already know the story, though, I guess I shouldn’t complain.
Actually, I felt like that trailer was an entire movie in itself…sooo looonggg
Arethusa, read the book, it’s fanastic!
I’ve been looking forward to the making of the movie for years, but of course there is always apprehension because you don’t want the beautiful story ruined. When the cast was announced I did breathe a little easier. I think the trailer looks beautiful and offers promise that the story will be told well.
Well it’s certainly very…Hollywood.
I think I’ll read the book first.