Why there is so much polarity with the audiences of Rob Marshall's cinematic adaptation of Arthur Golden's exquisite novel MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA is puzzling. Even in the theater there were those who left halfway through - reason unknown. Despite disagreements on the casting techniques and on the emphasis changes between the book and the film, MEMOIRS remains one of the most visually arresting, genteel films of the year. That it comes across as somewhat of an epic soap opera is no one's fault but the writers. And what is so wrong with an old-fashioned soap opera of a story afterall? The opening scene of the turbulent sea and heavy rain that accompany the silent selling of two poor sisters to a merchant planning to place the girls in houses in Osaka gives an indication of the importance of water in this story. The sisters are delivered to a house of geishas and only one is selected by the hard madam. Through years of suffering and anguish the chosen one becomes a geisha, finds comfort from her childhood of poverty, gains loving mentoring by a top geisha, becomes the most sought after geisha in Osaka, finds her love, endures WW II and eventually returns to her dreams. The interplay between the girl and the various members of the geisha training and bartering complex add flavor and conflict that keep the story flowing.
The three principal actresses - Ziyi Zhang, Michelle Yeoh, and Gong Li carry the film well. The large cast includes favorite actors Ken Watanabe and Mako. The settings are splendid, the special effects such as the cherry blossoms, the autumnal reunion of Zhang and Watanabe, Zhang's spellbinding dance - all are brilliant. John Williams' musical score blends the best of Japanese folk music with contemporary writing and is greatly abetted by the talent of Yo-Yo Ma and Itzak Perlman.
Part of the brilliance of Golden's novel was the meticulous explanation of the myriad details of geisha training and demeanor and makeup and tradition, and while the film version touches on these, the bulk of them are passed over. For this viewer there is a problem with understanding the dialogue due to the enunciation by the actors and the covering of much of the dialogue with ambient music. But that is a minor complaint. In all, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA is an enormously beautiful and affecting film, one that multiple viewings will no doubt enhance the viewers' appreciation. Recommended. Grady Harp, February 06
Memoirs of a Geisha
2005
Action / Drama / Romance
Memoirs of a Geisha
2005
Action / Drama / Romance
Plot summary
In the years before World War II, a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a maid in a geisha house.
Uploaded by: OTTO
December 23, 2012 at 06:53 PM
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
A Visually and Musically Stunning Film
This is a very well done movie that is definitely worth your time
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) is a movie that I watched for the first time in a long time on HBOMAX. The storyline follows two sisters who are split up and sold to separate geisha houses with very different perspectives and expectations of a geisha. The houses are competitive and as their stories unfold their paths are bound to cross over and over again...
This movie is directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago) and stars Ziyi Zhang (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), Ken Watanabe (Last Samurai), Michelle Yeoh (Tomorrow Never Dies), Mako (Conan the Barbarian) and Gong Li (Curse of the Golden Flower).
The storyline for this is very unique and well told. The depiction of the lifestyle and traditions are fascinating and the writing is out of this world - from the characters, circumstances, challenges and era, all very well portrayed and entertaining. The cast delivers magnificent performances and the cinematography, attire and settings were all perfect. The evolution of Japan was also a fascinating sub plot.
Overall this is a very well done movie that is definitely worth your time. I would score this a 9/10 and strongly recommend it.
I didn't want to spoil my great memories of the book.
As someone thet has treasured the book, I will be honest. At first I didn't want to watch it. This could have gone wrong in so many ways. But the movie has blown me away.
Many laugh's, moments of deep emotion and true heart must have been put in this movie. And the moments of joy, fun and above all pain and even some tearing happened to me.
It is absolutely beautiful. 10/10 in my life I have ranked over 1130 films and have given a 10 to less then twenty movies, but this must be amongst to top 5 best ones.
I mean wow, the film is so beautiful.