Memoirs of a Geisha

[Blau]

What did you guys think of it? I read the book before I saw the movie, and I was a very happy camper that it followed the book for the most part.

Well. The beginning I didn't like much. But. <3

[Sakura Mitsu]

I liked it for the most part too. I also read the book before seeing the movie and I agree, it did follow the book to a certain extent. The beginning they kind of skipped, and the end they didn't even bother with, but everything else was pretty much the same. The only thing that bothered me was that I thought Nobu had his arm blown off. Was that just me or did it actually say that?

[limabeansaregross]

No... Nobu was only supposed to have one arm. >< It was a bit annoying in the movie that Nobu had both of his arms. Kinda ruined one of the aspects of his character.

I was really happy with the movie in general, even if it was a bit rushed. Especially when they kept in most of the conversation at the end between Sayuri and the Chairman almost exactly the same as it was in the book. ^^

[Rubbersoul]

I didn't like it that much. Beautiful imagery, but the dialogue kind of ruined it for me. EX: 'Famiry', 'You are now Geisha' ???
wtfuu

[minisangolovesmiroku]

Is that a good movie? I'm thinking about reading it, but watching it seems easier.

[Psycho Woman]

I liked the book much better. The movie just kinda ruined the whole experience for me. The costume design and the sets were all very nicely done though.

[Ch*yeuk]

I like it. I haven't read the book yet and the movie made me want to read it

[Muichimotsu]

I actually didn't think that it followed the book all that well. They mostly got the main story right, but they screwed up so many of the details that it drove me to distraction the first time I watched it. Still, it was a good movie, and really, movies are never as good as the books. I still think I'll buy it when it comes out later this month.

[Muichimotsu]

Is that a good movie? I'm thinking about reading it, but watching it seems easier.

AH!!! Blasphemy!! You should always opt for the book option! Books are much better than movies. I swear, this kind of thinking will bring about the downfall of western society...

[CatMarieS]

If they're supposed to be speaking in Japanese anyway, why do they need Japanese accents?

[kit1]

I went out and saw the movie. I haven't read the book, but am interested in doing so. What I'm concerned with is that people don't seem to realise how hard it is to make a movie from a book and that they really are two seperate things.

I think the movie was beautiful, very well done and served the purpose of showing the audience what it was like then. I really enjoyed the movie and I believe that I'll really like the book, but I'll keep them seperate in my mind, because if you don't you tend not to enjoy either as much as you should.

Movies and books serve different purposes. A movie has the ability to show you a story and supply you with the visuals, to give you a more emotional impact. A book leaves you the option to supply the visuals and create the story within your own mind. Don't get hung up on the details. The movie is supposed to be a movie, not a book on the screen.

Some japanese people were offended that the main female characters weren't even played by japanese women. It was ultimately the studios choice, and again it comes down to not getting hung up on the details.

[I_like_duCkS]

Memoirs of a Geisha is just another story about a poor but beautiful girl turned into a hooker.........but this its aisan

[Klawzie]

I haven't read the book or seen the movie yet, but I wince at your equating a geisha to a hooker. It makes me sad, sad, sad.

I've been told very firmly that I'm not allowed to see the movie until I've read the book.

[Enyo]

It is a good movie. And the visuals are the best. But the story is bad. It's a Hollywood movie, what can you really expect. If the Lord of the Rings director had made it, it would have been much better.
The book is way better though. And gives you more detail into their lives and personalities.

As for geisha being hookers,I'd be careful who you tell that to. My friend did once, and only once. He got his ear chewed off by another friend.

[dazzleanddestroy]

yeah, read the book before seeing the movie.. i agree with most of you guys.. i still love it though, great acting. :)

[imbecile-anthem]

I've watched the movie without having read the book. Many people told me that I should read it because there are much more in the book than that in the picture.

Well I liked the costumes and scenery (and Zhang Ziyi of course-one of my favourite actresses) but I could not get a clear picture of what a geisha really is. It seemed liked they're imprisoned or something and I don't think that is what really is.

[Klawzie]

...I could not get a clear picture of what a geisha really is. It seemed liked they're imprisoned or something and I don't think that is what really is.

They're living pieces of art, is the short answer. :)

[dragon charmer]

I havent seen it yet, but im looking forward to seeing it in the future though:p

[imbecile-anthem]

They're living pieces of art, is the short answer. :)

Of course they are, you are absolutely right!! :)

[Blau]

Nobu-san! I remember him! Yes, I was a little upset about his lack of one arm, but. Like the Harry Potter movies, there were some things you couldn't have in a movie. Unlike the Harry Potter movies though, MoG didn't suck! XD

[Riotfug]

I really loved the book. But I'm disgusted they had to americanize the whole geisha idea, exploitation or what?

[DeathOfSoul]

I never got a chance to read the book before I watched the movie, so I can't compair... but I personally loved the movie ^^ Even my little sis and mother liked it <3

[vanilla_frosting]

Saw the movie, thought it was really nice. I had not read the book beforehand though, and I still haven't...though I plan to...eventually. Well..actually I've read bits and pieces of the book from picking it up at a store and just flipping to a random page and starting to read, but still it's not the same.

[emmsiebelle]

I loved the book. my favorite book ever and even though the film was good it still kinda ruined it for me!! the film was beautiful and followed the story...kinda..but it was just missing something!!

[Riotfug]

It's actually kinda irritating when you discover it's fiction by an american author. Still though, great read

[Meroko Yui]

I read the book but never saw the movie. I think books are better than movies.

[Riotfug]

Yeah, that's generally the case I find

[natsumikan]

Was kinda disappointed w/ the movie......beautiful scenery, but lots of japanese cultural stuff mixed up/wrong in it...

[Klawzie]

Yeah - but I only really intend to see the movie for the costumes and scenery. ;)

[megsl83]

I -really- wanted to like the movie, but I really wasn't very impressed with how it came out ._.~ One thing that irked me was how they did the transition from (unsubtitled) Japanese to English (and more than once) during the movie. I can understand that maybe they were trying to make it feel more authentic, but I think it really detracted from the flow (at least, it did for me).

[Blau]

In the beginning, I was like, huh? Why start the movie out in Japanese? Where's the subs?

But. *shrug*

The thing that irked me was in the beginning it looked like they were kidnapped. You can argue it, but I thought their father /sold/ them to the guy...?

[Countess Cain]

I think the book was better, but I liked the movie as well. I intend to buy it when it comes out on DVD...

My only problem with the movie was Nobu. And that American soldier person that replaced the Japanese soldier person. (I forgot their names, obviously! ^^)

[Kairi]

When I watched the movie I thought it was great ^_^. My mom had owned the book for a long time though, and I didn't bother reading it, but after I watched the movie I started to read it. And after finishing it, I thought the book was way better XD. They had a lot of parts in the book that they didn't include in the movie though D: X3

[Die_Hateru]

I never read the book before, but I watched the movie, and it was pretty good, actually. It made me sad at some parts, and I like the way they set up the background scenery at some parts.

[dreamcatcher]

I've never read it before either, but I liked the movie overall. I really liked the visuals. I saw it with my sister and she said that they left out a part in the book where they talk about the first American geisha. I thought that was interesting and now I want to read the book.

[Riotfug]

I've listed my copy of the book on ebay! Just to let everyone know........erm....this isn't allowed is it?

[lepster]

the scenery and costumes in the film were awesome but the plot...i hated how the main actresses were chinese and not japanese and that they spoke english. i was probably too critical because i had just finished a research project on geisha and had read the book finally. the book was way better. however, i would watch the movie all over again just to see the pretty clothes and landscape. the colors were incredible too.

[Mabu-chan]

I loved the movie. :3

The costumes were fantastic. :3

I read the book after I saw the movie and I thought that they did a great job. :3

The music was amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing. :3 *has the soundtrack*

Mabu's Rating: Awesometastic.

[Foreordained99]

I havn't seen/read it yet, but my friends say its really good, so i spose i should try it!

[Veroniku]

I really loved the book. But I'm disgusted they had to americanize the whole geisha idea, exploitation or what?
Well it's a book by Golden, an american man. You can't expect it to be authentic. That guy, who is a great author, just was interested in the subject, and thought an american audience would be too. So he did lots of research and wrote a fiction, which it turns out became really popular. But it's still a FICTION written by an american. You have to cut him some slack, he can't explain everything like a native japanese person can. Just like a japanese person couldn't explain american traditions and culture.

It's actually kinda irritating when you discover it's fiction by an american author. Still though, great read
Exactly my next point; I did not know it was a fiction at first (I have the old edition, and "fiction" is written in tiny at the back of the book, and I never read back-covers, they always tend to spoil the fun for me somehow. XD; When I read the preface, I thought it was all true. I devoured the book. Then when it said at the end of the book that it was fiction... I felt SO BETRAYED. ;_; I really thought that guy had written down the confessions of a real geisha (though I heard he did interview one, and she wasn't so happy with the outcome of the book apparently). But then I thought back, and if it was someone else telling him the story, he wouldn't have been able to put so much detail. Especially about the kimono; no person would actually remember and tell all those details. He had to have made it up. *sigh* It was still a wonderful book, very well written and thought up, but it is a fiction, written by a foreigner, and you can't believe everything it says about the japanese culture: please keep your critic edge, everyone.

I -really- wanted to like the movie, but I really wasn't very impressed with how it came out ._.~ One thing that irked me was how they did the transition from (unsubtitled) Japanese to English (and more than once) during the movie. I can understand that maybe they were trying to make it feel more authentic, but I think it really detracted from the flow (at least, it did for me).
Yes that REALLY bothered me. Made the movie MUCH LESS professionnal in my eyes. It seemed to be fan-made! Who in their right mind would make a movie, made for an american audience, and put random japanese words without any subtitles?! I don't call it artistic, sorry. It must've frustrated a lot of people who wanted to know what they said; not everyone knows japanese basics like us anime and manga fans. And I believe the japanese audience must've found that foolish too! Maybe even insulted, thinking the american might be making fun of the language or lightly using it.

I mean, would you have watched Last Samurai without subtitles?!

[Akanke]

i saw it, but for some reason...the ending upset me....and i mean upset as in pissed off not sad or w/e...

[circaocean]

it was alright i thought it could of been better

[Riri_chan]

Yha i have to agree but i did like it for the most part!