WEBmikey: Memoirs of a Geisha : 4 of 5

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Memoirs of a Geisha : 4 of 5
12.31.2005 7:34 PM \| Link	It's amazing how this movie has created such a mix of love it/hate it reviews! Even though I haven't read the book, I had to go see it just because of my interest in Japanese culture, and even though it certainly wasn't perfect, it's still a beautiful film. Visually, everything is wonderful - the recreation of pre-war Japan, the amazing dances and details of the women (I especially enjoyed the way the trains of the kimono moved), and the extreme lighting and use of rain and snow were all amazing. All of the actors are extremely talented, and even though Suzuka Ohgo as young Chiyo steals the show for me, Ziyi Zhang produces some incredible emotion (especially at the end of the movie). However, I agree with most critics that it just doesn't "work" to have Chinese actresses playing Japanese women, especially since they are speaking English! Their accents just sound wrong, even when they throw in a Japanese phrase (I really wish there had been more Japanese language used, too!). But putting that aside, my biggest complaint is that somehow this movie stays a little cold - even though I felt sad and happy for the characters, I never found myself completely wrapped up in them. However, I was definitely fully engaged and interested, and the length of the film just flew by for me. So, even though the emotion was missing for me, the quality of the film definitely makes it a memorable experience! Labels: movies


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