Memoirs of a Geisha - Trailer

Reader Comments

1. Toros 08/25/2005 @ 3:12pm

   Chinese Actresses playing Japanese Geishas and they all speak English… wow, that’s what I call the globalization

2. ULTRA 08/25/2005 @ 4:37pm

   It’s what I’d call ridiculous.

3. Cardiac161 08/25/2005 @ 5:14pm

   Just goes to show that all of us Asians still look the same.

4. gingersoll 08/25/2005 @ 6:11pm

   This film has: “The exotic mistique of the Orient!” written all over it.

   Because, remember folks, there’s only ONE young “asian” acrtress out there. And if she isn’t Japanese… well we just can’t do anything about that!

   A huge budget, big profile film like this and they’re acting like it was the 60’s, making 55 days at peiking with Flora Robson as a fuckin’ chinese empress.

5. Kurt 08/25/2005 @ 8:19pm

   One thing I forgot to mention on the main post, note the House of Flying Daggers soundtrack on that trailer.

6. steve 08/25/2005 @ 9:09pm

   Let me guess, Hollywood stil thinks all Asians lok alike. Fuck it, if Aussies can play Americans, then Chinese can play Japanese.

7. Kurt 08/25/2005 @ 9:41pm

   Dunno, can’t tell the difference visually between Aussies/Canadians/Americans, it seems a bit more obvious between Chinese/Japanese...and after all, we are talking the ‘ultimate’ cultural expression of the JAPANESE female during those times...in this case would seem rather appropriate to have Japanese actresses in there (this is not a knock against Miss Ziyi or Miss Yeoh)...I’m just saying it’s a bit Jarring visually...Say like Kevin Costners incredibly bad British Accent in Robin Hood.

8. axleu 08/26/2005 @ 1:59am

   Chicago was a crap (like The last samurai, only Sanada was awesome in this pitiful movie, by the way, its director sucks), I won’t spend 10 cents on Memoirs of a geisha…

   To be true, I hope it’ll bomb, and I hope to see a little less Ziyi in the future (she begins to bore me!!!!!!!!!!!)…

9. logboy 08/26/2005 @ 2:43am

   small embedded quicktime from AICN page / link.

10. anon 08/26/2005 @ 4:09am

    the comparison of americans and aussies is stupid - at least they speak the same language. chinese and japanese are totally unrelated languages. i don’t care if the film is in english - ZZY’s accent is chinese. a chinese person’s accent when speaking english is distinguishable from a japanese person speaking english.

11. enygma 08/26/2005 @ 7:44am

    I know for a fact that many politically and socially aware Asian Americans are offended by this film because of the use of Chinese actresses to portray Japanese characters. Though Hollywood may say, “All Asians look alike,” the truth is, we don’t. For that matter, Zhang Ziyi looks more Chinese than Japanese. The only positive aspect of this film is that it will definitely showcase Asian talent.

12. Awula 08/26/2005 @ 7:37pm

    So in other words we should stick to roles of movie by its nationality? Like for example the role of Sayuri should be a japanese women not chinese. Well I can’t say the movie is bad just becasue of the actor/actress/dircetor. If I watch teh movie and think it sucks then it sucks (or not) @_@ Btw in MY point of view chinese and japanese are different by the physical apperence a bit and teh way of living

    BUT I’m kinda looking foward to the movie

13. anon 08/26/2005 @ 11:23pm

    ^no ethnicity alone should not be the criteria. however, their ability to portray the character should. since neither gong li nor ZZY are very fluent in english, their ability to overcome their chinese accents and portray a japanese one is much more limited. an american actor can passably mimic a british or australian accent and vice versa, much more easily than a native chinese trying to mimic a japanese person speaking english.

14. Kam 08/27/2005 @ 10:10pm

    This looks like a gorgeous movie.....to heck with who plays what! What a story and a great storyteller/director. I can’t wait for this one! What is all the fuss about nationalities anyway? LOOK AT THE MOVIE.....

15. Maria 08/28/2005 @ 7:24pm

    Why would you put down a movie based only on the ethnicity of the actors playing the roles. That is why they are actors and actresses. That is what they are trained to do. Up until recently, not many Asian actors or actresses were well known enough to draw the attention of Hollywood. Which is a pity, because their acting is very good. Maybe it would have been easier to have the dialogue in the Japanese language, however, from what I have seen from Hollywood, this would have limited it to only a select few theatres. As long as the direction, acting, cinematography and story are intact, it should not matter.

16. rw 09/01/2005 @ 7:01pm

    I’m looking forward to seeing what Rob Marshall does with this story. So what if Christian Bale played a young Nazi, Gwyneth Paltrow an Englishwoman, Kate Blanchett played Queen Elizabeth, Mel Gibson did Braveheart, etc. I wonder if geishas play the roles of foreigners in Japan or if they have to hire native actors from those countries? The question is, can these actors successfully bring characters to life? All cultures perform stories, and they all play foreigners at one time or another. Also, I wouldn’t say Chinese and Japanese are not related at all - at least one thing, there is cross over between some of the written characters in both languages. Also, there are Chinese and Japanese raised in Canada, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia (I think Michelle Yeoh is Malaysian) - what are all these people allowed to play? What if someone is Chinese but they really were born and raised in Japan? Are they not Japanese enough to play a geisha? This story does not represent the “ultimate” Japanese woman - Geisha were idealized myths, humans plastered over with heavy makeup, layers of fabric and wigs. And after all, this is a fictional tale written by… a white American male. I’m Chinese and I say to Hollywood - go ahead and mix up those races but make sure it’s greatly entertaining and let’s have some retribution too. Let’s have Asians playing lead American roles. This Casting comes down to box office draw as well - Ziyi, Yeoh, Gong Li and Watanabe are popular right now and have marqee value. Plenty of fantastic new actors of all races don’t get lead roles for this same reason.

17. Toros 09/07/2005 @ 4:58am

    hmm, well said rw. Putting all my prejudgements to the shelf, I am really looking forward to see this film.

18. Ade 09/12/2005 @ 9:29am

    The person that said that these people are actors is extremly correct. Being able to play someone outside of your race is part of being a good actor or actress. However I dont really believe this is why these people were chosen for this role. But honestly for as long as I can remember people have been playing chracters outside of their race. Remember Imitation of Life. Sarafina (Whoopi Golberg is not South African ya’ll) And oOoh yes Honey ( Both of Jessica Alba’s parent were black, and Jessica Alba is Mexian and white).

19. Kyle 09/13/2005 @ 7:23pm

    Just drop the beckering and judge the movie on it’s quality! The book is FICTION and written by a WHITE guy. All three lead actresses are known internationally - please name three Japanese actresses with the same caliber! Maybe the case to “The Hours” should just play the three leads with Nicole Kidman as Sayuri - remember the cast to “The Good Earth?”

20. Joseph Johnson 09/16/2005 @ 5:10pm

    Having lived in Japan for twenty years, during which time I met and had a brief conversation with only one Geisha, I feel someone of Japanese descent should have played the lead role. Kristi Yamaguchi would have been perfect. She has the talent, the looks, and the ultra feminine qualities that distinguish the Japanese ladies. I still find it absolutely astounding that a man wrote the book.

21. Joseph Johnson 09/16/2005 @ 5:12pm

    Having lived in Japan for twenty years, during which time I met and had a brief conversation with only one Geisha, I feel someone of Japanese descent should have played the lead role. Kristi Yamaguchi would have been perfect. She has the talent, the looks, and the ultra feminine qualities that distinguish the Japanese ladies. I still find it absolutely astounding that a man wrote the book.

22. ayanami 09/21/2005 @ 12:37pm

    chinese girl for a japanese role??

    i dont think so.....

    I’ll stick with the book.

23. Maria 09/23/2005 @ 10:02pm

    Look at it from this context. Would we be having this discussion if the movie was filmed in Japanese, with Japanese actors in Japan. If that is the case, the history of Hollywood so far has been releasing “foreign” films in a limited number of screens, or if released in every theater, dubbed with a voice of an English speaking person pretending to be Japanese. Either way, the viewing audience is going to criticize and the film will flop. Thus, Hollywood would not be willing to take such risks. Also, Mr. Johnson, Kristi Yamaguchi is an ice skater, who has no acting experience on film, who by the way is not from Japan but born in the United States. Do you really think there will be much box office draw if she was the lead? I have yet to see Hollywood finance a truly “art” film and not expect it to make back the money invested. I don’t know who everybody has been talking to, but everyone I know who has read the book is excited that it will be released on film. And yes, they are from Japan and other parts of Asia.

24. torri 09/29/2005 @ 9:42pm

    When I read that the lead role of this film was going to be Chinese I was taken aback a bit. But that was only because I would have like the aesthetics of a japanese person playing the role. However, to say that the movie will be awful no matter what and just because of the nationality of the actor is ignorant. Seriously, as mentioned before, how many world renouned Japanese actors can you remember off the top of your head? If you were making a movie, investing your money, and handling an a$$-load of cash to put into a movie, I’m sure that you’d want a reliable actor. I dont believe that Hoolwood is overly insensitive to nationality; I just belive that they keep their security of sucess in retrospect.

    If the actor looked as Japanese as Japanese can be and the person happened to be Korean I bet people would still complain.

    So quit getting so wrapped up in race and just realize that people are people and a actor is an actor.

    If you going to take time to complain then you’re going to see the movie anyways, even if you rent it on video, and you’re going to spend your money and you’re going to support the makers. If you want to donate ,Jahova knows how much, money for recasing just to make a more authentic movie then go ahead. If not, then just shut up sit your happy ass down, and enjoy.

25. mystique 10/16/2005 @ 11:44am

    “lol, the comments are interesting, esp the first one.

    Although in one aspect i understand, an actor is an actor (and they’re speaking english here) but imagine (for the americans here) let’s say Hollywood or better yet, let’s say a Hong Kong/British big movie company wanted to make a film on something encompassing a great deal of american history/culture

    (let’s say a movie on what u guys celebrate as ‘thanksgiving’) something very powerful and moving and trying to show the world the real deal behind the scenes of what life was like, (since there are so many misconceptions about geisha to the average western, i know Golden tried to get it as accurate as possible, bearing in mind it’s still fiction.)

    ....

    and then they decide to cast 3 really good actors to play American’s,

    but they were all Canadian.

    Now you can’t tell me America would not kick up a fuss, i don’t think Hollywood would even dare for a major blockbuster movie (if there has been, correct me).

    But to this day, (being british here) the amount of times i’ve offended candians or americans calling them the other (cause we can’t distinguish ur accents at first glance) and no one has still to this day given me a decent explanation on what that’s all about (not wanting to be associated with each other) is pretty amazing but seems totally trivial to me.

    There is so much history and tension between Japan and China, (wars and wars of it) it’s like

    ‘here’s a movie to shine some more light onto one of Japan’s greatest myths to the world (okay done by americans) and the actors to portray on our behalf...are chinese’

    If any of you knew about the textbook/history mini war between china and Japan earlier this year, you’d see where i’m coming from, it’s kinda senstiive, okay its politics, but Hollywood do need to be aware of that, even if the majority of the audience are American looking for a good movie, you’re using someone elses history and culture to do so. They will be more curious/affected by the outcome as anyone else.

    And btw, what was suprising was that Spielburg who had adapted this to film in the first place, was had considered adding subs and had a japanese actress in mind, before he dropped it, (one factor) being because of the lawsuit against Golden from the very woman (the real life legendary geisha Mineko Iwasaki) who he based Sayuri on and who allowed him the permission to view the world while he was researching for the book.

    There’s a lot of factors for this movie/book, its a touchy subject, but just for some beautiful scenery, a compelling story and good drama, i’m not bothered bout the actors then, the movie itself should be a treat! ^_^ “ (sorry, i did write in paragraphs, but it bunged the entire entry in one long one) >."lol, the comments are interesting, esp the first one.

    Although in one aspect i understand, an actor is an actor (and they’re speaking english here) but imagine (for the americans here) let’s say Hollywood or better yet, let’s say a Hong Kong/British big movie company wanted to make a film on something encompassing a great deal of american history/culture

    (let’s say a movie on what u guys celebrate as ‘thanksgiving’) something very powerful and moving and trying to show the world the real deal behind the scenes of what life was like, (since there are so many misconceptions about geisha to the average western, i know Golden tried to get it as accurate as possible, bearing in mind it’s still fiction.)

    ....

    and then they decide to cast 3 really good actors to play American’s,

    but they were all Canadian.

    Now you can’t tell me America would not kick up a fuss, i don’t think Hollywood would even dare for a major blockbuster movie (if there has been, correct me).

    But to this day, (being british here) the amount of times i’ve offended candians or americans calling them the other (cause we can’t distinguish ur accents at first glance) and no one has still to this day given me a decent explanation on what that’s all about (not wanting to be associated with each other) is pretty amazing but seems totally trivial to me.

    There is so much history and tension between Japan and China, (wars and wars of it) it’s like

    ‘here’s a movie to shine some more light onto one of Japan’s greatest myths to the world (okay done by americans) and the actors to portray on our behalf...are chinese’

    If any of you knew about the textbook/history mini war between china and Japan earlier this year, you’d see where i’m coming from, it’s kinda senstiive, okay its politics, but Hollywood do need to be aware of that, even if the majority of the audience are American looking for a good movie, you’re using someone elses history and culture to do so. They will be more curious/affected by the outcome as anyone else.

    And btw, what was suprising was that Spielburg who had adapted this to film in the first place, was had considered adding subs and had a japanese actress in mind, before he dropped it, (one factor) being because of the lawsuit against Golden from the very woman (the real life legendary geisha Mineko Iwasaki) who he based Sayuri on and who allowed him the permission to view the world while he was researching for the book.

    There’s a lot of factors for this movie/book, its a touchy subject, but just for some beautiful scenery, a compelling story and good drama, i’m not bothered bout the actors then, the movie itself should be a treat! ^_^ “ (sorry, i did write in paragraphs, but it bunged the entire entry in one long one) >."lol, the comments are interesting, esp the first one.

    Although in one aspect i understand, an actor is an actor (and they’re speaking english here) but imagine (for the americans here) let’s say Hollywood or better yet, let’s say a Hong Kong/British big movie company wanted to make a film on something encompassing a great deal of american history/culture

    (let’s say a movie on what u guys celebrate as ‘thanksgiving’) something very powerful and moving and trying to show the world the real deal behind the scenes of what life was like, (since there are so many misconceptions about geisha to the average western, i know Golden tried to get it as accurate as possible, bearing in mind it’s still fiction.)

    ....

    and then they decide to cast 3 really good actors to play American’s,

    but they were all Canadian.

    Now you can’t tell me America would not kick up a fuss, i don’t think Hollywood would even dare for a major blockbuster movie (if there has been, correct me).

    But to this day, (being british here) the amount of times i’ve offended candians or americans calling them the other (cause we can’t distinguish ur accents at first glance) and no one has still to this day given me a decent explanation on what that’s all about (not wanting to be associated with each other) is pretty amazing but seems totally trivial to me.

    There is so much history and tension between Japan and China, (wars and wars of it) it’s like

    ‘here’s a movie to shine some more light onto one of Japan’s greatest myths to the world (okay done by americans) and the actors to portray on our behalf...are chinese’

    If any of you knew about the textbook/history mini war between china and Japan earlier this year, you’d see where i’m coming from, it’s kinda senstiive, okay its politics, but Hollywood do need to be aware of that, even if the majority of the audience are American looking for a good movie, you’re using someone elses history and culture to do so. They will be more curious/affected by the outcome as anyone else.

    And btw, what was suprising was that Spielburg who had adapted this to film in the first place, was had considered adding subs and had a japanese actress in mind, before he dropped it, (one factor) being because of the lawsuit against Golden from the very woman (the real life legendary geisha Mineko Iwasaki) who he based Sayuri on and who allowed him the permission to view the world while he was researching for the book.

    There’s a lot of factors for this movie/book, its a touchy subject, but just for some beautiful scenery, a compelling story and good drama, i’m not bothered bout the actors then, the movie itself should be a treat! ^_^ “ (sorry, i did write in paragraphs, but it bunged the entire entry in one long one) >."lol, the comments are interesting, esp the first one.

    Although in one aspect i understand, an actor is an actor (and they’re speaking english here) but imagine (for the americans here) let’s say Hollywood or better yet, let’s say a Hong Kong/British big movie company wanted to make a film on something encompassing a great deal of american history/culture

    (let’s say a movie on what u guys celebrate as ‘thanksgiving’) something very powerful and moving and trying to show the world the real deal behind the scenes of what life was like, (since there are so many misconceptions about geisha to the average western, i know Golden tried to get it as accurate as possible, bearing in mind it’s still fiction.)

    ....

    and then they decide to cast 3 really good actors to play American’s,

    but they were all Canadian.

    Now you can’t tell me America would not kick up a fuss, i don’t think Hollywood would even dare for a major blockbuster movie (if there has been, correct me).

    But to this day, (being british here) the amount of times i’ve offended candians or americans calling them the other (cause we can’t distinguish ur accents at first glance) and no one has still to this day given me a decent explanation on what that’s all about (not wanting to be associated with each other) is pretty amazing but seems totally trivial to me.

    There is so much history and tension between Japan and China, (wars and wars of it) it’s like

    ‘here’s a movie to shine some more light onto one of Japan’s greatest myths to the world (okay done by americans) and the actors to portray on our behalf...are chinese’

    If any of you knew about the textbook/history mini war between china and Japan earlier this year, you’d see where i’m coming from, it’s kinda senstiive, okay its politics, but Hollywood do need to be aware of that, even if the majority of the audience are American looking for a good movie, you’re using someone elses history and culture to do so. They will be more curious/affected by the outcome as anyone else.

    And btw, what was suprising was that Spielburg who had adapted this to film in the first place, was had considered adding subs and had a japanese actress in mind, before he dropped it, (one factor) being because of the lawsuit against Golden from the very woman (the real life legendary geisha Mineko Iwasaki) who he based Sayuri on and who allowed him the permission to view the world while he was researching for the book.

    There’s a lot of factors for this movie/book, its a touchy subject, but just for some beautiful scenery, a compelling story and good drama, i’m not bothered bout the actors then, the movie itself should be a treat! ^_^ “ (sorry, i did write in paragraphs, but it bunged the entire entry in one long one) >.<

26. Zizatou 12/22/2005 @ 7:31pm

    >chinese girl for a japanese role??

    >i dont think so.....

    >I’ll stick with the book.

    I agree. Having lived in Japan (3 years) and having been to Gion, being French Canadian and currently living in Orange County CA, Im a little sensitive when it comes to culture. This is just a popular movie made from a popular book, but seeing a Chinese girl play the role of something, as sacred (to me) as Geisha, seems insensitive, even for Hollywood. Im not supporting this movie, I have my reasons.

27. Zizatou 12/22/2005 @ 7:31pm

    >chinese girl for a japanese role??

    >i dont think so.....

    >I’ll stick with the book.

    I agree. Having lived in Japan (3 years) and having been to Gion, being French Canadian and currently living in Orange County CA, Im a little sensitive when it comes to culture. This is just a popular movie made from a popular book, but seeing a Chinese girl play the role of something, as sacred (to me) as Geisha, seems insensitive, even for Hollywood. Im not supporting this movie, I have my reasons.

28. tinxie doodles 02/19/2006 @ 9:08pm

    i happen to think that it was a great movie. i don’t care what u people think.

29. tinxie doodles 02/19/2006 @ 9:16pm

    another example:

    angelina jolie is american and she played lara croft who is british. it really doesn’t matter. it’s just acting and the acting was great. i enjoyed the movie as much as i did the book.

30. tinxie doodles 02/19/2006 @ 9:22pm

    i also couldn’t think of a famous japanese actress who can speak english and is ziyi zhang’s age. the girl who played Gogo Yubari (Chiaki Kuriyama) in Kill Bill is too young, the japanese girl opposite Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai looks too mature, and heck. I can’t think of any other international Japanese actresses.

    Let us just all be thankful that Sayuri was played by Ziyi and not Bai Ling.

    And the girl who said that Chinese and Japanese looked different is correct. Asians don’t all look the same. I’m Asian but I think I look like a Mexican. But what the heck.

31. blitze 05/08/2006 @ 9:51pm

    I just watched the dvd. My opinion, the reason why Ziyi was choosen is because she is the next big thing for Hollywood whom they growing to be familiar with. Though in the movie, she does speaks with distinctive chinese accent. Also physical appearance wise, based on my own search, most japanese-geisha during that time were petite in built and not extremely slim. Unlike Ziyi and Gong Li who are tall and lanky. And yes, very slender.

    On another issue, many of the chinese people were upset with Ziyi acting the role of a Japanese woman. Reason perhaps, there is still some sensitive “post war scars” that still exist today between chinese and japanese; just as japanese and korean. With her acting as a japanese, furthurmore as a geisha during the WWII era, seem to betray her own roots.
    -----

Post Your Comments

• Next Entry
• Previous Entry