Memoirs of a Geisha [Blu-ray]

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DVD details

Actor: Gong Li, Shizuko Hoshi, Thomas Ikeda, Tsai Chin, Youki Kudoh
Brand: ZHANG,ZIYI
Cinematographer: Dion Beebe
Composer: John Williams
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Japanese (Original Language); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Korean (Subtitled); Thai (Subtitled); French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 145 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-09-25
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures

DVD Reviews of Memoirs of a Geisha [Blu-ray]

DVD Review: Memoirs of a "Runway Geisha"
Summary: 3 Stars

While I do enjoy watching this movie and think that it was well directed, I have some serious issues with it. It is a good movie from the book, as movies never truly follow their book counterparts, but I was disappointed to see the changes of certain details that Rob Marshall made. First off, their hair is absolutely horrible. I don't know why he decided to make it "geisha meets runway" when that is absolutely absurd. The whole idea of a geisha is to preserve tradition. A geisha would never have her hair fashioned in such a way, and it is sad to see that he could not portray the proper image as even Arthur Golden himself does in his book. Also, I do not know why they decided to cast three Chinese actresses in the three lead roles. While they are very talented actresses, and I think they did a good job with the roles they were given, I think it very insensitive and typical Western-view to disregard the differences between Asians and other cultures. Also, the Japanese and Chinese do not tend to be on very good terms historically, so this was also insensitive. The Chinese also have an improper view of geisha as being prostitutes, and this does not help matters.

As for a fairly good book made into a decent movie, I would definitely say this movie follows up very well. Again, it is a well-made movie, and it only changes some details from the book, as it seems all movies-from-books do. The costuming overall is pretty well accurate, though there are some other details that are wrong that I have picked up on after learning much about geisha, but they keep the movie fairly accurate to the proper portrayal of every day geisha life.

DVD Review: Beautiful!!!
Summary: 5 Stars

I seen this movie 3 times and enjoyed watching it every time. The performers did an outstanding job. The ladies were all beautiful. I recommend this movie to all.

DVD Review: Faithful to the book
Summary: 5 Stars

Read the book (twice actually) and was impressed with the rich wonderful descriptions of the environment and characters. An introduction to the pre-WWII Japanese culture.

I also have to comment that I thought the movie was faithful to the book. I specially enjoyed Ziyi Zhang's performance as Sayuri.

DVD Review: Why not use Japanese lady actresses?
Summary: 2 Stars

I am very disappointed that they made this movie just like most American movie that not really study the real cultures, and honor the couture that they are try to show. First of these entire Chinese lady actresses are not really walk and act like Japanese lady. I am an Asian and I can tell the deferent of Chinese and Japanese lady. There is no way that they are the same. This is just like the movie Anna and the King that can't show and made in Thailand because the story is so far off the true. If you want to see how the Japanese lady is walk, talk, and carry them self watch The Last Samurai, you will see one there. This is very insult to Japanese lady to use all Chinese actresses while there are so many good Japanese actresses to pick from.

DVD Review: Spectacular
Summary: 5 Stars

"Geisha" is a spectacular movie, a visual feast, a genuine work of art. The acting was marvelous, especially the child, Suzuka Ohgo, who was sold into servitude by her desperate father, and Michelle Yeoh, the aging geisha. I have given this movie to friends as gifts, as everyone can appreciate its beauty.

Description of Memoirs of a Geisha [Blu-ray]

A Cinderella story set in a mysterious and exotic world, this stunning romantic epic shows how a house servant blossoms, against all odds, to become the most captivating geisha of her day.

Chicago director Rob Marshall's pretty but empty (or pretty empty) film has all the elements of an Oscar? contender: solid adaptation (from Arthur Golden's bestseller), beautiful locale, good acting, lush cinematography. But there's something missing at the heart, which leaves the viewer sucked in, then left completely detached from what's going on.

It's hard to find fault with the fascinating story, which traces a young girl's determination to free herself from the imprisonment of scullery maid to geisha, then from the imprisonment of geisha to a woman allowed to love. Chiyo (Suzuka Ohgo), a young girl with curious blue eyes, is sold to a geisha house and doomed to pay off her debt as a cleaning girl until a stranger named The Chairman (Ken Watanabe) shows her kindness. She is inspired to work hard and become a geisha in order to be near the Chairman, with whom she has fallen in love. An experienced geisha (Michelle Yeoh) chooses to adopt her as an apprentice and to use as a pawn against her rival, the wicked, legendary Hatsumomo (Gong Li). Chiyo (played as an older woman by Ziyi Zhang), now renamed Sayuri, becomes the talk of the town, but as her path crosses again and again with the Chairman's, she finds the closer she gets to him the further away he seems. Her newfound "freedom" turns out to be trapping, as men are allowed to bid on everything from her time to her virginity.

Some controversy swirled around casting Chinese actresses in the three main Japanese roles, but Zhang, Yeoh and Gong in particular ably prove they're the best for the part. It's admirable that all the actors attempted to speak Japanese-accented English, but some of the dialogue will still prove difficult to understand; perhaps it contributes to some of the emotion feeling stilted. Geisha has all the ingredients of a sweeping, heartbreaking epic and follows the recipe to a T, but in the end it's all dressed up with no place to go.--Ellen A. Kim

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