Dame's "Memoirs Of A Geisha" mini review. — Page 3

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#51

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:15pm

Well of course it's in accent free English, Munk. That's Hollywood for you.

Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.

#52

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:16pm

It's not a Japanese story, it's a story about Japanese characters set in Japan. It's based on a novel written in English, and is really told from a Western perspective (be that good or bad).

The Chinese leading ladies in the film are three of the biggest stars in all of Asia. And no one makes a big deal when an English actor plays an Italian or an Irish-American actor plays an Israeli, etc.

According to the Variety review, they had to learn to speak in a Japanese accent. Whether they were successful or not is up to debate. (Does it matter, though? You're supposed to suspend your disbelief and pretend they're actually speaking Japanese.)

BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

Updated On: 12/6/05 at 02:16 PM

#53

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:18pm

The fact that the movie is in English doesn't bother me - of course it would be.

When I said it's a Japanese story, you know very well what I meant - it takes place in Japan WITH Japanese characters. Not Chinese characters. No wonder so many people are offended over this movie.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#54

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:18pm

The book is written by a white guy from the South. For a more authentic portrayal of geisha life, there is a counterdocumentary in production. Memoirs of a Geisha is a Hollywood movie and Rob Marshall isn't pretending that it's anything else. I respect that, but I can see why it might turn others off. I just wish people would take into account that this film's success might be just what other American films with predominantly Asian casts need to be greenlit.

"Well of course it's in accent free English, Munk."

Accent free? The accents are superthick except in Michelle Yeoh's case.

Updated On: 12/6/05 at 02:18 PM

#55

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:20pm

GRAGH. Okay, I really have to object to that objection. The book was in English. This isn't a pseudo-documentary about geishas; it's a literary adaptation. End. Of. Story.

If anything, all you culturally sensitive folk should be bitching about the fact that they're trying to pass ethnically Chinese actors off as Japanese when they don't look the same. It might be possible for Koreans to pass as Chinese and vice versa at times, but Japanese people look different from both of those. I got criticized for being overly picky when I pointed it out, but here people are moaning about the fact that it's an English-language film?

#56

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:20pm

Well - here's my take - if Japan was so gung ho about preserving the integrity then why did'nt they buy the rights and produce it themselves? I think it's completely up to whoever has the money and the rights.

And Munk - if THAT drives you crazy, you will love the fact that the garden scenes and many outdoor scenes were all filmed in Marin county - Ca.

"Oh Link...your pork is ready..." - Edna Turnblad

#57

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:21pm

ETA- Aaaand, it looks like said bitching started while I was writing my message. :P

#58

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:22pm

Do any of you go to IMDB? These are not new and interesting points. The movie will at least be beautiful rather than a big crapfest like certain other overhyped 2005 films.

#59

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:22pm

It doesn't matter WHERE it was filmed - it's all about an illusion anway. But the Chinese actors thing really pisses me off.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#60

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:23pm

Cheezedoodle, that's totally nonsensical. Why didn't "Japan" buy the rights to the book? As if "Japan" is a film studio or something? Or Japanese people are some sort of collective filmmaking conglomerate? What's wrong with expecting those who did buy the rights to do things right?

#61

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:25pm

I understand that Chinese women don't look like Japanese women, but again, no one ever carps about white actors playing roles of a different European ethnicity.

It's Hollywood, and the producers felt that the best way to ensure the success of their investment was to cast big stars. There are no big Japanese females stars in Asia, so they cast big Chinese stars.

Updated On: 12/6/05 at 02:25 PM

#62

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:27pm

Sorry Plum - that was dumb - I did not mean "Japan" as a nation - I meant a Japanese film company. I thought being we were talking film here that was implied. Of course - I forget how literal the on-line set needs to be.

"Oh Link...your pork is ready..." - Edna Turnblad

#63

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:28pm

I saw a play set in Japan earlier this week. I doubt most of the actors were Japanese. For me, it's cool enough to see a production that expensive getting 100% attendance and starring an all-Asian cast. Same with Geisha, I hope.

#64

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:30pm

Do any of you go to IMDB? These are not new and interesting points

Ok, first of all no, I gave up reading the IMDb boards when I realised the level of discourse was never going to get above second grade. And also, what a fantastically arrogant statement.

Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.

#65

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:30pm

I'm seeing a screening of this in a couple of days.

#66

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 2:33pm

"Ok, first of all no, I gave up reading the IMDb boards when I realised the level of discourse was never going to get above second grade. And also, what a fantastically arrogant statement."

This is silly. There are plenty of intelligent posts at IMDB. It's got like a gazillion message boards. And your point about Geisha being "accent free English" and "that being Hollywood for you" is uninformed.

#67

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:26pm

Evelyn, I pointed out in my original post we've already had this argument on this very board. Which is why I got irritated that, IMO, the less-valid complaint was being brought up again.

And I do occassionally visit the IMDB boards, even though the stupidity there makes me want to cry. I'm talking a 100+ post thread about whether or not Ian McKellen is gay.

#68

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:31pm

Right, and it's not even that I don't think the points are valid. They've just been made way too many times for certain short-fused people here to get worked up over them. Seriously, let the 2,000 other people discussing this very topic somewhere in the world get worked up, and everyone here chill out.

#69

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:33pm

Hey - it's not like they cast Juanita Hall in it or something.

"Oh Link...your pork is ready..." - Edna Turnblad

#70

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 3:39pm

I DO NOT HAVE A SHORT FUSE.

*cough*

Anyway, the casting is just a minor but necessary bitch of mine, because most of my best friends in the world are Korean, Chinese, and Japanese, and on a more personal level, sometimes I get tired of the assumption that Jewish = Yiddish-speaking. I wouldn't care so much if it wasn't part of a larger pattern of uncaring, stereotyping ignorance.

On the other hand, Michelle Yeoh sounds like a knockout choice to play Mameha, and the trailer was absolutely beautiful even if it gave too much away. I am looking forward to seeing this film.

#71

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/6/05 at 4:36pm

Dame, are you a press person? You go to every screening ever!!

Sunchips: Best Kept Secret in the chip aisle!!

#72

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/8/05 at 9:28am

TODAY just had a segment on the film and my crush on Rob Marshall is deeper than ever.

" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

#73

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/8/05 at 11:42am

Here's an article that will make Plum's blood boil, as Marshall defends his casting choices.
Geisha defence

Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.

#74

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/8/05 at 12:10pm

LA Weekly has GREAT ink on Ziyi Zhang:

"... found myself falling for the movie’s intoxicating charms — chief among them Zhang, whose porcelain skin and watery, blue-gray eyes are repeatedly filmed in screen-filling close-up, and who possesses the pantomimic expressiveness of the great silent-film stars. To watch emotions flash across her face is to behold a calm sea momentarily disturbed by the ripples of a skipped stone."

Whoa.

#75

re: Dame's 'Memoirs Of A Geisha' mini review.

Posted: 12/8/05 at 12:14pm

"Rob Marshall said Ziyi Zhang and Gong Li were used because of their acting ability and star power, not their race."

I have no problem with that. It's a movie, and suspension of disbelief, right? You get the best actor for the part. I guess I just got used to seeing non-hispanic actors play hispanic (I'm hispanic, btw.) It's something done over and over again, why should this movie be any different.

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