[Storwaytozy]

I'm sure most of you know there is a movie being made from the book of the same name called "Memoirs of a Geisha" You can check out the trailer at http://www.apple.com/trailers/

I was wondering what your views and opinions were on the fact they they are using two well know HK actrsses (Zhang Ziyi, and Michelle Yeoh) for the main roles. Also the whole movie is in English.

To be honest I have never read the book, but feel disoppointed that they would choose two Hong Kong actress to portray Japanese women in a story that is, at it's heart a very Japanese cultural story. I think it is insulting to the Japanese entertainment industry. Like saying "There isn't enough talent in Japan to tell a story about Japanese culture, so we'll use these two Chinese actresses because Americans won't know any better" It's the same as if they made a "Musashi" movie, and cast Jackie Chan as Musashi. They feel that these are the only asian actors that Americans will recogzine.

I know this stuff happens all the time is other movies. Heck, even one of my favorite movies "Desperado" has Antonio Banderas playing a Mexican when he is really from Spain. But at least the speak the same language. I don't think it's as bad when say, a English actor is playing American in a movie, or visa-versa. Just living in Japan, I know there is a lot of great talent out here. Most of it never recogzined outside it's borders. I'm sure that the whole movie having to be in English (another thing I'm not happy about) had a big part in choosing the actors for this movie. I guess only English speaking asian actresses need apply.

(on a side note, this movie was supposed to be made about 6 or 8 years ago with director Steven Speilburg at the helm. I remember he had a huge open casting call in San Francisco looking for a new asian face. A few of my Japanese female friends went and tried out for fun.)

Well, enough ranting for now. What do you guys think?