[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?

[ebookinfo]

I read the book. Very interesting autobiography, esp. regarding changes to Japanese society from before to after WWII. As of the book's publication, the author was living in New York City running a tea house catering to traveling Japanese business executives.

As for the why's of not using Japanese actors or Japanese dialogue, I'm at a bit of a loss. I think the movie-going public would rather have it that way, but maybe I'm too much of a purist.

Or Hollywood has a generally low opinion of their audience....

Naaaaahhhh.....couldn't be!

[weightpillsnow]

Sorry - Info correction:

Zhang Ziyi is from Mainland China. Michelle Yeon is from Malaysia.

But if you are talking about Initial D - most of the cast and crew are from Hong Kong. In fact, the whole movie was shot in Japan, but speaks Cantonese.

Well. As long as the acting is good, I don't mind. Ben Kingsley isn't really an Indian, and Elizabeth Taylor ain't no Egyptian either. Ohem.

[Fellionas]

I read the book. Very interesting autobiography, esp. regarding changes to Japanese society from before to after WWII.

It's not an autobiography, but a novel based on the life of a real person.

As for the why's of not using Japanese actors or Japanese dialogue, I'm at a bit of a loss. I think the movie-going public would rather have it that way, but maybe I'm too much of a purist. You are too much of a purist. The majority of the cinema going audience (even more so in the US) will not watch a subtitled movie and can't tell the difference between Japanese and Chinese anyway.

Jakob

[viiagrag]

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.

This doesn't really make sense. The book was written in English and aimed at a Western audience. It was only later translated into Japanese. There is no Japanese original. By your logic, filming it in Japanese would be an insult to the book.
I think I might go and see it, although I'm not convinced it will be great, and those blue eyes look too weird for me.

[Cofeeman]

I'd go and watch it for the two ladies! Zhang Ziyi - yum! Michelle Yeoh, posh MILF!!

[ovH9wfSJ]

Didn't you know that once a movie is all in subtitles in America, that must mean it is a foreign film... which makes it artsy... which means that it will earn no money and only 5% of the movie going population would ever consider even seeing it...

[gimffnfabaykal]

that's really too bad!
I love the book and I would be very interested in a movie but if it's in english or cantonese with chinese actors I wouldn't be interested at all. I think it could ruin the story for me. I like things as real as possible and I don't mind subtitles at all.
oh well... maybe they'll make another one some day.

[Colorostikse]

Sorry - Info correction:

Zhang Ziyi is from Mainland China. Michelle Yeon is from Malaysia.

But if you are talking about Initial D - most of the cast and crew are from Hong Kong. In fact, the whole movie was shot in Japan, but speaks Cantonese.

Well. As long as the acting is good, I don't mind. Ben Kingsley isn't really an Indian, and Elizabeth Taylor ain't no Egyptian either. Ohem.

I guess what I meant when I used Hong Kong, was that they are both pretty much know as Hong Kong actors. Much as one would use the word "Hollywood actor." I had a Malaysian roomate, and when I said Michelle Yeoh was hot, he always reminded me she was Malaysian. But I didn't know where Zhang Ziyi was from. Which reminds me that I met her once. Basically just a quick smile and "hello" while she was doing some promational stuff in S.F. while I was working as a camera man. She is actually much cuter in real life. Very petite.

[Ngdyoysv]

It doesn't really bother me. It's just a movie. Sean Conery (a Scott) played the king of England, a Russian submarine captain, an ancient Egyptian with a katana to name a few. My problem with Memiors is how the author tricked the geisha to get the info for the book.

[N95FzmMw]

But if you are talking about Initial D - most of the cast and crew are from Hong Kong. In fact, the whole movie was shot in Japan, but speaks Cantonese.

Hey Mingshi, talking about Initial D, did the Cantonese version ever released? I saw the Mandarin version. It was kinda lame that they released a DVD with Mandarin only.

Back to the topic, I haven't seen it yet. Should I watch it?

I kinda agree that putting actors with a totally different culture to act is weird. It's like eating at a Japanese resturant where none of the cooks are Japanese. The experience is quite weird.

[Mello]

I know that ken Watanabe(last samurai) is also playing in the movie.He is 100% japanese and gorgeous as well
As for the non english speaking countries,almost everything we see is translated.So this equation , translated=artsy etc has no meaning for outside the u.s.countries.The production studio and the director is most of the times what makes the film artsy,mainstream,independent etc.I suppose it will be as mainstream as the last samurai.Not bad but not good.

[ResuNezily]

i think youre actually way off on this, benegizer.

its actually very true, there isnt enough mainstream hollywood actors to fill a movie with a full ethnicly accurate cast. i think thats an issue into itself about asians in hollywood.

however, you have to consider its a movie, its hollywood, and they are actors. a big budget movie needs recognized actors, basically familiar names and faces that ppl WANT to go see, and these are somewhat accomplished actors in their own right. (i said somewhat)

if they cant pull it off as convincing japanese, then they fail as actors. but its not something to be offended by, which it seems you are.

ill also admit, im kinda annoyed when i see a korean american playing a vietnamese (rick yune in fast and the furious), then again he also played a japanese american in snow falling on cedars. however, i recognize that as a pet peeve of mine because I AM culturally sensative to it as an asian, but i dont expect the world to be, and i certainly dont have any high standards to accuracy for hollywood.

[tabcdyop]

As for the non english speaking countries,almost everything we see is translated.

Generalisation... In Sweden only movies directed to children are translated, and most often run in the original language as well. Translating a film for adults is just not done, since people generally are able to read subtitles, or have good enough english skills

As for the matter of actors portraying an individual from a different country... I know several swedish actors who have played both germans and russians in Hollywood films (The bond chick in "Goldeneye" is a fine example, or the soviet boxer in "Rocky IV"), don't think anyone, except perhaps swedish people who know who they are, noticed anything :P

[drugstore]

..a Russian submarine captain...

Just for the record, me and the guys from NOSC had a hard time with that one. Commander Bond, I could buy, but Marko Ramius, nyet.

All I can be is a lumpy white man, imagine my own disappointment.

[Ternneowns]

All I can be is a lumpy white man, imagine my own disappointment.

Hahaha. That's a good one.

I see this issue two ways. One is that casting should be based on merit and the part should go to the person who can play the role the best regardless of ethnic background. On the other hand... it is distracting to an audience member who can tell the difference. I had no idea that Rick Yune was KA, so it didn't detract from my enjoyment of his performance in Snow Falling on Cedars (you thought I was going to say Fast and the Furious didn't you? Well he was hot in that one too.) but I did watch this movie once where they focused on a "Vietnamese" family. Only thing was that none of them looked Vietnamese! I watched the credits after and the actors were nearly all ethnically Chinese (there were one or two Vietnamese actors and one Cambodian).

Most people can't tell the difference though, so why hold good actors back by limiting the roles they can try for? In the stills I've seen of the movie, Zhang Ziyi looks Japanese to me (and before any Japanophiles start flaming, I am ethnically Japanese-Chinese).

[gedsiz]

i asked some geiko and maiko experts about this movie and they said it's not very accurate judging from the pictures... but they'll have to wait and see to be able to judge the rest

i too have to wait and see the movie and THEN i can give my opinion on whether zhang ziyis role was well played or not, if it was convincing for me.

granted, her last movie we saw kendo mates together was house of the flying daggers, and her acting was really good.... half of my girl dojo mates left the theather crying like babies, lol.

[Ruilnasr]

...a Russian submarine captain...

Quick geek note:
Marko Ramius was Soviet, but Lithuanian by birth.

I, quite obviously, live in a cold dark hole.

[feAilei1]

Yeah. My view is that it sucks. I love ZZ in Crouching Tiger, but it won't work for me. Dialogue is in English which to me loses its authenticity. No one can make Japanese movies like the Japanese, and not having Japanese actors in the main title roles to me is a slap in the face. It's like watching Robin Hood with Kevin Costner in the lead with an American accent. .... Please.... spare me.
Money is what they want. Fill the box office. ZZ is gorgoeus and puts bums on seats. Ok, the movie might be lame, but people will go and watch a film with her in it. I wonder how much or little training ZZ has had in preparing for her role as a geisha. Put her through a tough Geisha regime for 6 months, living the struggle and learning the arts, then maybe I'll watch.
Hey there's an idea for another reality TV show!!
I read the book and loved it but feel it would be a dismal dissapointment
.

[wallyfindme]

Is it the same director who did Crouching tiger, Hero, and House of Flying Daggers? If so, I'm definately NOT going to see it. I hated this director. He makes everything too pretty that made the movies sucked. There are too much western "feels" to his movies that totally take away all the authencity of the movie. But a lot of people who never saw a Chinese kung fu movie will love them because it's pretty. I'm sorry, but all three of them were boring as hell to me.