[amotoustict]

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.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was directed by Ang Lee, Hero and House of Flying Daggers was directed by Yimou Zhang.
As for the reference to 'too much western feel', I presume you are referring to actually having a storyline?
(And yes, I like HK kung-fu movies as well)

Jakob

[ImmimiFruff]

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was directed by Ang Lee, Hero and House of Flying Daggers was directed by Yimou Zhang.
As for the reference to 'too much western feel', I presume you are referring to actually having a storyline?
(And yes, I like HK kung-fu movies as well)

Jakob

Oh ok... thanks Jakob. And nah... not too much storyline. It just feels so ackward that they were "too pretty" is the only way I can described it. I have seen Chinese movies done beautifully, but those are just ackward for some reasons. The fight scenes were so boring that I almost fell asleep watching both Hero and House of Flying Daggers. The director focused too much of making it "pretty" and forgot some elements that make a good Kung Fu movie. I don't mine the storyline at all, I like the storylines, they were quite interesting. It's just the way how they were done were so ackward...

[draigenia]

I had a bigger problem with a Robin Hood that had a midwest/native American/ accent. But hey, at least they didn't make Robin Hood a retired base ball player.

[GeraldCortis]

I don't know if I can handle a Zhang Ziyi movie where she's not flying and cutting people.

[mloversia]

I heard Speilberg was directing it.
Regardless, I think it will suck, Big Time

[hacyOrgachbic]

So has anyone seen it yet?

I just did - and think everyone did their best acting. I quite like it when they have every role speaking English except everyday-life dialogues. What I found boring was the storyline... it's been done as you expect a geisha's life was, and that's just too straightforward...

[Kghyutgykim]

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

Thats what I thought too, all the way through reading the book. In actual fact it's fictional, however it is heavily researched so, apparently, very authentic. I didn't beleive it wasn't true myself at first, from the way it's written.

That being the case it is a novel written for the west, in english, for western audiences. Most people who see it won't even know the difference. And it's not a Japanese movie, so why make it in Japanese? It's like if they filmed Gladiator in Latin, it would be a nice realism quirk but perhaps too much of a distraction from the story.

Plus, like giblet said, ziyi and yeoh, wan wan seeing it on Tuesday...

[socialkiiii]

You know...its not entirely impossible for famous japanese cultural figures to be of non-japanese origins. Take Mas Oyama, famous karateka and overall arse kicker...originally from Korea. The same with the pro wrestler Rikidozen.

************************************************** *

As for Michele Yeoh...yup, Malaysian women rock! hahahaha! Especially those from Ipoh where she comes from.

[Ehlgamxf]

Well I'll don't really take these kind of movies seriously, more like cheap entertainment.

Take the last Samurai, over the top, lots of wow action but overall very hollywood and stereotyped. If I wanted a better piece on the subject of the phasing out of the Samurai I'd watch something like Tasagore Seibei.

Memoirs...entertainment
Geisha House...much better.

[ArraryTauTDew]

I saw it and liked it. Good camera work, good sets, costumes etc. I understand that none of the three women leads speak english and learned to do their lines english with japanese accents (which to my ear are very different than english with chinese accent or korean etc.)
Story was what the story weas, but you knew that going in.

[Dpkefsuf]

... I understand that none of the three women leads speak english ...

Negative. Haven't you seen Tomorrow Never Dies?

[shemadagaswer]

Michele Yeoh speaks (as with most people in her generation) perfect Queen's English. No funky broken english accents heard on the occasions I spoke with her.

Its a pity I can't say the same for the current generation...ever since they decided to have segregated type education with Malay as the main common language, English has been going downhill.

[Thifiadardivy]

I just watched that movie today, the Engrish made me laugh.
The high point was when a brawl broke out in the back row of the movie theater. The response was somewhat of an over-reaction;
Cop cars - 5, Firetrucks - 2, ambulances - 1, being a tax payer in the city of Davis - Priceless!

[QXCharles]

>No one can make Japanese movies like the Japanese,

Except that the book was written by an American man. I've read one review which describes it as pegged for an audience who can't tell the difference and is very westernised. Personally, I really enjoyed the book and am going to see it on a 'girls' night out' next Tuesday, though I may have to come home and watch some Kurosawa to feel better if the reviews hold true.

As for mainstream movies being subtitled, here is good ol' Oz, the only two subtitled movies I've ever seen at mainstream cinema was House of Flying Daggers and Night Watch so if it's a Hollywood movie about making money then of course they're going to do it in English.

[Biashpainabix]

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

Naaaaahhhh.....couldn't be!

I think the EX-Hollywood public has a generally low opinion of Hollywood....

[VitaliyMurnov]

I just watched that movie today, the Engrish made me laugh.
The high point was when a brawl broke out in the back row of the movie theater. The response was somewhat of an over-reaction;
Cop cars - 5, Firetrucks - 2, ambulances - 1, being a tax payer in the city of Davis - Priceless!

In New York when there was a shooting in the theater, the audience would start yelling at the cops to hurry up and get the movie back on. That's cold.

[Plonnikas]

I enjoyed it but it's a rip off of the old Bette Davis movie All About Eve. The hairdo's were atrocious, Western make up. Far from geisha like and they had the the deportment of horses.

I would have thought they could have given the actresses a few hours work on Japanese dance. Looked more like a scene from a musical.

In the roof scene I could not help but look at all those new modern tiles. Even Ninja movies are better on this.

Still....... it's Hollywood! I suppose they have to make it appealing for the masses.

[ziIReIGS]

http://www.youtube.com/w/Memoirs-of-...f%20a%20geisha

thought i'd share this here. hope it hasnt been posted yet on other thread(s)... superb acting on this trailer. i dont really care if the actor is japanese or not

[NowFloabDow]

Nobody mentioned Gong Li???? She was great too!

[GAGNAPPEAPH]

it doesnt matter if the actors are japanese or not, as long as they do the acting and dancing right, and the culture is portraied correctly. i still havnt seen it, but i intend to

i just dont want it to be one of those great books turned really stupid movies, i mean its one of my fav. books!