Memoirs of a Geisha filming in Kyoto

[pdx]

Anyone know the details as to exactly where and when they will be filming in Kyoto? I imagine its going to be in Gion but I cant just wander the streets all day all month waiting for them...

[Maciamo]

I doubt they will film it in Gion as it is too modern and filled with ugly concrete nowadays (bare a few streets).

If they want to reconstitute the atmosphere of the pre-War era, they should rebuild everything in a "cinema village".

[pdx]

I dunno... from what I read it looks like they will be filming in Kyoto.

There are actually still a LOT of places that still have the charm that they'd be looking for.

[Timsan]

Gion is awesome, the end.

i just remember walking around through all the little alleys and stuff for hours, darvin meister

[jieshi]

This is one of the best biographies I have ever read! It was so good and I want to see the movie now

[King of Tokyo]

This is one of the best biographies I have ever read! It was so good and I want to see the movie now

You know it's fiction.. right.

[gedatsu]

Oh, I didnt even know they were making a movie! Its been a while since I read the book.
So when does filming apparently begin?

[shiningblue]

anybody know who is playing the lead? i've heard a rumor that it is zhang ziyi and i am trying to make sure it isn't true....thank you

EDIT: (man i'm lazy)

Oh, dear god noooooo!!!!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397535/

this would make a good cast for any other movie too....

[King of Tokyo]

I'm afraid it is quite true.

Current Cast
Li Gong .... Hatsumomo
Yôki Kudô .... O-Kabo (Pumpkin) (as Youki Kudoh)
Ken Watanabe .... The Chairman
Koji Yakusho .... Nobu
Michelle Yeoh .... Mameha
Ziyi Zhang .... Sayuri

[jieshi]

its fiction? no its not. There is a whole intro to the book explaining the circumstances behind it and also that it is a true story

[Ben W Bell]

No, the book is fictional. Read the notes at the end.

[mad pierrot]

Maciamo's probably right. They'll just end up using a place like eiga-mura.

[King of Tokyo]

its fiction? no its not. There is a whole intro to the book explaining the circumstances behind it and also that it is a true story

Err.. It's fiction man.. Heh.

[plasticsushi]

It's definitely fiction. I read an article recently about how te author had a huge falling out with the alleged inspiration for the book because he had taken pretty much unlimited poetic license in translation. There's plenty of information of the nitty gritty on the net. Just my 5 cents worth!!

[chikazukiyasui]

http://www.ezipangu.org/english/contents/news/naname/geisha/geisha2.html

Golden doesn't need the money he's making from this book and film. He's apparently a scion of the family that owns the New York Times.

[kirei_na_me]

It's definitely fiction. I read an article recently about how te author had a huge falling out with the alleged inspiration for the book because he had taken pretty much unlimited poetic license in translation. There's plenty of information of the nitty gritty on the net. Just my 5 cents worth!!

Exactly. I read somewhere that she was going to, or was in the process of, suing him because of that.

I will really be interested in seeing how this movie turns out. I read the book when it first hit the stands and have read it maybe 3 times since then.

[gedatsu]

anybody know who is playing the lead? i've heard a rumor that it is zhang ziyi and i am trying to make sure it isn't true....thank you

EDIT: (man i'm lazy)

Oh, dear god noooooo!!!!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397535/

this would make a good cast for any other movie too....

Oh whats wrong with Zhang Ziyi!! I know the fact she isnt japanese is, well, strange for this movie. But i think she is still a good actress (and very beautiful), so i think it will be fine.

[jieshi]

Exactly. I read somewhere that she was going to, or was in the process of, suing him because of that.

I will really be interested in seeing how this movie turns out. I read the book when it first hit the stands and have read it maybe 3 times since then.

I swear it said at the beginning of the book in the authors intro that she had already passed away. or maybe that was the men in the book?

[RinniGal]

no, the intro is fiction, just to get you to understand the book. it's all fake. Why, at the end, would he list all of those references, if it was all one women's story..
ANYWAYZ, I can't wait. I'm going to see that movie if I have to swim to japan!

[gedatsu]

ANYWAYZ, I can't wait. I'm going to see that movie if I have to swim to japan!

Its a Hollywood made movie i think, so it will be released world-wide. No need to strap on your bathing suit just yet!

[Maciamo]

This is one of the best biographies I have ever read! It was so good and I want to see the movie now

Maybe you should have read my review of the book (http://www.jref.com/shop/showproduct.php?product=15&sort=7&cat=29&page=1), as I also didn't realised it was fiction until the first 100 pages.

[jieshi]

Maybe you should have read my review of the book (http://www.jref.com/shop/showproduct.php?product=15&sort=7&cat=29&page=1), as I also didn't realised it was fiction until the first 100 pages.

Oh you don't know how stupid I am feeling at the moment. Every point I have made is wrong!!!!! LOL i apologise everyone

[King of Tokyo]

Haha.. It's all good.. We all make mistakes.. Heh.

[Ben W Bell]

Oh you don't know how stupid I am feeling at the moment. Every point I have made is wrong!!!!! LOL i apologise everyone

Don't worry about it, it does read and is set up very well as fact, including the well crafted intro.

[RinniGal]

well, okay.. with my luck it wont be released around me and i'll still have to take an hour car ride

[shiningblue]

Oh whats wrong with Zhang Ziyi!! I know the fact she isnt japanese is, well, strange for this movie. But i think she is still a good actress (and very beautiful), so i think it will be fine.

i don't have a problem with zhang ziyi personally, in fact she is quite hot. however, i do not like the fact that they cast her in this role, after reading the book, i was hoping for a older more mature actress, and also japanese. as well, i guess she is going to have to bone up on her english seeing she only had a few lines in Rush Hour 2. this is probably going to be a big movie --> a la Last Samurai, but i don't know if i will like it

p.s. - why can't they make movies anymore without taking the concept from a book/comic/video game?!?!?!!?

[Minxie]

anybody know who is playing the lead? i've heard a rumor that it is zhang ziyi and i am trying to make sure it isn't true....thank you

EDIT: (man i'm lazy)

Oh, dear god noooooo!!!!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397535/

this would make a good cast for any other movie too....

yeah it is... and as a japanese person it kinda pisses me off... but thats hollywood for you...

its a fictional biography... the events tho that were in the book is true... that is what happened when you were a geisha... but it was not an actual account...

[kirei_na_me]

Wow, looks like half the cast is Chinese so far? Hmmmmm....

[Maciamo]

「くおて＝」kirei_na_me Wow, looks like half the cast is Chinese so far? Hmmmmm.... [/quote]

yeah it is... and as a japanese person it kinda pisses me off... but thats hollywood for you...

I would also prefer to see Japanese actors only, especially for the main characters. And on top of that Zhang Ziyi really does not look Japanese.

But I feel the same way about most historical Hollywood movies. I attach a lot of importance in the historical authenticity - even for more or less fictional stories like Troy or completely fictional ones like Gladiator or Memoirs of a Geisha.

One of my first reaction after seeing Gladiator was the surprise (and consternation) of having so many people of Germanic roots (blue eyes, fair hair), playing Roman roles. Only the Emperor really looked Roman. Then they had tigers in the colloseum... :mad: Even in a fictional story, they should keep the historical context plausible, and there has never been tigers in Europe or North Africa. Mind you there aren't any lions or elephants nowadays either, but historians should know that there were during the Antiquity. But tigers are Asian.

These are the kinds of mistakes that make some Europeans (esp. French speakers kana ?) criticize Hollywood as low-brow and overcommercial. That's a pity. They have the means to hire historians (one person would be enough) to correct these mistakes, and that doesn't cost them more to have Latin looking actors as Romans, Japanese ones as Japanese, and lions playing lions.

[kirei_na_me]

I would also prefer to see Japanese actors only, especially for the main characters. And on top of that Zhang Ziyi really does not look Japanese.

I think the exact same thing. I don't think she looks Japanese either. Glad I'm not the only one who thinks that. Oh well.

[gedatsu]

Yeah she doesnt look japanese and its dissapointing they didnt select a more suitable actress for the role (and specifically a japanese person). However, it may be done well and i'll wait for the movie before i make too much of a judgement.

Following on from that, who do people think would have been a suitable choice?

[pdx]

I think that any of the MTV Japan VJs would have been a good choice. Young, beautiful, and speak english is what they are after right?

[mad pierrot]

But I feel the same way about most historical Hollywood movies. I attach a lot of importance in the historical authenticity - even for more or less fictional stories like Troy or completely fictional ones like Gladiator or Memoirs of a Geisha.

:D I know what you mean. The funniest part of Gladiator? The accents!

:p

Don't even get me started on other films, like The Last Samurai.

[pdx]

What was wrong with the last samurai? Koyuki or Watanabe's Japanese not authentic enough? ;)

I know I know, its Tom's Japanese. He didnt do that bad though.

[mad pierrot]

There is nothing wrong with the Last Samurai; it's a great film. But, I fear too many people in America walked away from the film thinking it was based on fact, which it wasn't. Still, some exposure to foreign history and culture is better than nothing, even if it is stereotyped and cliche.

Btw, Ken Watanabe was awesome. Have you seen the previews for the upcoming Batman movie? It's based on Frank Miller's graphic novels and looks reaaaally dark. Ken plays Rashual Guel! (sp?)

[Minxie]

:D I know what you mean. The funniest part of Gladiator? The accents!

:p

Don't even get me started on other films, like The Last Samurai.

Last Samurai was a great movie portraying Japanese civilization at that time of the Meiji Era... it wasn't 100% historical, but it was somewhat...

Tom Cruise wasn't supposed 2 speak FLUENT japanese, nor was that other white guy who plays the translator... but I think he did a good job... The japanese who spoke english sound like all japanese people who start to learn english in the US... but honestly Tom Cruise did a much better job than Lucy Liu did in Kill Bill Volume 1... she didn't sound japanese at all... it sounded like Chinese/English to me...

and yeah... im not really happy about a whole chinese cast... wtf is up with that?! o well.... :okashii:

[mad pierrot]

Tom Cruise wasn't supposed 2 speak FLUENT japanese, nor was that other white guy who plays the translator... but I think he did a good job... The japanese who spoke english sound like all japanese people who start to learn english in the US...

No complaints with that aspect of the movie. I was refering to the way the changes in the government were portrayed. In reality, the roles would be reversed. That is, in reality the samurai would be the antagonists and the modernizers the protagonists.

[Minxie]

No complaints with that aspect of the movie. I was refering to the way the changes in the government were portrayed. In reality, the roles would be reversed. That is, in reality the samurai would be the antagonists and the modernizers the protagonists.

asodesuka... wakarimashta :relief:

[chikazukiyasui]

About the tigers in Gladiator: in ancient times, there were tigers in Persia, so it is quite plausible that an enterprising showman would have brought some to Rome. There were elephants in North Africa back then, too. Therefore, though I agree with Maciamo about the North-European look of most of the cast and about Hollywood's general lack of regard for authenticity, I disagree about the tigers.

As for The Last Samurai, I have to say I don't think it was a great movie. It was entertaining, but Tom reduced it greatly by getting up from that battlefield and going on to give the Emperor a lecture. He should have stayed dead.

I do think Geisha should have gone for a Japanese cast, definitely. I bet there'll be some noticeable flaws in the film that come from casting non-Japanese in major roles.

[pdx]

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.

Does anyone have any information on when they will be filming in Kyoto? From the research I've done it looks like they are in Beverly Hills :(

[RinniGal]

As for The Last Samurai, I have to say I don't think it was a great movie. It was entertaining, but Tom reduced it greatly by getting up from that battlefield and going on to give the Emperor a lecture. He should have stayed dead.

I do think Geisha should have gone for a Japanese cast, definitely. I bet there'll be some noticeable flaws in the film that come from casting non-Japanese in major roles.

i think the only way they could really pull off a japanese cast for last samurai was because the main star of the film was tom cruise. They knew that people would come by the millions just to see him, because he's A-list. There is no real way to fit an A-list celeb into memiors, so they try and fit in people we know, so we may try and go... plain and simple

[–¼–³‚µ]

Local Actress Turns Down U.S. Director Steven Spielberg (http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/200410/kt2004101916573711720.htm)

Something is wrong with this actress declining an offer because of "pride," occupational or ethnic or whatever. And she chose to say that, while she could have come up with other generic reasons like being busy with other film shootings.
Possible explanations for such kind of strange comment:

a) She refuses any role but a perfectly wholesome heroine.
b) She somehow believes that the word "geisha" means "*****" or something.
c) She had to say that to make sure that she's not going to be harrased by angry Koreans.
d) She actually hates everything Japanese.
e) The "interview" is a fabrication or there was no such official "offer" coming from Spielberg.
f) The word "pride" means something different in Korean language.
g) Any combination of the above.

[kirei_na_me]

She makes it sound as if she'd be playing the role of Kobe Tai or something.

[RinniGal]

that's just ridiculous...
yaknow, it's still a paying role and it could make her really big in america.
she probably just made the biggest mistake in her career!

[Sally_Hawn]

The following link have some pictures from the Memoir of a Geisha

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/041203a.php

Hmmm.... hee hee... no comments

[o0fish0o]

Oh I'm disappointed. I hope this movie comes out good!!

I'm not too pleased with the cast at all... :(

I agree with what everyone has been saying - zhang ziyi is def. chinese looking. I saw the pictures too, of the movie ... and she doesn't even look like a geisha. she looks more like a chinese opera singer. :bawling:

Why couldn't the cast be more Japanese? I swear - if I didn't know any better I'd say it's because most western people can't tell the difference between chinese, japanese, korean ... etc. urgh. makes me angry! :box:

Ken Watanabe as the Chairman? ... but I always pictured him differently ... and not looking like Ken Watanabe .. :( lol -- don't get me wrong though - I love Ken Watanabe!!!

I wonder if anything will take place in the Toei movie center in Kyoto ... most likely.

Now ... from what I understand - Mineko Iwasaki, who was a real life geisha, was upset after the release of Memoirs of a Geisha. She claimed that Golden based the whole story on her, and wasn't accurate. So in return, she wrote Geisha, a Life to set the record straight. It's her account of her story from being a young girl training to be a geisha right up until the point where she quit the geisha life style (which was at the height of her popularity). I'm half way through Geisha, a Life ... and I've read Memoirs of a Geisha numerous times ... I'll probably end up writing a comparison essay between the two at some point ...

just wondering if anyone could affirm the above information ... about Mineko Iwasaki and Golden's book ... thanks!! :)

[Sally_Hawn]

I don't particularly like Zhang Ziyi, but I don't hate her as much as most HK people I know. Anyway, I have never read the Memoir of a Geisha because.... Is Geisha kind of like ancient hostess? Not an appealing subject to me.

Anyway, since I couldn't tell the difference between Finn, Dutch, Swiss and Norwegian, I don't get upset with Americans who can't tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Koreans.

[bonepile]

It's too bad they chose not a leading actress such as Mikeo Harada (from Kurosawa's RAN). She would have been perfect in this film, but then I was not the casting director.

[o0fish0o]

I don't particularly like Zhang Ziyi, but I don't hate her as much as most HK people I know. Anyway, I have never read the Memoir of a Geisha because.... Is Geisha kind of like ancient hostess? Not an appealing subject to me.

Anyway, since I couldn't tell the difference between Finn, Dutch, Swiss and Norwegian, I don't get upset with Americans who can't tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Koreans.

Maybe I explained myself wrong.

I mean I can't stand it when people are just like: Oh they are all asian. therefore they are all the same.

That's just ignorance.

I don't expect EVERYONE to be able to tell the difference. But to just be like "they're all the same, whatever" is just plain stupidity. And I hate that.

....

I guess to explain a Geisha as an "ancient hostess" is semi-accurate. Of course there is much more to their lives than that, but it's the basic idea. A woman who is heavily trained in the arts and "entertains" men. Although I hate to call them prostitues - they are far from it, I believe.

But that's just me. :-)

[RinniGal]

I mean I can't stand it when people are just like: Oh they are all asian. therefore they are all the same.

That's just ignorance.



you are being ignorant right now. you're not reading what she said. all she is saying is that she cant tell the difference between a british, french, german, norwegian, etc. i can barely do it. (i get confused with many white races, and i'm not fullblooded, i'm half hispanic.)
She's saying she wouldnt be offended if a chinese actress took place of japanese in a role, because it's still getting done. Be happy. Not picky.
anyways, why get all prissy over the casting in a movie? why use casting as a means of segregation? zhang ziyi is a popular asian actress in america and they casted her for that reason, NOT TO PISS YOU OFF! They prolly don't expect this movie to sell like Matrix, cause it's not a very known story or has people drop kicking and punching each other, so they are going to use the actors to help and sell it. Tell me a full cast of japanese only actors for this movie that are good with english and popular in america.

[wintersweet]

There's plenty of evidence that even Asian people can't distinguish Korean, Chinese, and Japanese people just based on their facial features. Usually, the true distinguishing characteristics are things like fashion, hairstyles, gestures, etc. Even though many people refuse to believe this, it's true.

[o0fish0o]

you are being ignorant right now. you're not reading what she said. all she is saying is that she cant tell the difference between a british, french, german, norwegian, etc. i can barely do it. (i get confused with many white races, and i'm not fullblooded, i'm half hispanic.)
She's saying she wouldnt be offended if a chinese actress took place of japanese in a role, because it's still getting done. Be happy. Not picky.
anyways, why get all prissy over the casting in a movie? why use casting as a means of segregation? zhang ziyi is a popular asian actress in america and they casted her for that reason, NOT TO PISS YOU OFF! They prolly don't expect this movie to sell like Matrix, cause it's not a very known story or has people drop kicking and punching each other, so they are going to use the actors to help and sell it. Tell me a full cast of japanese only actors for this movie that are good with english and popular in america.

Did you even read what I said? I didn't think I'd have to go into an IN DEPTH explination of this.

Alright - here goes.

When I first stated:

"Why couldn't the cast be more Japanese? I swear - if I didn't know any better I'd say it's because most western people can't tell the difference between chinese, japanese, korean ... etc. urgh. makes me angry!"

I left a lot of room for "reading into it". Then I read the response by Sally_Hawn which said:

"Anyway, since I couldn't tell the difference between Finn, Dutch, Swiss and Norwegian, I don't get upset with Americans who can't tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Koreans."

Now I took that as it was stated. She can't tell the difference between those groups - so why get upset with americans who can't tell the difference between asians? WHICH IS FINE. I completely understand what she is coming from - and I agree with her! which is why I POSTED AGAIN saying:

"Maybe I explained myself wrong.

I mean I can't stand it when people are just like: Oh they are all asian. therefore they are all the same.

That's just ignorance.

I don't expect EVERYONE to be able to tell the difference. But to just be like "they're all the same, whatever" is just plain stupidity. And I hate that."


... because what I originally meant was:

I don't like it when people are just like: "oh, they're all asian. they're all the same."

It's fine when people make mistakes and assume someone's korean and they're chinese or something. I mean, my God! we're all human, aren't we? But when people are just like: "oh, whatever. all those asians are alike. It doesn't matter if they are chinese, japanese, whatever."

now, that's stupidity. and ignorance. or at least that's how i view it. that's like saying: oh, he's Indian? Hindu, Iraqi, Muslim.. whatever they're all the same thing.

I don't expect people to be able to tell the difference, I mean I CAN'T myself! I don't think ANYONE can! But to just GROUP these people by their eye shape or skin color and just say "they're all the same" ... it's just stupid. They're NOT the same, obviously. There are HUGE differences. It's insulting to say "they're all the same."


SO in conclusion, RinniGal, I was not throwing punches at Sally_Hawn at all or being "ignorant" toward her post. I only meant to clarify myself so people like YOU wouldn't get the wrong idea. I wasn't trying to call her "wrong" or anything! Because I agree with her! I understood what she was saying - which is why I re-posted. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough in that one either. I just didn't realize I had to S-P-E-L-L IT OUT for people.

Alright. I'm done! :cool:

[Gaki]

Geez it's just a film...not like anyone goes apeshit when an American plays an English character o_O

As long as the actor plays the part well, who cares ???

[rakuten]

There's plenty of evidence that even Asian people can't distinguish Korean, Chinese, and Japanese people just based on their facial features. Usually, the true distinguishing characteristics are things like fashion, hairstyles, gestures, etc. Even though many people refuse to believe this, it's true.
Yes true, it's impossible for us to distinguish Japanese, Chinese, Korean etc. only by looking at the face. But we can easily tell by a person's fashion style, hairstyle, gestures, make-up, way of talking etc. Only by looking at the face it's rather luck than anything else. While some look typical Chinese, and in fact are, others are not. Regarding the size of China, the sheer number of people, where they've spread and mixed with - it is obvious they are far from homogeneous (no ethnicity is).

We tried but we all failed miserably:
http://alllooksame.com/

"We" that's Mainland-Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, Vietnam-Chinese - and our average score was 7.5 points.

And I agree with the apeshit - after all it's just a film ;-)

[Sally_Hawn]

I wasn't upset or offended at all. Actually I like o0fishOo's posts as much as RanniGal's, wintersweet's, Gaki's and rakuten's.

By the way, Happy New Year everybody!

Oops! I just broke a rule by posting off-topic stuff.

[o0fish0o]

I'm glad you weren't offended Sally Hawn, because that really wasn't my intent at all! I would have felt awful if you thought I was "down-talking" you or anything! (I'm really not like that at all ... until my temper is provoked ... -_-;; )

(Happy new year to you too!! :) and everyone else for that matter!)

Personally, I'm not *super* upset over the cast (not enough to go apeshit lol my previous post was reguarding the "difference between ethnicities" not the cast being mainly chinese ... although it seems like it's all blown out of proportion now .. but whatever. lol) - just semi disappointed. But I'll just have to see how the film comes out before passing judgment on it. I'm sure it'll be great - because I'm usually never accurate on judging how a film is before it comes out ...

... for example, I was *really* worried about how The Last Samurai would come out - but they did a very decent job with it (or so I felt.)

All in all, I still can't wait to see this movie. I liked the book - and I hope they stay accurate to it.

[7bits]

I was on the set filming here in California for Memiors and Zhang Zi Yi definitely was concerned about her being a Chinese person portraying a period Japanese geisha. However, I think she was more concerned about her accent as she spoke the lines. Both her and Michelle Yao were nice. As far as ANOTHER asian ethnicity playing SOME OTHER asian ethnicity I have no problem. At least it's not some dumb-assed white guy portraying a slow moving "kung fu" guy from China. It's a hollywood movie people - don't fret. It's got a huge budget and it's professional. It's going to be a big hit. I guarantee you that the ONLY people complaining about Zi playing a japanese girl are going to be OTHER asians.
The fact of the matter is, non-asians don't know NOR do they care. The movie will appease the masses and especially the asiaphilles that love a good yarn. After all, this movie was written by one...

-7bits

[Dutch Baka]

i love the fact that there is coming a movie about the book!!!

however, im not a fan of hollywoord productions with this type of storys....

[Black Piano]

i second that by Dutch Baka.
Its awesome they are making it and i really wanna see it because the book was great. but yeah not a fan of the hollywood stuffies

[RinniGal]

so, is it coming out in december?

[Dutch Baka]

is it ???? COOL,, i really want to see it... i hope that besides the acteurs they took ( sorry i care about that) that the didnt changed the story line!!!!! well besides the movie there is the BOOK,, and the book is just great....

fiction okay.... but story's like this about geisha's happend ?????

[Dutch Baka]

Details on the movie that is coming out december 2005

http://www.monkeypeaches.com/memoirsofageisha.html

TRAILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (http://www.movies.co.jp/sayuri/trailer/sayuri_trailer_56k.asx)

[nice gaijin]

I've got two friends who were extras for the filming in California, I might have to give the book a look now, seems interesting.

[budd]

i only buy dvds on sale anyway

[miakori]

does anyone know if it will be released in Australia? I am currently reading the book and went online and found the trailor for the movie which i think looks really good.
I really want to see it

[Dutch Baka]

send an email to http://www.hoyts.com/ i am sure that they should know more about official releases... it should be coming around december-march i believe

[Flashjeff]

Saw the trailer the other day online and it looks very exotic and engrossing. I'll definitely have Geisha on my must watch movie list for December!
:cool:

[Dutch Baka]

got the release dates:


Country Date
USA - 9 December 2005
Japan - 10 December 2005
Italy - 16 December 2005
Sweden - 25 December 2005
Argentina - 29 December 2005
Poland - 13 January 2006
Spain - 13 January 2006
UK - 13 January 2006
Germany - 19 January 2006
Singapore - 19 January 2006
Switzerland - 19 January 2006 (German speaking region)
Finland - 20 January 2006
Netherlands - 26 January 2006
France - 1 February 2006
Belgium - 8 February 2006
Czech Republic - 23 February 2006
Bulgaria - 26 February 2006

[jasminekumi]

I read this book when I was year 8.. The book was so interesting at first but it got boring in the middle.. cool... I'll be back in Singapore at that time.. Hopefully I can watch this movie... So looking forward to it

[~*Empress_lilly7~*]

I'm looking forward to seeing the movie, even though I haven't heard the best reviews about the book. Over in the states, a beauty brand named Fresh cosmetics made a big deal about the release of the movie by debuting a line of products devoted to the movie. It all smells pretty good actually!
They made a vegetable soap, an eye, cheek, and lip palette, bath wash, rice face wash, a face mask, a gift set, and an eau de parfum in both a small and a large size. However, everything is expensive.
I was out with one of my friends in Bath and Body Works and they were selling the Memoir of a Geisha line and I almost fainted when I saw the prices!
The soap set went for $19.50, the small fragrance was $18.50, the large version was $48, the palette sold for $38; as far as the face wash and mask, I can't recall. The gift set was $38 and it included the small fragrance, the soap, and some other things. It was more worth to buy that than everything separate!!

If anyone would like to check it out, go to Sephora.com and search for "Fresh" and in the product search put in "Memoir of a Geisha." Hopefully something will come up!

[Flashjeff]

Yo, Dutch! Thanks for the release dates! But I can do you one better:

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/memoirsofageisha/

[Dutch Baka]

Yo, Dutch! Thanks for the release dates! But I can do you one better:

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/memoirsofageisha/


haha okay okay YOU WIN :okashii: .. but i was first :wave:

[Flashjeff]

How about some stills from Geisha, courtesy of MSN.com:

http://entimg.msn.com/i/gal/Memoirs_of_a_Geisha/MG-S-668_410.jpg
http://entimg.msn.com/i/gal/Memoirs_of_a_Geisha/Geisha3_410.jpg
http://entimg.msn.com/i/gal/Memoirs_of_a_Geisha/MG4101.jpg
http://entimg.msn.com/i/gal/Memoirs_of_a_Geisha/memoirs-hq3_410.jpg

[Tsukiyono]

I am looking forward to this movie for two reasons, first of all, I have read the book and i thought it was very good, and it ***COULD*** be made into a good movie if hollywood dont screw it up.

Second and most importantly, i am meeting someone very dear to me in january, and we shall be seeing this movie together, so i am more then willing to see it even if it is going to be a bad movie for just this one thing :D

[Hyde_is_my_anti-drug]

I too am greatly looking forward to this movie but partly because I can't manage to get into the book and am therefor hoping the movie is better. I find the book a bit dry so I'm hoping this movie'll be like the Lord of the Rings movies and breathe some life into this story. No offence to anyone who likes the book Memoirs of a Geisha or the Lord of the Rings books.
And actually when I saw pics for Memoirs the first thing out of my mouth was, "Hey, wait, she doesn't look Japanese" there's just small differences in eye shape and bone structure. Sometimes I can't tell the diff but for the most part I'm very good at it. And one of the things that makes telling a difference hard is a lot of people are mixed nowadays.
I don't get offended when people ask me if I'm Chinese because it's really not an insult and most people just don't know enough to know the difference. I don't really care that they've got a Chinese Actress in the role, I think it's good. Just as long as the dialect is kept in check it doesn't really bother me. But when cross-race casting bugs me is when an American Actor is playing a Brit (or the other way 'round) and the dialect is all off and you're left thinking, "Accent. Accent. Accent." now THAT is bothersome.
And the girl that was cast doesn't look to "Un-Japanese" which is the complaint I've heard the most of about the movie, it's really only her eyes and jaw-line that give it away and it's not that bad people.
But I can see how this type of casting would seriously bug some people. But I really don't think its that big of a deal.

But yeah, I really want to see the movie and even if I didn't my mom's co-worker would still be dragging me to it anyway so yeah :-)

[Dutch Baka]

im afraid that the movie will suck...

but lets see it first, and then judge.

[Little China Doll]

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/252/1676/320/Geisha%203.jpg

Leading casts of "Memoirs of a Geisha" pose for photographers during a press conference in Tokyo Monday, Nov. 28, 2005.
Based on a best-selling novel, backed by Steven Spielberg and directed by Rob Marshall of the multiple Oscar-winning Chicago, Memoirs has generated enormous media interest.

[Flashjeff]

This is just my opinion, but I think that Geisha will rank right up there with The Chronicles of Narnia and King Kong as the most hotly anticipated movies to come out this holiday season. I'll certainly want to see it!
:cool:

[Hyde_is_my_anti-drug]

I agree. There's more buzz about Memoirs then just about any other movie coming out. More cult buzz anyway, media buzz is about the same but as far as what PEOPLE are talking about it's near the top of the list.

[kirei_na_me]

I cannot wait to see it, even if the main actresses are Chinese(:okashii:). I've been waiting for this ever since the book came out. I knew it was destined to be a movie. Can't wait to compare movie and book.

[Hideki_Matsui_Beast]

Can't wait to compare movie and book.

Geek :p

Just kidding, kirei. After watching the previews, I really want to see this movie.
:love:

[Hyde_is_my_anti-drug]

Hey, I like comparing too! I've been known to get two diff vers. of the same play on tape and do scene-by-scene comparing :p

[kirei_na_me]

Geek :p

You better watch who you call a geek. :box:

[Dutch Baka]

I had a look at the website of our main cinema in here. but they don't have it in their list of upcoming movies, so I am afraid that it will only come in the cult-cinema , or later in march or april, after seeing how the reviews were in the states... to bad ...

[Flashjeff]

I'm also looking forward to Geisha, mainly for Zhang Ziyi. Hell, I'd pay cash money to watch that woman wash clothes at the laundermat. She's all that and a case of chips! Hubba hubba!

:D :D :D :D :D

[Hyde_is_my_anti-drug]

You better watch who you call a geek. :box:

Yeah, you tell 'em! :cheer: lol

[–¼–³‚µ]

"Memoirs of a Geisha" Film Kicks up Storm in Japan and China (http://www.google.com/search?num=100&q=%22Memoirs+of+a+Geisha+film+kicks+up+storm+in+Ja pan+and+China%22) (Knight Ridder article)If there's dismay in Japan, there's outrage in China, but for a different reason: Many Chinese are beside themselves that the film's star, Zhang Ziyi, China's best-known actress, is depicted in the movie as having sexual relations with a Japanese man.

"She deserves to be chopped into a thousand bits," said one Internet user, one of more than 1,000 people who posted on the subject at the Tianji (Sky's Edge) Web portal.As expected.

[Dutch Baka]

Here ya guys go:
'Geisha' sends a love letter to Japan?

December 4, 2005

TOKYO -- For an American film starring a Chinese actress in a Japanese role, "Memoirs of a Geisha" picked a tough town for its world premiere.

The film version of the best-selling novel of the same title debuted Tuesday in Tokyo to mixed reactions fueled by concerns of cultural authenticity.

The film is rife with international credentials, but that global touch has many questioning: Can Chinese actresses accurately portray the subtleties of Japanese culture? Can an American director -- working from an American novel -- do justice to a geisha tradition that is largely misunderstood outside Japan?

Director Rob Marshall, who won a best picture Oscar with "Chicago" in 2002, has tried to dispel some of those concerns, saying he aimed to set the record straight on geisha -- who are often seen in the West as glorified prostitutes.

He also defended the choice of Chinese star Ziyi Zhang ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") for the title role of the Japanese geisha, Sayuri, saying "she is just the right person for that part."

The story chronicles a young girl's rise from poverty in a Japanese fishing village to life in high society as a geisha -- a woman schooled in the art of dance, singing and conversation to be a companion for wealthy men.

Besides Zhang, the cast includes Japanese actor Ken Watanabe ("The Last Samurai") as Chairman, Sayuri's secret lifelong love interest, and Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh ("Tomorrow Never Knows") and Chinese star Gong Li ("Raise the Red Lantern"). Three Japanese actresses play the other major female parts -- Kaori Momoi, Youki Kudoh, and Suzuka Ohgo as the young Sayuri.

Watanabe said Monday he was "very impressed at how dedicated" his Chinese colleagues were in learning about Japanese culture, referring to a six-week crash course in geisha culture that Zhang and the others underwent.

The director and his multinational cast were at Tokyo's national sumo arena for the first public look at a film that has already created an international buzz.

"We wanted to premiere the movie here in Tokyo, because it is a love story, and it also a love story about Japan," Marshall said.

Set to open Dec. 9 in the United States on a platform release and Dec. 10 in Japan, the joint U.S.-Japan production is based on the novel of the same name by Arthur Golden. The book spent two years on the New York Times best-seller list and sold more than 4 million copies in English.

Japanese viewers were curious to see how Hollywood would portray their country, but not all were convinced.

"I felt like I was watching a movie set in China, rather than Japan," said 28-year-old office worker Yumiko Kamiyama. "I am a big Ziyi Zhang fan, which is why I wanted to see this. But I will not be recommending it to my friends."

Others, however, thought the appealing story line overcame such concerns.

"We very quickly got drawn into that world of the geisha, and I forgot about those things," said Kiyomi Matsumoto, 39. "This movie showed a beautiful side of Japan. The women and the kimono were very beautiful."

"The life of the geisha is something foreign to most modern Japanese, anyway, so it doesn't matter if Chinese or Japanese play the roles," said moviegoer Yuriko Ozawa. "I think the story line is very simple, and women especially will like it."

AP

[Pachipro]

I am very much looking forward to the movie as I thought the book was excellent. Having a Chinese play the starring role does seem a bit odd though. But if an actor or actress is professional enough and learns their roles well, anyone can be fooled into thinking they are the real thing. After all, it is their job to convince us. Besides, as was proved in a post on this forum, the majority of people, for the most part, cannot tell Koreans from Chinese from Japanese. I know it's damn difficult for me unless I hear them speak.

Wasn't there a fuss on Broadway some years back about a caucasion starring in the lead role of "Miss Saigon"? I think there was a strike until an asian or Vietnamese actress was found. I cannot remember the details.

The director saying that Ziyi Zhang was picked because she is right for the part is a bunch of crap in my opinion. I can think of plenty of beautiful Japanese actresses who could've filled the role. Look at Yoko Shimada in 'Shogun'. She didn't speak one word of English (well, maybe a few words as all Japanese do) when she was picked for the role of Mariko. And she pulled it off damn well in the mini-series. I'm still in love with her!

The director probably wanted a famous Asian name that would be recognized the world over to bring in the crowds. If Ziyi Zhang can pull it off and convince me she is a Japanese geisha and really looks the part, it wouldn't matter to me if she is Chinese. And it probably shouldn't matter to the Chinese or Japanese either.

I felt like I was watching a movie set in China, rather than Japan," said 28-year-old office worker Yumiko Kamiyama.
What would she know anyway? She's too young and probably doesn't even know that almost her entire culture, including the Kanji and archtecture were "borrowed" from the Chinese!

I remember viewing Shogun on TV with a couple of Japanese when it first came out in Japan and one woman said, "It looks like China!" I thought to myself, "You sure do not know anything about your own country's culture or archetecture." What an ignorant thing to say as the scenery and archetecture were authentic to me as I had briefly studied those things like Japanese historical archetecture. Besides, it was filmed in Japan! And I'm a foreigner! Even the Japanese are ignorant on these things to some extent.

[kirei_na_me]

The Chinese government has canceled the release of "Memoirs of a Geisha" a decision made amid speculation that officials are worried the sight of Chinese actresses playing Japanese geishas would stir a backlash.

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/ap/20060201/113884794000.html


**Edited**

Don't know why I didn't put this here? Crazy me.

[–¼–³‚µ]

The Chinese government has canceled the release of "Memoirs of a Geisha" a decision made amid speculation that officials are worried the sight of Chinese actresses playing Japanese geishas would stir a backlash.http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/ap/20060201/113884794000.htmlRelated Post (http://www.jref.com/forum/showpost.php?p=300941)