list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Memoirs of a Geisha on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Memoirs_of_a_Geisha/238125/default.aspx Title: Memoirs of a Geisha
Year: 2005
Director: Rob Marshall
Plot: This film, based on the novel by Arthur Golden, unfolds from the perspective of Chiyo (Zhang Ziyi), a girl who, at the age of nine, is sold to a geisha house in Kyoto in the early 1930s. Here, she learns that becoming a geisha can be the single path to wealth and independence for a woman. The head geisha of her house, however, Hatsumomo (Gong Li), is bitterly jealous of Chiyo and abuses her at every opportunity. Eventually Chiyo is taken under the wing of Hatsumomo's rival, Mameha (Michelle Yeoh), by far the most famous and successful geisha in their district. Under Mameha's tutelage, Chiyo becomes Sayuri, the most legendary geisha in the nation, skilled in all areas, from conversation to dance, and sought after by seemingly every man alive...except for the one whom she has secretly longed for since she began her training, The Chairman (Ken Watanabe) -- a man who showed her kindness at a time when her view of the world had turned the most bleak. Now as World War II approaches, Japan stands at the brink of a new era and Sayuri must confront the possibility that history will leave all that she has worked for behind. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 70
Number of Lists: 49
Number of blog posts: 2
Number of discussion threads: 3
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:45:44 GMTMemoirs of a Geisha2005Rob MarshallThis film, based on the novel by Arthur Golden, unfolds from the perspective of Chiyo (<a href="/players/P___280898/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Zhang Ziyi</a>), a girl who, at the age of nine, is sold to a geisha house in Kyoto in the early 1930s. Here, she learns that becoming a geisha can be the single path to wealth and independence for a woman. The head geisha of her house, however, Hatsumomo (<a href="/players/P____42289/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Gong Li</a>), is bitterly jealous of Chiyo and abuses her at every opportunity. Eventually Chiyo is taken under the wing of Hatsumomo's rival, Mameha (<a href="/players/P___223709/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Michelle Yeoh</a>), by far the most famous and successful geisha in their district. Under Mameha's tutelage, Chiyo becomes Sayuri, the most legendary geisha in the nation, skilled in all areas, from conversation to dance, and sought after by seemingly every man alive...except for the one whom she has secretly longed for since she began her training, The Chairman (<a href="/players/P____74900/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Ken Watanabe</a>) -- a man who showed her kindness at a time when her view of the world had turned the most bleak. Now as World War II approaches, Japan stands at the brink of a new era and Sayuri must confront the possibility that history will leave all that she has worked for behind. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide70Tag Target (>10)49233http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u44413ek9y4.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Memoirs_of_a_Geisha/238125/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Top_5_Romantic_Films/190/35892/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: filmgal81
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 10/4/2008 7:33:10 AM
Body: Ah, Sense & Sensibility has always been one of my personal favorites as well. I've heard the argument against chivalry before, and i think that just because the lines between chivalry and chauvinism were blurred at times doesn't mean that theer wasn't a distinction. As you said, you can be chivalrous without being patronizing. There was a politeness, a gentlemanliness then, that is sorely lacking today, in many ways. No, this does not mean women are looking/waiting to be rescued, we can cut the heads off our own dragons, but i think it nice to know that a guy would try. [quote user="rjsprague"] In order of preference: 1. Emma 2. Sense and Sensibility 3. Sleepless in Seattle 4. Pride and Prejudice 5. Memoirs of a Geisha As you can see I'm a sucker for period films, and chivalry. While feminists say that chivalry is just veiled chauvinism I personally think it was significantly more noble, an attempt to honor and respect the opposite sex. I put sleepless in there (and was considering You have mail) because it's a very classic romantic film that I enjoy thoroughly, but is certainly American. [/quote]
]]>Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:33:10 GMTfilmgal81Top 510/4/2008 7:33:10 AMAh, Sense &amp; Sensibility has always been one of my personal favorites as well. I've heard the argument against chivalry before, and i think that just because the lines between chivalry and chauvinism were blurred at times doesn't mean that theer wasn't a distinction. As you said, you can be chivalrous without being patronizing. There was a politeness, a gentlemanliness then, that is sorely lacking today, in many ways. No, this does not mean women are looking/waiting to be rescued, we can cut the heads off our own dragons, but i think it nice to know that a guy would try. [quote user="rjsprague"] In order of preference: 1. Emma 2. Sense and Sensibility 3. Sleepless in Seattle 4. Pride and Prejudice 5. Memoirs of a Geisha As you can see I'm a sucker for period films, and chivalry. While feminists say that chivalry is just veiled chauvinism I personally think it was significantly more noble, an attempt to honor and respect the opposite sex. I put sleepless in there (and was considering You have mail) because it's a very classic romantic film that I enjoy thoroughly, but is certainly American. [/quote] http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Top_5_Romantic_Films/190/35872/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: rjsprague
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 10/3/2008 4:50:56 PM
Body: In order of preference: 1. Emma 2. Sense and Sensibility 3. Sleepless in Seattle 4. Pride and Prejudice 5. Memoirs of a Geisha As you can see I'm a sucker for period films, and chivalry. While feminists say that chivalry is just veiled chauvinism I personally think it was significantly more noble, an attempt to honor and respect the opposite sex. I put sleepless in there (and was considering You have mail) because it's a very classic romantic film that I enjoy thoroughly, but is certainly American. Lastly, memoirs of a geisha probably isn't considered a romantic film, but I felt that it depicted an aspect of traditional Japanese life where, traditionally, romance didn't exist, but romantic elements are certainly there. I also recently learned that until the Japanese came into contact with the West they didn't have a word for romance. They write the word romansu in katakana because it is a borrowed word, which essentially means that they lacked the concept most likely because marriages were arranged (and romance wasn't a factor in that arrangement). I really enjoyed this film, despite it being about Japanese life (pre and post WWII and the bombing) and using a predominantly Chinese cast! Zhang Zhiyi (pronounced jong jurii or something close to that) is definitely chinese!
]]>Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:50:56 GMTrjspragueTop 510/3/2008 4:50:56 PMIn order of preference: 1. Emma 2. Sense and Sensibility 3. Sleepless in Seattle 4. Pride and Prejudice 5. Memoirs of a Geisha As you can see I'm a sucker for period films, and chivalry. While feminists say that chivalry is just veiled chauvinism I personally think it was significantly more noble, an attempt to honor and respect the opposite sex. I put sleepless in there (and was considering You have mail) because it's a very classic romantic film that I enjoy thoroughly, but is certainly American. Lastly, memoirs of a geisha probably isn't considered a romantic film, but I felt that it depicted an aspect of traditional Japanese life where, traditionally, romance didn't exist, but romantic elements are certainly there. I also recently learned that until the Japanese came into contact with the West they didn't have a word for romance. They write the word romansu in katakana because it is a borrowed word, which essentially means that they lacked the concept most likely because marriages were arranged (and romance wasn't a factor in that arrangement). I really enjoyed this film, despite it being about Japanese life (pre and post WWII and the bombing) and using a predominantly Chinese cast! Zhang Zhiyi (pronounced jong jurii or something close to that) is definitely chinese! http://www.spout.com/blogs/keli_ultra/archive/2007/6/1/9919.aspx Post By: Keli_Ultra
Post To: Keli_Ultra Blog
Post Date: 6/1/2007 2:38:55 PM
Body: As a woman with a strong desire to understand all things relating back to the development of post war Japan, I was a big fan of the book when it was first published. When I heard of their intentions to make a movie I was, to say the least, disappointed. I walked into the theater prepared to leave unsatisfied, and received exactly what I expected. Though the adaptation was not terrible, it was mediocre at best. The cinematography was not as wonderful as many have raved, and large portions of the story were completely removed, changing the once awful/beautiful story into something more dark and depressing than I believe the author originally intended.
]]>Fri, 01 Jun 2007 18:38:55 GMTKeli_UltraKeli_Ultra Blog6/1/2007 2:38:55 PMAs a woman with a strong desire to understand all things relating back to the development of post war Japan, I was a big fan of the book when it was first published. When I heard of their intentions to make a movie I was, to say the least, disappointed. I walked into the theater prepared to leave unsatisfied, and received exactly what I expected. Though the adaptation was not terrible, it was mediocre at best. The cinematography was not as wonderful as many have raved, and large portions of the story were completely removed, changing the once awful/beautiful story into something more dark and depressing than I believe the author originally intended. http://www.spout.com/blogs/jimbell/archive/2007/3/7/6116.aspx Post By: JimBell
Post To: JimBell Blog
Post Date: 3/7/2007 2:03:00 AM
Body: I was interrupted several times while watching Memoirs of a Geisha, but it did not really matter because this film was one cat fight after another from start to finish. Apparently, modern Japanese geishas who were shown the book in translation said they were amazed that a white, Canadian male could have such an understanding of their culture and lifestyle. The film won an award for cinematography, but I thought that the photography was a weak element of the film. Because I’d heard that the film was visually stunning, I expected some great scenes of Japan, but the cinematographer chose to use the modern approach of a lot of extreme close ups e.g., a sheet of greys plasters the screen, and it is a 1930s delivery truck passing by on the street. The other thing I expected of the movie was some beautiful women. Wrong again. The main character is not hard on the eyes, but when she or the other couple of geishas get dressed up, their appeal is highly specific to Japanese men of a certain class in a certain era. I found it difficult to see as beautiful a woman who has painted her face white, tortured her hair into a bee hive, eradicated her figure with tight kimonos, and strapped her feet into wooden blocks. Jim Bell
]]>Wed, 07 Mar 2007 07:03:00 GMTJimBellJimBell Blog3/7/2007 2:03:00 AM I was interrupted several times while watching Memoirs of a Geisha, but it did not really matter because this film was one cat fight after another from start to finish. Apparently, modern Japanese geishas who were shown the book in translation said they were amazed that a white, Canadian male could have such an understanding of their culture and lifestyle. The film won an award for cinematography, but I thought that the photography was a weak element of the film. Because I&rsquo;d heard that the film was visually stunning, I expected some great scenes of Japan, but the cinematographer chose to use the modern approach of a lot of extreme close ups e.g., a sheet of greys plasters the screen, and it is a 1930s delivery truck passing by on the street. The other thing I expected of the movie was some beautiful women. Wrong again. The main character is not hard on the eyes, but when she or the other couple of geishas get dressed up, their appeal is highly specific to Japanese men of a certain class in a certain era. I found it difficult to see as beautiful a woman who has painted her face white, tortured her hair into a bee hive, eradicated her figure with tight kimonos, and strapped her feet into wooden blocks. Jim Bell http://www.spout.com/blogs/movies_i_do_not_want_to_see-70/archive/2006/5/17/1223.aspx Post By: PammyK
Post To: Movies I do not want to see
Post Date: 5/17/2006 1:24:59 PM
Body: Somebody please convince me to see this. Its just sitting here on this list next to all these horror films and dumb-comedy films, its just asking for convincing.
]]>Wed, 17 May 2006 17:24:59 GMTPammyKMovies I do not want to see5/17/2006 1:24:59 PMSomebody please convince me to see this. Its just sitting here on this list next to all these horror films and dumb-comedy films, its just asking for convincing. http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspxlove
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