Geisha

[Infidel]

Most American's can't tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese based on apperance, name, or anything less than a blinking arrow with the word "chinese" on it pointing at the actor's head.

[Shibakoen]

Ishnar, believe me I know that. That's what makes it even more irritating. I'm all for the day when the best actor gets the role: Morgan Freeman as George Washington, for example. But in real life, this just perpetuates the ignorance common in this country that anyone from Asia is "Chinese". If I hear someone say "who's the Chinese chick" when they see a picture of my girlfriend, whose Japanese, it just makes me cringe. To me it was like the producer just thought, "Americans won't know the difference anyway" so it's a real insult to our intelligence. I'm probably just more sensitive to this because I'm surrounded by people who wouldn't even be able to find North Carolina on a map, much less Japan or China. The worst thing is it really would have been a great opportunity for a Japanese actress to gain acclaim in the West. Instead, Ziyi Zhang and Michelle Yeoh now have a seeming monopoly on "Asian" leading roles. I mean could you imagine if James Bond were played by an American? At least there weren't any Japanese lines for the actresses. I'm reminded of Sean Connery's Russian in The Hunt for Red October. WORST ACCENT EVER!

[Infidel]

hehe. But cockney is sugh a nice russian accent.

[ShinDig]

hey all, i bought the book a while back, and have just started reading it ..i think its ok ..(Only just started getting into it, so maybe my views will change later on)..

..never even knew there was a movie lol ...

[AJBryant]

My favorite non-geographically correct actor scene had to be in the beginning of Day after tomorrow.

There was your first mistake right there -- going to see that movie.

But in real life, this just perpetuates the ignorance common in this country that anyone from Asia is "Chinese".

They're just playing the odds -- 1.2 billion Chinese, vs. 120 million Japanese.

I mean could you imagine if James Bond were played by an American?

The very first one was. In 1957 or 58, "Playhouse 90" (a live drama series on TV) produced an adaptation of "Casino Royale". It features crack CIA agent Jimmy (!) Bond played by Barry Nelson explaining baccarat to British secret agent (!) Felix Leiter. Peter Lorre was Le Chifre.

Tony

[Infidel]

loganeer wrote:
Hollywood has a bad habit of using actors that aren't geographically or ethnically correct. For Instance:
Dragonheart: Sean Connery as a dragon? I didnt buy it for a second
Star Wars I-III: Natalie Portland from Naboo? I doubt it
Terminator 1-3: Schwarzenegger from the future...certainly, but from where...

A female as peter pan.
A white american as zorro.

[Shibakoen]

AJBryant wrote:

The very first one was. In 1957 or 58, "Playhouse 90" (a live drama series on TV) produced an adaptation of "Casino Royale". It features crack CIA agent Jimmy (!) Bond played by Barry Nelson explaining baccarat to British secret agent (!) Felix Leiter. Peter Lorre was Le Chifre.

Tony

That one doesn't count. The real Casino Royale is the next Bond movie coming out. You know, the blond dude. Lazenby was the best Bond, by the way.

[yume_kaji]

i saw the movie memoirs of a geisha, but first i read the book...

the book is very good, explained and descripted in details. yeah! you need to read it, its great

the movie is also good, but i thing, when you dont read the book before you will miss some importent things... so the movie looks like just a love story...

well... in facts i like geishas they are interesting... the live they had was hard, bc they have to learn nonstope since they was a child.... but they are great artists

[Apollo]

When I watched the movie I was very interested in it, because ever since I was really young I had alwasy wondered why those women wore white make up on their faces. The book I highly recommend! It is far better than the movie! If you watch the movie and read the book, you'll notice they left a lot of things out, but they do that with a number of books. Read it! It's worth it!

[Takeo Saeki]

I hate Hollywood. One of my three least favorite parts of America, right up there with our ballooning population and our insane crime rate. Hollywood seems incapable of making correct movies anymore. I hated how they butchered Harry Potter 3, and that's why I haven't yet watched Harry Potter 4 (waiting for the DVD). The instant I laid eyes on the girl in the preview of Memoirs of a Geisha, I knew instantly that she was Chinese and that really irritated me. I'm not blind; I can tell the difference. Despite what many people think, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Malaysian, etc people DO NOT look and sound exactly the same. Granted, they appear similar at first glance to a person who has not seen many Asians in their lifetime, but they're all unique human beings with unique personalities, feelings, opinions, pasts, etc and to assume that all Asians with black hair and slanted eyes are exactly the same because of how they look is an insult to all Oriental races.

[Ongakuka]

I hated how they butchered Harry Potter 3

　Yes! another person who agrees with me!:D

[lostinagoodbook]

I liked the movie, didn't much like the book. The movie was lovely to look at. The clothes (however which way they were tied lol) and scenery and the actresses (and actors for that matter - hubba hubba lol) were beautiful. But then I didn't go to this one expecting high art, or accuracy. Hey it's Hollywood, and no offense but most of todays industry industry creators have their heads so far up their ... well you know ... they wouldn't know realism if it hit them in the face.

I'm quite sure there are Japanese actresses out there who could do a fabulous job with the roles, but the truth of the matter is .. Crouching Tiger was a hit in America, and it's stars are very well known here now. Zhang and Yeoh = money. And that's what it's all about.

[Hatori]

i really want to read the book and buy the movie when it's comes out on DVD and stuff. i'm sad that people think it's "dissapointing". oh well, i guess i have to see for myself. ^_^

[Hatori]

ebear215 wrote:
LOL

Hey go easy on Holly Wood. They have a hard enough time thinking as it is.
Take the 3rd Harry Potter for example. That director totally wrecked the movie! :@

OMG! i so totally agree!!! they also messed up the 4th movie, but it's soooo much fun to make fun off and find glitches hehehe.

[hiraikotsu]

lostinagoodbook wrote:
But then I didn't go to this one expecting high art, or accuracy. Hey it's Hollywood, and no offense but most of todays industry industry creators have their heads so far up their ... well you know ... they wouldn't know realism if it hit them in the face.

my sentiments exactly. i watched the movie b4 reading the book, which was a good thing cos the scenes came alive to me better as i read it afterwards (yes, i've that bad an imagination...) i read the reviews b4 watching the movie, which meant that i could sit back and take in the beautiful scenery (and costumes) without worrying too much abt how true the details were to reality...(but hey, isn't the geisha's world also one outside of reality as we know it?)

I'm quite sure there are Japanese actresses out there who could do a fabulous job with the roles, but the truth of the matter is .. Crouching Tiger was a hit in America, and it's stars are very well known here now. Zhang and Yeoh = money. And that's what it's all about.

i guess the makers of the movie would have done their math first... casting chinese actresses in a japanese movie would surely not go down well with the mainland chinese. in fact, i dont think the movie is even going to be screened in china rite? that wld be like excluding one-fifth of the world's potential audience... for the chinese cast to take on the role wld also be a risk doncha think?