Memoirs Of A Geisha (DVD)

'Memoirs of a Geisha' is an amazing novel, and having heard it was going to be made into a film starring Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li (one of my favourite actresses) I was very excited. What I found was a very stylish, beautifully shot costume drama that ultimately didn't have a lot to show for itself.

The novel has a brilliant story and wonderful characters, but in this film the whole story was rushed and condensed, big parts of the novel were missing, and generally the way it was filmed seemed more focused on beautiful imagery and fancy direction rather than intimate storytelling. As a result, it didn't create anything like the drama of the book and I just felt that it was all style and no substance.

In terms of acting, I feel that the film would have been better if they'd had Japanese actresses speaking their own language, or possibly Asian actresses who at least had a good grasp of English. It's not a great thing to say, but the fact is with acting you need to be able to use language effectively, and none of the actors in this film could do that. Their speech was slow, stunted and often mispronounced or misinterpreted words. I'm sure they're good actresses, but just the difficulty with which they spoke the language came across heavily on screen and I felt this crippled the drama somewhat.

That said, I feel that 'Memoirs of a Geisha' is a very mediocre film. If you haven't read the book, than you may like it, if so then you're going to be seriously disappointed. This is an artistic, elaborate showcase of a film, it's not about people, the story is just a very mellow version of the book and the characters are butchered by actresses who can barely communicate coherently. It's all about pretty costumes and make-up and I left the cinema feeling very disappointed.

Before watching this film I did not know much about Geishas and what they did. This is a good film because it tells it how it is. The author did a lot of research before writing this story. This is a novel made into a big screen movie.

This is a romantic drama of Syuri looking for love and pursuing it. This is a story of a young girl growing up into adulthood. It is told in first person, she is reading her memoirs.

Syuri is the name she adopted when she became a Geisha.

Firstly from her parents who under tragic circumstances left her. Next from her sister who abandoned her when they decided to escape their separate Geisha houses but Syuri had an accident and her sister left without her. The people she lived with did not show love for her. Syuri finally found the love of her life (she became a Geisha in order to persue this love) but he did not show her his feelings towards her and she began to loose hope.

What I don't understand in this story is how the chairman fell in love with a young girl. He probably fell in love when he bumped into her after their first meeting, when she was an adult.

Another thing, Syuri found out she was secretly helped by the chairman (her love) to become a Geisha. This is ironic because her reason to be a geisha was to draw nearer to her love.

Watch this film to find out what happens to Syuri.

Great acting, good use of colour, very lovely kimonos.

A long film but worth watching.

Having read the book I decided that I would like to watch the film. It is an excellent film to watch and the costumes are beautiful. The DVD has lots of extras to fill you in on all the work and research that went on to make the film. Also has interviews with lots of the actors.
I would definately recomend this DVD especially to anyone who is interested in how Geisha live.

MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA is a lush, sweeping historical and romantic epic... er maybe but it is also long winded, slow, quite boring in places and not really that fantastic a film, well not an 'epic' certainly.

It is well shot. The cinematography is certainly lush, sweeping and romantic, it's just the story isnt. Well I didnt find it so. The central premise of girl loves boy (well old man) but girl cant have boy so girl goes a bit mournful but gets on with it and suffers from prolonged unrequited love is a bit paint by numbers and formulaic. There are mildly interesting insights into the world of the Geisha and of Japanese society, and it certainly starts off well; the initial third of the movie with the little Giesha-to-be learning her way around her new world is great. But the film is just far too longwinded for its own good and it starts dissapearing up it's own kimono clad backside with endless fan dances, long lingering glances and in house cat fights. Perhaps though my dissapointment is due to the hype I had experienced before watching the film. Perhaps my expectations had been raised too much and this is a harsh critique. Whatever. In my opinion Geisha is essentially glorified pretty looking Mills & Boon schlock for up on the screen - which is not neccesarily a bad thing, it just has to be your thing. It really should only be watched with a box of tissues at your side and a big bar of chocolate.

I was so amazed at this film. I never really knew much about Geisha girls but this film shows the life of a girl from the very start. She is sold by her father with her sister because their mother is sick. They are split up and taken to sperate houses. Chyio (the main character) finds her sister and plans to run away but she has a acident and is taken back to her Geisha house. She is told that she will never be a Geisha girl and must be a servent for the rest of her life.
She then goes through hell and back as she grows up looking for love. She is spotted by the Chairman and a lady called Memaha who takes Chyio as her little sister to teach her how to be a Geisha girl. She is a huge success but then World War 2 starts and she has to go into hiding to save herself.
When she comes back, her little town has completely changed and there is no longer any Geisha schools as any girl can call herself a Geisha girl. The ways that she frew up in have completely changed.
I'm not going to tell you if Chyio finds her Prince Charming though, you will have to watch the film to find out.

I had read the book twice and was curious to see the film and how they compliment one another.
My expectations were exceeded. This is a beautiful film with amazing costumes and fascinating characters.The story transports you to feel as though you are amongst the characters, secretly watching them from around the corner.
The emotions are felt so clearly, I was swept away and enthralled.
This will be one to kepp and watch over again and again.
If you like Moulin Rouge, this is along similar lines.

I saw this film 2 days ago for the first time and it blew me away. Superb photography and the most incredible storyline, I was left sobbing at the end. A totally entrhralling film, not once did I become distracted or look at the clock. A fascinating glimpse into another world. Truly stunning.

Beautifully photographed, sensitively directed, and well-acted throughout, this is a very satisfying saga of tribulation eventually overcome, and well worth repeated viewing.

I watched this film because I was curious about Geisha.I always thought that they lived in beautiful palaces.After reading the book I knew this assumption to be wrong. This film was very real and showed how things really were. It wasnt anywhere near as glamorous as I expected but I enjoyed it just the same.
I thought it was brilliantly acted and stayed quite true to the original story.
All in all I would recommend this film to anyone who is curious about Geisha.

After reading the book and renting this film i knew i had to buy it.You could watch it time and time again and never tire. From the dramatic story to the stunning scenary to the heart wrenching romance of the film it is so easy to get wrapped up in the untold and mysterious world of the geisha.i would recommend that everyone watches it.

When this movie came out in Colchester where I live, I so wanted to go and see it as I love anything to do with Japanese culture..I have even studied Japanese as a language for a year..So, when I won this item, you can imagine my joy and I didnt really know what to expect..And we all know how Hollywood "jazzes" up lifestyles and I was wondering how they could remain within the realms of historical portrayal..and keep the audience entranced, and with "Memoirs of a Geisha", they succeeded, with flying colours..From the opening credits to the last strains of the music fading out, I was totally lost in the period and I felt I was a close friend of Sayuri and I was observing her life..That to me is realism..not fiction..I cried when she did and I felt every blow or cut she recieved..And in all this, I could understand her parents selling her to Mr Tanaka san.. maybe, it is frowned upon here in the West, but they had little or no choice..they could not feed themselves, let alone their two daughters..So,it was hard to see that, in action, if you will..but that was the state of play at that time..and to see her evolve into a Full Geisha, with the price she had to pay for that rank..She earned Y15,000..which must be a very high value, I do not want to use the word "price", that puts a detrimental feeling to Sayuri..In essence, she is "priceless" if you will..like a rare diamond, and I see her in that light..She would be more than welcome in my home, and to see her in her Kimono..she was beauty personified..and see the love slowly and very painfully blossom..between her and the Chairman, portrayed by Tanaka Ken san..was a story in itself..never mind anything else that happened to her..The only thing I did find a little strange was the American influence of World War 11..but, on reflection, it had to have happened, and it rightly showed the exploitation of the "Artist" (Geisha) translated..because that was whom she was and is, even to today in the 21st century..every facet of her life IS an art form..from the combing of her hair to the binding of her Obi..and the War, cheapened everything, and I found that very sad and distressing..But we all have to survive, in the world we find ourselves in..I got my husband to watch the movie and he is an American, and more personally, he is 20 years my junior..I am 54..and very proud of it..and he has seen all types of, shall we say, salacious material..and even he was deeply moved by this film..He was pretty sceptical of the directors` vision of what he wanted to show us, how Sayauri made her way through her life and how she dealt with situations as she found them..But, after this viewing, he was "hooked"..In short, this movie is now a treasure of its own in my home..And I am delighted I have it as part om my collection..I would recommend it anyone who wants to listen..

Ever read the book? You have to see the film. Saw the film? You have to read the book. A beautiful film about life, love and passion. Film about commitment to love and about the Japanese culture. Definitely one of the best films ever! That is why I purchased the dvd, to own it and watch it again and again...

I loved the book and love this genre of films!!!

This film was beautifully shot with an amazing attention to detail. Great costumes and altogether a lovely film for those who liked the book!!!

The acting was convincing, the scenary was hauntingly beautiful and it stayed true to the book and held your attention throughout, I did not feel bored at all!!!

Hurrah for Cinema!!

Great film. Having read the book I just had to get the film. One that I could watch again and again. Lovely scenes and great actors and actresses.

Having read the book, I couldn't wait to watch the film. The book kept me entertained throughout and was so well written and had so much detail that I didn't want it to end.

The film is beautifully shot and keeps quite true to the book, but as with most adaptations, massive chunks are missing which lets the book down a lot. The actresses look stunning and everything just looks so authentic.

Having watched the film with two people that hadn't read the book, I could tell they were impressed with it, but a little shocked at some of the themes (as they didn't understand what being a geisha means).

If you haven't read the book, expect a beautiful film that tells the story of how geisha's run their lives and their roles in pre-war japan. If you've read the book, expect a very beautiful, but what feels like a slightly disjointed film as it all moves a lot faster than in the book with a lot less explanation.

I saw this film on a cruise recently and wanted to buy it for family and friends to see. It is an entertaining film, without bad language or any offensiveness, although it is not really a film that children would enjoy or understand. It is suitable for men and women who enjoy a good storyline and as it is near to reality, makes it more watchable. So, get out the chocolates and a drink and allow a good couple of hours to relax and enjoy!

I bought this dvd after first reading the book which was loaned to me by a friend. The film did not disappoint as it was so close to the book in every aspect of the secret world of the Geisha.

The dvd did not work I got a refund and paypal said NO. They then refunded my refund from the seller back to him and paypal in my estimation STINKS. will find another way to pay in the future. No Regards. Saprkykitten

I bought the dvd of Memoirs of A Geisha because I had just read the book and it was so good that I struggled to put it down. The story was told so well I felt I was the geisha.
I had seen memoirs of A Geisha before on TV and enjoyed it but now I wanted desperately to see it again and to be able to watch it more than once if I felt like it. The dvd,sadly,wasn't as good as the book, but still most enjoyable. An eye opener. Suitable for men and women I think.I particularly enjoyed the extras on the dvd. The making of the kimona and the incredible dancing and make up. What a graceful time the Art Deco period was.

This tells the story of the book well. But the thing I like most about it is the cinematography - it is so picturesque. Practically every scene is stunning.

This is an ok movie. The book was excellent and the film is no match to the book.

Not the kind of movie you would want to watch more than once.

Also, not if you want a relaxing evening.

great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film great film

I've never been so bored in my miserable life, even after 23 years in the army.Dull load of sentimental tut, but she liked it hence quiet for 2 hours...