Memoirs of a Geisha

Cast

Sayuri - Zhang Ziyi
Chairman - Ken Watanabe
Hatsumomo - Gong Li
Mameha - Michelle Yeoh
Pumpkin - Youki Kudoh
Nobu - Koji Yakusho

Storyline

Chiyo and her sister Satsu were separated from her parents when she was a young girl, and sold to a geisha district in Kyoto Gion. The mother of the geisha house, is also known as mother to all of them. In the geisha house she gets introduced to the infamous Hatsumomo who works as the head geisha of the house and the nice Pumpkin who grows up to be her friend. Hatsumomo is a beautiful but evil lady, complete with her tricks and devious lies about anyone and everyone. In order for Chiyo to find her sister, she agrees to do bad things for Hatsumomo and bear the punishment - in exchange of Satsu's whereabouts. After getting Chiyo in serious trouble for drawing on the kimono of one of the famous geishas, Hatsumomo tells Chiyo where Satsu is, and one night, Chiyo goes to find her sister. She finds her sister in a prostitute house, and her sister tells her of her plans to run away the following night. Chiyo agrees to meet her and she goes back to okiya, heart pumping with excitement and anticipation.

However, she was caught for running away due to falling from a roof. She is to be a house slave, serving the people in the geisha house and opening the door. One day, she cries on the bridge and meets the Chairman due to a twist of fate. She is smitten by the Chairman being good to her and sees that there are geisha around him, from then on, she vowed to become a geisha to serve him. One day, the famous geisha Mameha came knocking on the okiya's door asking the okiya to let Chiyo train with her to become a geisha. She soon takes Chiyo in as her little sister, and Chiyo's name is now changed to Sayuri.

Sayuri grows up to be a dazzling young woman, complete with beautiful shadowy grey eyes. She is soon to be a fully-fledged geisha, now already an apprentice. She stars in a famous show, and her name is now spread far and wide among the geisha district. Her mizuage will soon be sold, and this is what will determine her future. Now, she has a few men in her life that may willlingly bid for her mizuage, Dr Crab, The Baron, and Nobu. Sadly, the Chairman does not seem to be interested. Does Sayuri face a chance of living her dreams and becoming one of the Chairman's mistress?

Watch it to find out. :D

Cast and Opinions

Zhang Ziyi as Sayuri
Zhang Ziyi did an okay job as Sayuri, although she did not really present Sayuri's emotions very well. She lacked the charisma to do Sayuri, and especially because the character Sayuri was a Japanese, I think they should have chosen a Japan actress for the job instead. Well, she did an okay average job, because she did not show the expressions to the fullest, and didn't present it as well as she should have. Everybody thinks Sayuri is great because of Zhang Ziyi, I think it's a little over-hyped.

Ken Watanabe as Chairman
He didn't appear much in the show because Sayuri was the main actress and lead, but I thought he did an okay job. Couldn't really judge through the short times he appeared on the screen, but sometimes he said the lines with emotion, and trying to express the feelings, so not bad.

Gong Li as Hatsumomo
I think she acted well as Hatsumomo. She looked really pretty! With her hair dangling in a mass over her shoulders (in an elegant but messy way) she looked beautiful. She also has this devious look when she looks from the corner of her eyes at people, and she also does things in her own way, giving Hatsumomo's role a kind of Gong Li title to it. She added a bit of spice into the book somehow, and I liked it when she threw the lamps on the floor, showing just how wrecked she had become. I thought the lapsing on the floor and crying part was good too. She basically did this role best.

Michelle Yeoh as Mameha
I thought Michelle Yeoh did a bit better than average, but I didn't really like the way she talked. I prefer fast paced ones, like Hatusmomo, but not too fast. Therefore, I did not really like Michelle Yeoh in this role, but her facial expressions and the way she thought Sayuri were good. She showed the compassion of being a teacher, but not really caring to Sayuri in one aspect. Maybe it's because she had to remember that it was the Chairman who tasked her with the job, or something else, but with the way Sayuri looked at her was with great admiration, perhaps it was the way she was portrayed in the show.

Youki Kudoh as Pumpkin
Youki Kudoh did a good job here, as she did Pumpkin's feelings and everything with just the right amount of expressions. Not too overdone, but quite on the just right side. Especially when Pumpkin brought the Chairman to the place instead of Nobu - that was the part I never knew existed. She was always the happy go lucky one, I had never ever seen that side of her. I thought it was non-existent, actually. The way she looked at Sayuri, that I finally got back at you how do you feel look was awesome. Pumpkin = <3.

Props
I thought the nice okiya was lovely, the ancient Japanese look was <3. I personally find the kimonos used very very very attractive, and I think the props were good stuff. The sliding doors too, very nice and portrayed Japan well. I also liked the scenery they used, it's love. When Sayuri let go of the Chairman's handkerchief, that waves beating against the rocks feeling was <3 too. And also the part where the Chairman confessess to Sayuri it was him planning everything all along, the small rocks as stones, the little inn (or whatever it's called in the middle of the pond), was very very nice. Romantic. :D THUMBS UP TO THE PROPS! <3

Conclusion
Quite a good movie, but they could have improved on the cast.