Memoirs of a Geisha

I thought the movie was beautiful. It was so similar to the book. I actually didn't expect much. I thought it will be the same, like any other book-to-movie films. I have lost faith since they butchered all the Harry Potter movies. Especially the third and the fourth. So I was surprised how very little changes they made.

One of the things I love about the book is how it carefuly describes about everything. How the kimonos are worn, how beautiful the fabric and designs were etc. And everything that I've imagined while reading the book comes to life when watching the movie. The tipsy house, the Japanese gardens, Pumpkin (the actress is Japanese) and the many little, little things.

What I don't get is, why in the world did they choose Chinese actresses to play Japanese roles??

Chiyo. Or the young Nitta Sayuri. Played by a Japanese.

Nitta Sayuri. Played by a Chinese. I wonder when she was her small Japanese self, did she say to herself "When I grow up, I want to be a Chinese."?


Young Pumpkin. An American.


Grown up Pumpkin. Now a Japanese.

A few of you might say, Who the hell cares? Well, I do! All this stereotypes that all Asian looks the same.. Sigh.

They might as well get Aishwarya Rai (India)


to play Nitta Sayuri.

See? Just imagine. Her dress almost same like kimono. Can pass as Japanese, I'm sure.

Jackie Chan (China) as the Chairman. Why?

Both look good in suits.

Both look good in err... armour they wore. Both old already. What's the difference? So you see, Jackie can surely play as the Chairman.

and Kristine Hermosa (Philippines)


as Hatsumomo. Because I can't think of anybody else. But see, she is wearing something Asian like. Who cares that it's actually of Chinese design.


Oh, also she has or had long hair. Also a bit brownish. (Coloured. Like Gong Li lah) She has really beautiful hair, I tell you! Gong Li also has nice hair. (grumbles to self)

I didn't want to change Michelle Yeoh as Mameha because she is a Malaysian (and I am biased).

I stumbled upon this joke on the Net today.

A Chinese man walked into a pub in New York with his pal. He says to his pal: "Hey! That's "Jurassic Park's director Steven Spielberg over there! God, I wish he'll come over to say hi."

Spielberg suddenly walked over and gave the man a heavy punch on the nose. "Hey! What's that for?"

"You bloody Japanese killed my granddad when you bombed Pearl Harbor!" he said.

"I'm not Japanese! I'm Chinese!"

"Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, you're all the same! "Spielberg walks back.

The Chinese man calmly walks over and gives Spielberg a really heavy punch in the face. "What the... !?"

"YOU BLOODY AMERICAN! YOU SANK THE TITANIC!"

"No, no, an iceberg sank the Titanic!"

"Iceberg, Carlsberg, Spielberg, you're all the same!"

Oh, and I thought Sayuri's dance was a bit freaky.


Here, very nice right? And then, she started dancing crazily.


Throughout the entire scene, all I thought was "Wow. That reminds me of Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam..."

Long hair... White robes... Pretty... Very white powder on face...




Maybe I should consider casting Maya Karin as Nitta Sayuri instead of Aishwarya Rai..