Why so much hype?

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Before starting my review, I would like to write a little bit about the term Geisha, who are they, and what they do. So, a Geisha is woman who is trained to entertain men with conversations, dances, songs and musical instruments. Even maybe under different names, Geisha were an important part of Japanese culture. Even though it is mentioned a lot times in the film, Geisha are not prostitutes, but highly trained and educated, beautiful women that exist for nothing but the pleasures of men. Similar women with similar purposes can also be seen in the Ottoman culture. They are taken from their homelands at the early age, sold to the palace, or for Japanese, to the pleasure house, and trained to entertain men. For Ottomans, they were trained in Harem only for the Sultan. This is one of the similarities between Turkish and Japanese cultures. Geisha wear the best traditional Japanese clothes, Kimono, and they are invited to special occasions and events to entertain special guests. They also sell their virginity to the highest bidder and become a real Geisha, I am not sure about accuracy of the last information, but this is how it was in the film. Based on the novel with the same name by Arthur Golden, "Memoirs of a Geisha" was released on December 9, 2005 in the United States. It is directed by Rob Marshall who is also known to be the director of 13 Oscar-Nominated film Chicago (won 6 of them). "Memoirs of a Geisha" was produced by Steven Spielberg, nominated for six Academy Awards and won three of them, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. When you look at the categories in which "Memoirs of a Geisha" has won the awards, you can relate to its mystic story, artistic setup, foggy atmosphere and diverse camera angles.I have mixed feeling when it comes to this film. I am not really sure if I like it or not. There are good points and bad points in the means of story, atmosphere, casting and performances. The biggest mistake of the film is casting a Chinese Actress for the role of the Geisha, who is in the leading role of the film. She wears blue lenses just to create an impression of a blue-eyed Japanese woman, but everyone can see that those are not her real eyes. I wish they would have casted a Japanese woman with a natural beauty.I am not going to get into details, but I didn't like how Japanese men and women are presented in the film and how Japan is represented as a nation. I asked myself the question; Geisha are trained all their life, and choose this as a life style for this kind of men? This also shows the social status of Japanese women. Even today, when you look at the Japanese culture, you can barely see women in higher positions in the society. All this comes down to their history and traditions. In this point of view, "Memoirs of a Geisha" is a very good example to understand modern Japan. Also, don't forget the fact that this is film is made by the Americans, and we know how they are willing to mislead the truth for their own benefits. Here, however, this is not the case because I have studied Japanese language and culture and I can vouch for the reality of this film.Getting back to film, I have enjoyed the environment very much. The atmosphere makes you live in that era. Houses that are very close to each other, Sakura trees, narrow roads and transportation harmonize you with the mood of the film. "Memoirs of a Geisha" is a very realistic drama film. I mean, you really find yourself involved in the story. Two little girls are sold to a pleasure house and separated from each other. The one, whose memoirs we are watching, slowly reveals the real meaning of Geisha and its sacrifices. How she is used as a tool for the benefits of the men she used to entertain and love. After all, no matter how it is told in the film, Geisha are not really what they are presented to be. Soundtracks have a great influence in the story and its atmosphere. I have always found Japanese culture, traditions and history very peaceful, but this film made me question this a little bit. Even though what is told in the story may not be true, this is what I expect from a film. I would recommend this film for the people who are interested in Japanese life style. Also, this is a good source to see and feel the different, the sad face of Japan.

It is the Story of Sayuri (Suzuka Ohgo), a famous geisha and her extraordinary life. As told by her mother Sayuri is like water, water can carve its way, even through stone and when trapped makes a new Path. Film opens in a unknown village where Chiyo and her sister Satsu forcibly removed from their home. Chiyo is taken care of Geisha's house whereas her sister deemed less attractive sold onto prostitution.She was not born to Geisha , but one day near Sunagawa she met a gentlemen. That man was so gentle to her and give her a cup of sweet ice and money to buy food. In that moment she changed from a girl nothing but emptiness and someone with some purpose. She wants to become Geisha and return his favor. And her Journey beginsGeisha are not courtesans, they are not wives . They sold their skills not bodies, she sings, entertained us. The very word Geisha means "Artist".There are plenty of good things of this movie is Storytelling, Costume Design, Cinematography, and of course the struggling of Chiyo and how she becomes Chiyo to Sayuri . Does she met the gentlemen ?

Set in early twentieth century Japan, the life and lure of Geisha and it's history is explained through the most tragic of circumstances. As an outsider in the US, a viewer takes home cultural identities that contradict most prior knowledge of the culture, mystification, and history of Geisha. While Geisha still exist today, the process is different. It means something to Japan. In the US, 'geisha girls' are a derogatory term. This movie shows the full stages of early twentieth century initiation through diabolical means. It shows an undercurrent happening even with the Geisha community. The time was dark. The Geisha served as escorts, mainly, for those in political power. Only some Geisha were permitted to have regular followers. Some Geisha were auctioned off. Some Geisha were truly in Love. Once you swallow the horror of the arrival of adolescence in a place in the dark history, the entire movie is a love story.There were people and guides with this Geisha-dreamer-girl, her whole life. The first guide, she found herself, as a little girl. He thought she reminded him of a young, abused Geisha attendee, however, he told her he was reminded of him children.The shaved ice cup, in the town scene, is the most crucial thing in the entire movie. She bases the rest of her life, where she places her trust, and whom she seeks to hide it from, on that single moment--when she saw HIM- (Ken Wanatabe) and his Geisha.Rivalries spring up, and collapse over the course of time. However the ART begins to inspire. Art becomes the universal truth that gets this lowly little child, from the hell she was dragged through, to the Love she seeks. The epic journey is told with the most brilliant costumes, sets, cinematography, and casting. Everyone in this movie was an artist. Despite war, misinterpretation, language barriers, and culture shock, this movie bridges a serious gap between worlds...as artists, people, friends. Not many remember why the cherry trees bloom here too. We need movies like this. We Are one world, with many tragedies, and Many many more artists.

The gentle standpoint of the Japanese woman...I guess you have all watches "Memoirs of a Geisha", the beautiful adaptation of Arthur Golden's book of the same name. This dramatic film does justice to the position not only of the geisha in the Japanese society, but it is also an embodiment of the innocence of the Japanese woman. I dare not say that there is no controversy in this movie - the lead female actresses are all Chinese. Though the depiction of the characters is so much true to the original. My opinion is such not because I understand all the qualities of the geisha performer, or the Japanese women, but as a result of the many various emotions and thoughts that this cinematic artwork awakens in me. The heartbreaking purity and vulnerability pierce through the silver screen into the viewer's mind like a clear chord from a Shamisen's stretched string.The movie follows the narrow path of poor Chiyo through the hardships of time and depicts the layering of an impeccable white powder mask. Despair and the driving forces behind the transition of the main character from the gentle Chiyo to the symbolic Sayuri. Romantic mystery and cruel reality wrap up the appealing of this powerful story. This film is about the power of the spirit which I guess most of the Japanese women have. Their obedience and timeless intimacy are two of the main characteristics which we all know. Also, we can see the world of the geisha depicted in details. It nurtures carefully, but also drains the natural desire for freedom. This harsh world imprints the sense that there is no alternative, but to live gracefully empty. The story though follows the historical turbulence of time and unites the two main characters at the end. Fate is involved like a thin invisible thread joining the dramatic parts of the story.The intimate music and the compelling visuals are so immersed that we ourselves feel deep compassion for Sayuri. Throughout her whole life she wants only one thing - to love and to be loved. The Chairman is that island of peace and happiness which she longs for. Do we all crave to express and feel? Aren't we all harboring such intimate dreams of fulfillment? Don't we all relate to the same heartfelt desire? I think that deep inside we are all the same. No matter when, where and how we live...