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August 20, 2004
Memoirs of a Geisha
The highly anticipated film adaptation to Arthur Golden's seminal novel finally has its Sayuri, and she's not Japanese. The Chinese actress who made flying through bamboo groves all the rage back in 2001, Zhang Ziyi is not considered - to me at least - as the best choice to play the role of a girl known for her gray eyes. First of all, Ziyi's not Japanese! She probably doesn't even know any Japanese words except for konnichiwa, sayounara, and katsukaree. And she probably says them in the same manner as all those Japanese Americans who pretend to know proper Japanese pronunciation but end up saying like a Texan ordering at a restaurant. Ugh. I can't stand anymore Taiko shows.
Anyway. And they casted Michelle Yeoh to play the role of Mameha! Michelle Yeoh's not Japanese, she's Malaysian! And doesn't Mameha have a face like a snow peach, or something? Why couldn't they actually cast someone who was - *gasp* - Japanese! Someone like Yuuki Kudo, Kanako Higuchi, or Yusuke Iseya dressed up in drag or something?
We need to represent.
Posted by Charlie at August 20, 2004 02:47 PM
Comments
Haha, Charlie, you're so funny.
I like Zhang Ziyi :)
Posted by: Kennedy at August 21, 2004 01:19 PM
It doesn't matter if they are Chinese or not, the book was an American adaption of a life of a geisha. I don't think it matters whether there are any Japanese actors, its all Americanised anyhow.
Isn't everything.
Posted by: Alex at February 11, 2006 12:22 PM
Zhang Ziyi is perfect for the Japanese role of a Geisha. Even though she is not Japanese, her skills and grace are better than those of a Japanese person. Why do you think they didn't use a Japanese girl as Sayuri? The answer is simple. No Japanese girl is better than Zhang Ziyi. I am half Japanese and Chinese. I am a fan of both cultures and truely respect Zhang Ziyi. No one can be a better Geisha than her.
Posted by: Ayame at October 9, 2007 11:06 PM