![]() ![]() Too many flaws kept getting in the way.Īfter receiving not one, but TWO emails from Memoirs of a Geisha fans railing on me for my less than flattering review of the crappy book and soulless film adaptation, my mind turned to happier times. Unlike The Last Samurai, which I was able to buy into as fanciful Japanese fiction, Memoirs of a Geisha never managed to absorb me. It was beautifully shot with capable actors, but that doesn't compensate for the uneven pacing that's paired with a poor (and somewhat pedophile-freaky) story. Putting the true nature of geisha and reality aside, the film still fails in my opinion. I mean, sure it's one-step above the prostitutes that most people have in mind now, but not much of one. Obviously I can't say that these things never happened to a geisha in real-life, but they are in no way indicative of what geisha represent, and it saddens me to think that this is the image Westerners will have of them. all these ridiculous things which are included solely to sell books and movie tickets. You've got geishas having sex (in their okiya!). in order to appeal to the tawdry nature of Americans, everything is infused with sex. Which is why the movie and book sucks ass. They are entertainers of the highest caliber, and respected artists both in action and appearance. like gracefully pouring tea and making ikebana (interpretive Japanese flower arrangements). Geisha are highly trained from a young age to sing, dance, play instruments, compose poetry, facilitate conversation, and dozens of other art forms. Sex never enters the picture (which is not to say that geisha don't have sex, it's just that they do not have sex as geisha, which is a big difference). Geisha are not prostitutes, as most Westerners would think, but living, breathing, moving, works of exquisitely beautiful art. The word "geisha" literally means "arts person" in Japanese. Seriously, I could have been cast as the geisha, and it would have been just as "authentic". Unless you appreciate Japanese culture, in which case they are about as Japanese as I am. They look "Asian" and that, apparently, was enough. They were hired for the job solely because they have name recognition (no matter how vague here in the US) and because Western audiences won't know or care that they aren't Japanese. Sure their performances weren't terrible, but they should have never been cast in the first place. Neither Michelle Yeoh or Ziyi Zhang are Japanese. And also the incomparable Ziyi Zhang, who I fell in love with ever since watching the sublime Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.īut here's the problem. No, I went to see the movie because I am a mega-huge fan of Michelle Yeoh. I am positively horrified that the book is the big success that it is, because it propagates stereotypes and false information that go against everything geisha are supposed to be about. It is a highly fictionalized crap-fest that shits all over the secret "flower and willow world" of the geisha and is an insult to Japanese culture on several levels. I positively despise the book Memoirs of a Geisha on which the movie is based. As a Japanophile, it was an absolute necessity.īut make no mistake that I wanted to see the movie because I was a fan of the book. Is it really too much to ask for you to put down your newspaper, haul your ass around the corner, and at least TRY to help me out?ĭespite working my guts out over the holiday weekend, I still made time to go see Memoirs of a Geisha at the movies. I just want reasonable assistance when I shop in your store. I mean, it's not like I'm walking in wanting to get blown or anything. He didn't even bother to check his computer to see if it could be ordered. Well thanks for your "help", guy never left the counter, and wouldn't even acknowledge I exist until I talked to him. "it is a Radio Shack branded binder!" Without even looking up from the paper he's reading, the guy tells me "well I guess we don't have them then!" "Hey, all I find over there are CD sleeves, I'm looking for a binder" I say. "It's over there" the Radio Shack minion replies as he waves his hand in a non-specific direction. "I'm looking for a CD storage binder" I say. Not wanting to waste my time, I decide to ask for help at the counter. I walk in and notice they've remodeled the store. ![]() Now let's contrast my impeccable experience at Schwab for tire rotation today with my experience at the local Radio Shack thirty minutes later. "May I help you sir?" they say, after having sprinted up to you at Olympic speed. No appointment necessary, and they're motto is "if we can't guarantee it, we won't sell it."Īnd nobody at Les Schwab ever walks anywhere. Just want to have your tire pressure checked? Also free. ![]() Get a flat tire? They'll fix it for free. Everybody there is busting their ass to ensure you get the absolute best service possible. When you buy tires from Les Schwab, it's a full-service affair. Not the man (is he even alive anymore?) but his tire stores.
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