In my vast movie-watching experience (or so I'm told), I've found that books which are made into movies generally don't do very well.

No let's be honest, they usually suck.

For every good adaptation, there's usually ten bad ones. Think Starship Troopers, Lost World, Johny Mnemonic, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Van Helsing and more recently the hideous War of the Worlds...And even Two Towers was a Big let down.

So it was with an attempted lack of expectation (despite the hype & great teaser trailer) that I rushed down post-work to catch Memoirs of a Geisha with gyn (whom I haven't caught a show with in ages. how ironic cos she's my movie kaki. Then again SL & me haven't watched much too. Must be work). This was a book I read way back in late secondary/JC but one that bore indelible marks in my literary memory for its brilliant mental pictures of 1930s Japan vividly fleshed out by Arthur Golden. It's a great story that I took to right away for some reason. The whole underdog does good always gets me.. Throw in a story of romantic yearning that spans decades before it is realised, and I'm surely hooked, line and sinker...

This time I was not disappointed. On the contrary it was a classic.

Rob Marshall (chosen cos of his Chicago success) has crafted a solid adaptation that is quite breath-taking.. Just like the scenery in this show. Stand-outs were the scenes where Chiyo lets go of the Chairman's hanky on the ridge overlooking the ocean and the incredibly pretty garden where che finds out the Chairman loves her too.

Beautiful locations, lush cinematography and good acting too. Gong Li was seductively evil as Hatsumomo (made me recall my deep hate of her when I read the book), Suzuka Ohgo as the girl Chiyo was a BRILLIANT casting (she's exactly how I pictured the girl in the book but with greater intricate detail. Hypnotic blue eyes were perfect & this girl I must add WILL go far) and the best of all was Zhang Ziyi as the adult Chiyo/lady Sayuri. She has definitely cemented her position in Hollywood with this. Great expression and spot-on as the woman/child that Chiyo/Sayuri is. Lovely lass too ;P

This has to rank up there with my favs like American Beauty, Forrest Gump and Love Actually amongst others. Well done. If I have any criticism it's that some of the dialogue was stilted as all the actors attempted to speak Japanese-accented English. But all in all, a masterpiece I will enjoy again. You should too!

For now I must re-read that book.

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Twas MoS (yes I'm addicted) after with MissG and J. Had a fun night snapping away cos MissG's a photo whore like me. *high five* Dance was alright. We had lotsa space cos they moved hip hop to the main arena but the music wasn't great plus twas too much space what with the thurs crowd. Where was This idea last sat?? Heh. Nevertheless I had a great time out. Plus my superbestfren® introduced some new potential to me.
*lol*

Oh and speaking of movies. My dear scarlett has a new one to take my breat away with.

Anyways I better get to bed what with salsa to look forward to tom.

Bon Nuit!