Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha Image
Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 38 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 161 Ratings

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  • Summary: Set in a mysterious and exotic world which still casts a potent spell today, the story begins in the years before World War II, when a Japanese child is torn from her penniless family to work as a servant in a geisha house. Despite a treacherous rival who nearly breaks her spirit, the girlSet in a mysterious and exotic world which still casts a potent spell today, the story begins in the years before World War II, when a Japanese child is torn from her penniless family to work as a servant in a geisha house. Despite a treacherous rival who nearly breaks her spirit, the girl blossoms into the legendary geisha Saguri. Beautiful and accomplished, Saguri captivates the most powerful men of her day, but is haunted by her secret love for the one man beyond her reach. (Sony Pictures)… Expand

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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 38
  3. Negative: 3 out of 38
  1. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: William Arnold
    83
    The story is so compelling and the movie is such a pleasure to the eyes and ears.
  2. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    75
    There's no doubting that Memoirs of a Geisha is a lush motion picture, and it has much to recommend it, but this will not go down as one of the great screen romances of the 2000s.
  3. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Scott Foundas
    70
    It's not a great movie, or even a particularly good one, but it's spectacular. No expense has been spared. The technical crew reads like a roll call of Oscar-night regulars.
  4. Empire
    Reviewed by: Angie Errigo
    60
    A beautiful, exotic and well-acted cultural hybrid, but it’s never as moving as it ought to be.
  5. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Manohla Dargis
    50
    Mr. Marshall can't rescue the film from its embarrassing screenplay or its awkward Chinese-Japanese-Hollywood culture klatch, but Memoirs of a Geisha is one of those bad Hollywood films that by virtue of their production values nonetheless afford a few dividends, in this case, fabulous clothes and three eminently watchable female leads.
  6. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Stephanie Zacharek
    50
    There's no life, no juice, in the picture. Instead of tempting you into submission, it merely drugs you. It's surprising that a filmmaker who gave us such a lively debut, "Chicago," could slap us with a picture as dull and worthy as this one.
  7. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Phil Hall
    20
    To its credit, the film's costume design is stunning. But unless you have a kimono fetish, there's no reason to pay a good dollar (or a yen, for that matter) on this junk.

See all 38 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 57 out of 89
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 89
  3. Negative: 19 out of 89
  1. 2141
    Sep 26, 2015
    10
    Two Of my favourite movies came out during this year the other one being Children of men, this movie delights my heart each time I watch It.Two Of my favourite movies came out during this year the other one being Children of men, this movie delights my heart each time I watch It. I've watched It at least 20 times and bought the book to read the novel. All though I confess the first time I watched It I didn't get it but that was in 2010 since then It's become one of my favourites.… Expand
  2. PrudenceK.
    Dec 1, 2005
    10
    Beautiful film!
  4. CoryC.
    Dec 29, 2005
    10
    Best moive of the year. Critics are complaining just because its in English.
  5. michaell.
    Dec 23, 2005
    7
    Really beautifully done.....but couldn't wait for it to end. any film maker ever here of "short and sweet"?
  6. RegOz
    Apr 5, 2012
    7
    A interesting movie...has really good moments and the atmosphere felt real. It opens up a window to other culture, so different than ours. TheA interesting movie...has really good moments and the atmosphere felt real. It opens up a window to other culture, so different than ours. The art direction should be applauded. Yet is not a masterpiece, but I think it deserves a 7...less than that would be unfair.… Expand
  7. JoeJ
    Dec 22, 2005
    5
    Casting's the least of its problems. Charlton Heston played a Mexican in "Touch of Evil," and that picture's reputation has grown Casting's the least of its problems. Charlton Heston played a Mexican in "Touch of Evil," and that picture's reputation has grown pretty well, don't you think? No, the problem here is STIFF BOREDOM. Beautiful to look at, but then again, so is a vacation tour. Take away the eye candy and the characters, story, dialogue, it can be pretty awful and at best dull.… Expand
  8. IGiveUp
    Dec 22, 2005
    0
    And the NO DOZE AWARD goes to.... Why do they make this prosaic mundane sorry excuses for a movie? Avoid unless of course you need to catch And the NO DOZE AWARD goes to.... Why do they make this prosaic mundane sorry excuses for a movie? Avoid unless of course you need to catch up on your sleep?… Expand

See all 89 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

#44 Most Discussed Movie of 2005
#51 Most Shared Movie of 2005

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