Memoirs of a Geisha

Name: Memoirs of a Geisha
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: December 9, 2005
Duration: 145 min
Rating: 54

2005

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 209 Ratings

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6.7

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6.7	Your Score
6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 209 Ratings

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Memoirs Of A Geisha

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: December 9, 2005 | PG-13

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 girl blossoms into the legendary geisha Saguri.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 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

Director: Rob Marshall

Genre(s): Drama, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 145 min

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Critic Reviews

William Arnold

The story is so compelling and the movie is such a pleasure to the eyes and ears. Read full review

James Berardinelli

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. Read full review

Scott Foundas

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. Read full review

Empire Angie Errigo

A beautiful, exotic and well-acted cultural hybrid, but it’s never as moving as it ought to be. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

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. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

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. Read full review

Phil Hall

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. Read full review

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User Reviews

2141

Sep 26, 2015

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 wasTwo 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

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NormaT.

Dec 16, 2005

The three main actresses derserve to win oscars.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Lucaiuly94

Feb 6, 2023

Io amo in modo particolare questo film.
E' grazie a questo film visto e rivisto dozzine di volte che mi ha fatto innamorare del Giappone.
Ken Watanabe bravissimo come sempre Michelle Yeoh straordinaria ma, Gong Li e Zhang Ziyi sono le miei preferite talento e bellezza impressionanti, 3 oscarIo amo in modo particolare questo film.
E' grazie a questo film visto e rivisto dozzine di volte che mi ha fatto innamorare del Giappone.
Ken Watanabe bravissimo come sempre
Michelle Yeoh straordinaria ma,
Gong Li e Zhang Ziyi sono le miei preferite talento e bellezza impressionanti,
3 oscar strameritati anche se meritava di più… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bigbossluna

Jan 10, 2012

Absolutely loved it. A fantastic love story. Great characters. A little long but it pays off at the end. It may not be the best American-Japanese movie but it tries and kind of succeeds.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tyranian

Apr 12, 2019

Beautifully made though not wholly compelling, is impressive in many ways but also a bit boring.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SamR.

Jan 9, 2006

I said "OK, let's go see a 'chick flick'. I owe you one." My vote for mediocrity. Great photography --- lush; it's best feature. Alas, this is a boring movie. All style and little substance with garbled dialogue to boot. Next time we can see a movie that reviewers and I said "OK, let's go see a 'chick flick'. I owe you one." My vote for mediocrity. Great photography --- lush; it's best feature. Alas, this is a boring movie. All style and little substance with garbled dialogue to boot. Next time we can see a movie that reviewers and this critic agree is worth seeing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

IGiveUp

Dec 22, 2005

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?

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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32	#32 Most Discussed Movie of 2005
58	#58 Most Shared Movie of 2005