Went to see Memoirs of a Geisha today. I thought it was alright..I wasn't too impressed by it, especially the acting. The book was tons better anyhow.
Some observations:

*I like the doubling here: Chiyo and Pumpkin, Hatsumomo and Mameha, Mameha and Chiyo, and especially Hatsumomo and Chiyo. Hastsumomo was once a famous Geisha and when Chiyo took her place, she had no where to go, no one to love. Being a geisha robbed her of happiness. At the end she was left trule desolate. I did like the way the movie portrayed her, the way we see the pathos in her eyes. She was a "villian" but how bad was she really? True Chiyo was not as outspoken as Hatsumomo but we also see Chiyo becoming more assertive later on. Perhaps she would have turned out to BE Hatsumomo. I like Hatsumomo in the artistic sense. I wish the author (and the movie) had explored her character more.

*Why is Chiyo so beautiful? Does her beauty win her the Chairman? I suppose most of you would say no. However, everyone praises her on her "beutiful and unusual eyes". Now...what if some one DOES NOT have beautiful and unusual eyes? What if they are not beautiful at all? The only way to know them (and therefore get to love them) if by having good conversations with them. Would the Chairman have fallen for Chiyo if she did not have those eyes? There is something about beauty that brings with it so much power. I am sure it has its drawbacks (Chiyo was forced into the living the life of a geisha because she was indeed pretty), but it seems to bring beautiful women the good men too. :-/

*When Chiyo cries out "I want a life that is mine", it is very reminiscent of Jane Eyre. Also when she repeats the phrase "I am not worthless. I am not worthless," its very Jane-ish as well. When Mrs. Nitta scolds Chiyo and tells her that she has done no good to the House except bring in her temper and her determination, I thought it sounded like Jane in Gateshead.