When the initially muddled exposition finally begins to take shape and Geisha gets its blood flowing, things improve immeasurably.

| Original Score: 3/4 | May 7, 2023

Marshall has instead crafted a mildly smarmy, heavy-breathing fantasy about some super-hot babes knocking each other down to get to the man meat while ignoring the fact that they are essentially sex slaves.

| Jan 30, 2020

Certainly is beautiful to look at, but it holds the audience at bay with one dainty, silk-shrouded arm.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 5, 2019

Ziyi's fragile radiant presence lights up the screen, the standout scene being her public dance performance which marks her ascension into geishadom.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jan 10, 2019

Memoirs of a Geisha hurts the heart and the brain with its crushing monotony, inert, sub-human dialogue and Marshall's calculated attempt to sell us another Hollywood fairytale of prostitution.

| Jan 16, 2018

Titanic fraudulence

| Aug 30, 2009

It's lush, stylish and a feast for the eyes and ears rather than the heart and soul.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 30, 2009

The screenplay was lacking, the characters not engaging, the story dragged on and no real insights on being a geisha. Paul Chambers, CNN.

| Original Score: C- | Jul 29, 2009

Trying too hard to grab our attention, [Marshall] loses it. The art of the geisha prizes subtlety, stillness, grace. Why doesn't this movie?

| Mar 31, 2008

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 14, 2007

Director Rob Marshall has a sophomore flop on his hands.

| Original Score: 65/100 | Apr 26, 2007

For all of its inaccuracies and over-the-top mise-en-scène, Memoirs is quite entertaining.

| Mar 1, 2007

Director Rob Marshall's adaptation of Arthur Golden's best-selling novel is beautifully shot, scored, and ... also very deliberate, as well as a bit inscrutable.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 21, 2006

full review in Greek

| Original Score: 1.5/5 | Oct 3, 2006

The overall effect is not so unlike Mameha's description of geisha themselves: a moving work of art.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 27, 2006

As authentic as cheeseburger teriyaki.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | May 4, 2006

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 1, 2006

| Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 11, 2006

...the film's achievements lie mostly on the surface, rather than underneath it.

Full Review | Feb 21, 2006

A beautiful-looking film with an ugly little fantasy at its heart.

| Original Score: B | Feb 13, 2006