Adaptations

Wave Picks

FROM ISSUE # 123 (March 2006) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Memoirs of a Geisha

Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh, Ken Watanabe
Rating: ****

The language in Arthur Golden's book Memoirs of a Geisha is like gliding, like beautiful Japanese women walking in their exquisite kimonos through gardens of cherry blossom. The movie directed by Rob Marshall preserves this controlled gentility. Nominated for six Oscars this year, it veers at places from the book for artistic license. None of the main actresses in the movie are Japanese: Ziyi and Gong Li are Chinese and Michelle Yeoh is Malaysian. At some point, it does feel like the director uses western views of Oriental clichés for Hollywood audience. However, whether or not you've read the book, this movie is a must-watch.

Jarhead

Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Saarsgard, Jamie Foxxx
Rating: ****

Anthony Swofford joins the Marines and is sent to the Middle East during the first Gulf War as Saddam Hussain invades Kuwait. Disillusioned, bored, and angry, the hero waits for the madness to gather meaning. Jarhead is a carefully done war movie which tells of reality in the age of media and information technology. Director Mendes portrays the modern soldier in a new war. Another movie adapted from a book, Jarhead maybe a disappointment for those who've read the story.

1.  Memoirs of a Geisha
2.  Jarhead
3.  Goal
4.  In Her Shoes
5.  Hustle and Flow
6.  Wedding Crashers
7.  The Chronicles Of Narnia
8.  King Kong
9.  The Fog
10. Venom

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