电影公映之前，好莱坞的影评人曾一度将《艺伎回忆录》视为三位中国女星的炒作。电影上映之后，还是给了她们很高的评价，比如，说巩俐的角色是“deliciously wicked”，说章子怡“makes Geisha her own”……

There's been some flack over the fact Chinese actresses Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang are playing Geisha's core characters--speaking English with Japanese accents, no less. But it's quite obvious from the start that these three stunning women are absolutely the best choices.

Gong (Raise the Red Lantern) is deliciously wicked as the green-eyed Hatsumomo, who simply resents the life she's chosen and takes it out on those around her. Yeoh plays Mameha as a wise and motherly figure, similar to the role she portrayed in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

It's Ziyi, though, who once again transfixes us as the determined Sayuri. Having to learn English for the role, the language barrier does seem at times to hinder that fierceness in the actress which we've come to love in films such as Crouching Tiger and House of Flying Daggers. But there's an unparalleled grace to this young actress, and she makes Geisha her own.  

重点词汇

flack  n. 高射炮，对空炮火，（美俚）（剧团，公司等的）宣传员，广告，宣传
Raise the Red Lantern  n. （电影名）大红灯笼高高挂
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon  n. （电影名）卧虎藏龙

stunning  a. 足以使人晕倒的，极好的

take out  v. 发泄

transfix  v. 刺穿，使呆住

barrier  n. （阻碍通道的）障碍物