CNN评论电影《艺妓回忆录》

It was much better than I thought it would be. It would be a bit worried about the way they portray¹ Japan and the geishas in general. But it was pretty well done, pretty authentic², there you couldn't hear a pin drop in the theatre. (What?)They've really kept the audience's time.

David, there is a little bit of controversy³ surrounding this film, and why don't you lay it around forth⁴ who is upset about this film and why?

Well, some of the Japanese are upset, only because their own actresses were not used. But the reason for that is A, there weren't enough powerful actresses who would fit the role, who could also speak English enough that would be easy to understand. And that, you know,I mean that's just a fact, so there is nothing you can do about that. The other issue is that some of the Chinese people who are somewhat nationalistic in nature, are upset that...that Chinese actresses would cross over to the Japanese side(Yeah.) and participate in such a Japanese film. And in a way, you know, right now there's a lot of political fiction, but in a way, the movie did, uh, beautify the Geishas to the extent that all the men were decent people, everybody was kind to each other basically. But in reality, I mean, you had er... during the war, the comfort women issue, which of course is not mentioned, even though there are many war scenes. There is a war's period during the movie, of course that's not even mentioned. And none of the men were particularly ,ur,what you would call crude or mean.(Yeah. Really.) So when you go back into history, especially if you're a Chinese or Korean rather from other parts of Asia, people have such vivid memories of Japanese activities during the war(Yeah.) that they might find the movie yield a little bit too soft, in those areas.

Well, David let me ask you one last question, if you're an American audience, this is... this is coming from an American book by an American author. I would think it is being made by an American director primarily, principally for the American film going audience. How much should we care about the... this controversy?

I would say that there is nothing to be concerned about(yeah.) when you think about the American audience, they will love it, they will like it. It's epic⁵ Oscar type of movie, and the historical era during the war, I don't think will be issues, not really that well known. (right)The Geisha world itself is such a non-known entity⁶ to Americans, they'll find it very enticing⁷ and mysterious, you know. For Japanese, of course, it's no bother really,so, it is a different approach to the movie, but I think I should say it's really made for the American audience. And I don't think they'll have any problem with the fact that Chinese acters are playing it. As a matter of fact, no one in the theatre really seemed that was unnatural⁸ after about five minutes and everybody speaks English.(Yeah.) And half of them being Chinese, after a while, it really made absolutely no difference at all, (ok)overall enjoyment⁹ of the movie.

1 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

2 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

3 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

4 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

5 epic   

n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的

参考例句：

• I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
• They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。

6 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

7 enticing   

adj.迷人的；诱人的

参考例句：

• The offer was too enticing to refuse. 这提议太有诱惑力，使人难以拒绝。
• Her neck was short but rounded and her arms plump and enticing. 她的脖子短，但浑圆可爱；两臂丰腴，也很动人。

8 unnatural   

adj.不自然的；反常的

参考例句：

• Did her behaviour seem unnatural in any way?她有任何反常表现吗？
• She has an unnatural smile on her face.她脸上挂着做作的微笑。

9 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。