Dark Feathers: Dance of the Geisha

Love this unique and original movie. One would have never imagined how the movie can combine ballroom dancing, Japanese Samurai culture, and murders into the same plot but when it happens - it's refreshing to see because you really don't know what to expect. The leading ladies - Kate (Crystal J. Huang) and Amelia (Dancing with the Stars pro Karina Smirnoff) are sensational in acting and beautiful in dancing. Love the cello music as well! Now - I'm still trying to figure out the meaning of ending - if anyone figures it out - please comment. I'll likely to watch a 2nd time to piece it together :)

This is a movie that proves that indie films work. I watched it on Amazon last night and truly enjoyed it. It is a unique story of oriental mystery power told in an engaging way. I found the characters compelling and the plots interesting. The Kate character was multidimensional and complex, unlike most of the oriental characters in Hollywood blockbusters. Love and lust, jealousy and curiosity -- it seems like a warning to never be lost in these emotions. My only complaint would be the fact that some of the fight scenes and sex scenes were not fully carried out. I suppose it was for the sake of keeping it PG 13. But all in all, a fun experience.

GIven the numerous glowing reviews, I went into this movie expecting it to be at least watchable. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed. The plot was incoherent and felt like it barely made any sense. The lead actress, Kate, was particularly unconvincing-her facial expressions were static, and she delivered a performance so stiff that a robot might have done a better job!

I had really hoped to support Asian representation in Hollywood, but struggled to find anything positive to say about this film. It's hard to believe that people gave it ratings of 8, 9, or even 10-I can't help but wonder if those were from the cast's friends and family.

For me, this is easily one of the worst movies I've ever watched, regardless of genre or representation. Utterly disappointing.

As someone who's familiar with both Asian and Western cinema, this movie was incredibly disappointing. I, an American, watched it with a friend from mainland China, and neither of us could follow most of what was happening. The lead actress shows absolutely no emotion throughout the entire film-honestly, a robot could have played her role, and you wouldn't have noticed a difference. Yet, somehow, every character she meets falls head over heels for her. Why? I found myself laughing at the dialogue, but not in a good way. The same monotonous score plays over and over again, making it even more unbearable. Easily one of the worst films I've ever endured.

The cinematography is great. There are lovely scenes in beautiful settings ranging from Northern California to traditional Japanese temples. There is an interesting mix of Asian and Western cultures. The traditional Japanese outfits and ceremonies open the window to another culture. This is contrasted with equally beautiful Western dance scenes. The dancers move with such grace and athleticism! They are truly skilled dancers. The lead actress Crystal Huang is beautiful and enigmatic as befits her role as a mysterious temptress .

The plot however is difficult to follow at times and the viewer is left with questions about the underlying relationships and histories between some of the characters.