Rating: 
Summary: Underrated Performances
Review: Scenery is beautifully filmed as are many of the most famous tourist sites in Japan. Ricardo Montalban was never nominated for his performance and it is outstanding as he takes on the intracacies of an actor in a different culture. The Kabuki scenes are not entirely accurate but Montalban's performances capture the essence of this ancient Japanese theater.
Rating:
Summary: This film is also a tribute to the kindness of Marlon Brando
Review: The novel "Sayonara" by James Michener, as well as the original motion picture screenplay, had the relationship between Major Lloyd Gruver and Hana-ogi broken up by the American and Japanese powers-that-be, and Gruver sent back to the States in a somewhat depressing ending.
However, Brando would not stand for this, and he re-wrote the film's ending into the positive, happy one we know as a condition for playing the part. I consider Brando's interpretation much superior to Michener's as it clearly predicted a time (ie. today) where such "interracial" relationships are normal...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie on many levels
Review: The story is tight and well written. There are no lose ends; yet there is flexibility to speculate what each decision means to the people evolved. For some it is a straightforward love story, for others conflict. Yet it is the conflict that leads to growth and understanding.
The actors match the characters perfectly and even though they are major actors they do not overwhelm the characters that they play. For some reason I forget that James Garner is in this movie yet he is the pivot point and catalyst for many scenes as Captain Mike Bailey.
The scenery was intriguing. First there was the countryside that appeared timeless yet the theaters were both ancient and modern (for the time period of the movie).
There is always a residual of the attitudes that were taking place during the Korean War period. And there are many more prejudices to fill the gap today. It is unfortunate that these people do not recognize themselves in the movie (if they did the movie may never have been made), And this alone is what makes the movie worth watching.
If you watch it once you will watch it again.
Rating: 
Summary: The West's View of Japan
Review: This film is full of what Westerners think of Japan--land of submissive all-suffering geishas, androgynous men, pagodas, bridges, and ceremonies. There's no mention of noodle vendors, crowded narrow streets or (female) natives who are proud of their culture and race, who prefer NOT to leave their land for the West. The geisha who becomes Brando's girlfriend willingly offers herself to him--he doesn't need to earn her love. This film portrays Japan and the Japanese as they never were, as much as "Gone With the Wind" was of the antebellum South. It is an affront to Asians everywhere and such a film would never be made today. To its credit, it was made fifty years ago, when cultural sensitivity in the US didn't exist. And it certainly doesn't have obnoxious scenes like the "Talky Talky" number in "South Pacific". As for the film's merits, it is quite beautiful. Shot in color, the Japanese landscape is postcard-picturesque. The love story between Kelly (Red Buttons) and his Japanese wife is tender and helps illustrate the consequences of racist policies within the US military. There's not a boring moment in this film as it is very moving. But since I object to it on grounds that it perpetuates stereotypes of Asians by the imperialist West, I have to deduct a couple of stars.
Rating:
Summary: True to Life, Touching and Humorous
Review: This has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. Being in the military myself, and stationed in places like Korea and Japan, I can relate totally to what is depicted in this movie, for I have lived it. Red Buttons portrays an airman who understands oriental ways, and yet is confounded by them at the same time. Marlon Brando approaches his role with sensitivity and a little bit of the ol' military bravado. Miiko Taka and Miyoshi Umeki are two of the most lovely Japanese women I've ever seen. James Garner adds a bit of humor to a touching love story. Check out the lovely costumes, kimonos and colors in the movie. And listen to the various renditions of Irving Berlin's song "Sayonara." My favorite is the jazzy version you hear on the radio at Joe Kelly's house. Watch this movie and you won't go wrong!
Rating: 
Summary: Good Movie, no doubt
Review: This is a nice love story, beautifully shot and acted well. Good movie, no doubt. However, I am really appalled by many reviews here that praise the social commentary of the film offhand, and deeply disturbed by the way a few sensibly critical reviews are rated as "not useful" by many users.
Yes, the movie is obviously meant to be anti-racist, but what it meant back in the 1950s was not much more than white men's right to non-white women. And regarding Asians, the argument was done by emphasizing the stereotype of submissive and pretty little oriental girls, more desirable than many white women who wanted a little more control over themselves. Asian males were either erased out of picture, or dehumanized, or played by white men in media, and nobody had any objections. That was as much as the 50s liberalism could go, and the film reflects it perfectly.
And now it's 2004, and I see so many presumably-white men here still practically saying "I'm tolerant and anti-racist because I admire/married/slept with Asian women." We seem to have made very little progress over half a century.
Rating:
Summary: Watch it for this one scene, if nothing else.
Review: This is a well done, enjoyable, and interesting film, and those qualities make it worth watching, but there is one scene in this film that is a high example of the filmmaker's art. This scene, in its perfection, is the most powerfully romantic movie scene I have ever beheld. This scene transcends story telling with film; it is literature. It evokes thoughts of something from Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert), or Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy). That is to say, the scene portrays something vital about the human experience. At least it does for me; but then, I admit I'm a sucker for stories of love between American men and Asian women. The scene to which I refer is when Lloyd Gruver (Marlon Brando) encounters Hana-ogi in Joe Kelly's (Red Buttons) house. It begins when he opens the sliding door and sees her kneeling, erect, serene, and dignified, waiting for him to arrive. If not on the first watching, then on the second, fourth, or eleventh watching, one will become aware that the lighting, the sound, the furnishings of the room, her hair, her kimonos, her makeup (especially her painted lips) are all perfect. What an ambiance! What a setting for a man and a woman to fall in love! Gruver is immediately struck by her presence; this is plain to see. Nevertheless, he recovers his usual demeanor and proceeds to try to make small talk, his mind and body regarding this lovely creature with respect and admiration, but also lust. She just sits there, regarding him without moving, without even blinking, betraying no thoughts or emotions. His discomfort rises. Then, when it is time and not before, she begins to speak. She speaks word of deep humanity, compassion, wisdom, and sincerity. The power of her words is greatly enhanced by the quiet dignity with which she speaks them. Gruver is dumbfounded, and Brando plays this role very well. You can see on his face (Flaubert or Tolstoy would have painted the picture with words) that his life, unexpectedly, has just been bifurcated. There is now the life before this encounter, and what will come after. He can never again be the same man. He can never again regard women the same. Hana-ogi is a new paradigm, and his lust, far from being extinguished, has maybe even been elevated, but is now part of an ethereal, not just corporeal experience. He never looked for such a thing before, because he never imagined such a woman or such a feeling could exist. This scene is for me the climax of the film, and if the story ended there, it would be satisfyingly complete. The purpose of the rest of the story is to set the table for this connection between two immortal souls. Nevertheless, what goes before, and what ensues is still interesting and worthwhile. Some people continue to insist such love themes are racist. That is absurd. It is the antithesis of racism. This is the profoundest love flourishing in spite of different races and cultures, and the inevitable perils incumbent with this relationship in this place at this time. This is love between a man and a woman, as unfettered by affectations and expectations as love can be. This is the raw, real thing. Your humble correspondent was raised as far from the Enchantment of the East as one can get, and like the protagonists of this story had no expectation of being enchanted when I first traveled there. But, through experience, I can attest the irrepressible bond this film portrays between the lovers is real, and is not exaggerated. Also, the perils are real, although nowadays not the same ones. I have been in love in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia-married once among these encounters. When a man knows love in the East, he may also know tragedy, but he'll know he's alive. This film tells this tale, exquisitely done.
Rating:
Summary: Sayonara
Review: This is Brando at his very best. I loved this movie from beginning to end. It is sentimental without being sappy, it is simply a great love story without any of the modern day 'scenes'. Red Buttons is simply superb, along with James Garner. Marlon was able to do the southern accent seemingly without any variation. This movie was excellent from beginning to end and left me feeling extremely happy to have a copy. The Japanese actresses fit the roles without exception. Would recommend this movie to anyone who loves a great love story with an exceptional ending
Rating:
Summary: Sayonara
Review: This is Brando at his very best. I loved this movie from beginning to end. It is sentimental without being sappy, it is simply a great love story without any of the modern day 'scenes'. Red Buttons is simply superb, along with James Garner. Marlon was able to do the southern accent seemingly without any variation. This movie was excellent from beginning to end and left me feeling extremely happy to have a copy. The Japanese actresses fit the roles without exception. Would recommend this movie to anyone who loves a great love story with an exceptional ending
Rating:
Summary: Love knows no boundaries
Review: This movie is one of my favorites! It should be required viewing for everyone - it deals with a lot of complex racial issues that are (unfortunately) still around 44 years later. It proves that love doesn't know a color or a race. Marlon Brandon was excellent in this film as well as the entire supporting cast - especially Red Buttons - his character's ultimate sacrifice for the love he so believed in. Excellent love story.
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