Rating: 
Summary: An intoxicating film!!!
Review: THE PILLOW BOOK is a beautiful, sexy, devastatingly splendid work of art film that does a magnificent job of telling an interesting story. When she was a girl, Nagiko loved how her father painted birthday greetings on her face and neck and how her Aunt read to her The Pillow Book by an ancient Japanese courtesan named Sei Shonogan. On her fourth birthday, Nagiko is witness to her father's publisher sexually abusing her father and the witness grows into an obsession that carries into her adult life. Having fled from a terrible marriage which was also the doing of the publisher, Nagiko chooses only lovers who are into calligraphy as she is. She eventually meets Jerome, a handsome Englishman who speaks six languages and also is a good lover and calligrapher. When she finds out he and her enemy the publisher are lovers, she concocts a plan of revenge, but did not plan to fall in love. As for the rest, you should watch it. The nudity is often, but it's in good taste. The music is so sensual, it only adds to the intoxication this movie will give to you. That French song, Blonde, is extremely sexy. Time to buy the soundtrack now!!! : )~
Mari Weir
Rating: 
Summary: A Lush and Sexy Film From the Master
Review: "The Pillow Book," Peter Greenaway's "Oriental" saga, is a dark film, densely based on Sei Shonagon's private diary, telling the story of Nagiko, a young Japanese woman who moves to Hong Kong to become a model. Her life is ruled, however, by an obsession she had from her very childhood- the exquisite art of calligraphy, where skin is used instead of paper. When she meets a young English translator Jerome, who offers himself to her, she rejects him at first, but learning in time that he's the lover of a publisher who once blackmailed and sexually dishonored her father, she decides to seduce him, and thus avenge the publisher for her father's humiliated pride. The tables are turned, however, when she falls in love with the unfortunate European, who makes up his mind to help her with promoting her book. Jerome buys the publisher's agreement to publish Nagiko's "pillow book" in return for sexual favors. When he doesn't return to her after a few days, Nagiko decides that everything between them is over and sends Jerome away when he comes. The wretched lover, for the lack of a better idea, commits suicide by drinking all Nagiko's ink. She returns home to find his naked body in bed and, thinking he's asleep, forgives him for everything and says they're ready to move on. After she touches him, the ink starts pouring out of his mouth and she finally realizes she's been talking to a corpse. She then starts sending people to the publisher, representing different books (Book of the Lover, Book of Impotence, etc.) planning to avenge, now, her lover's desecrated memory, for when learning of his death, the publisher makes a book out of Jerome, out of his skin. The last of the books has the text written by Nagiko about her father, her lover, and herself, and upon reading that, the publisher, on his part, makes up his mind, and allows the "book" to cut his throat. Nagiko, bearing Jerome's child, returns to Japan to start a new life. So much for the story. Now for the ideas. This film is certainly one of the most controversial films Greenaway ever filmed, and I have to say it is certainly better than some of his earlier works. Personally, I still hold "Prospero's Books" and "The Baby of Macon" in greater esteem, but "The Pillow Book" isn't all that bad. As a fan, I could indulge in Greenaway's lush imagery, his symbolism, his picture-like sets and rich effects. If you're new to Greenaway, this film may shock you, and some of his earlier pictures that are more accessible will be easier to watch- "The Draughtsman's Contract," "Drowning By Numbers," and his most realistic movie, "The Belly of an Architect." This film, "The Pillow Book," however, should be admired as something completely different and new. You'll either love it or hate it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not my idea of a good time...
Review: Basic problems with 'The Pillowbook':
There's really no one to root for. The main character, Nagiko, is stiff, emotionally barren, and very much disturbed from her childhood experiences. I honestly don't know whether Vivian Wu was having an off-day for the entire filiming of this movie, or just did an exceptionally good job of protraying an unsympathetic character. That leaves us with the evil book-publisher, the obsessed photographer, and the charming, but unbelievably dense love-interest (who, although the best of a bad lot, winds up meeting a rather grisly end thanks to all three of the other characters). There's just no reason to invest any emotion in the characters at all.
Second, we have a story that's nigh-impossible to follow. The few subtitles presented tend to blend into the background art and things tend to skip around quite a bit. That aside, the tale itself was very disjointed. I viewed this movie through twice before finally giving up and going to movie-review archives for relief. I'm sorry, but even art-house movies should not require a viewer's guide to follow. There are reasons why this kind of "original" presention isn't seen -- most people have realized it's just not good story-telling.
Third and final, for such a visual movie -- and I will say right out that the calligraphy-on-skin idea was wonderfully sensual and could have been beautifully done -- there was remarkably little to get worked up about. I have never seen a movie where so many well-formed people started baring skin, feeling each other up, and having sex and felt *nothing*! Ewan Mcgregor was buck-naked on-screen and there was no reaction below my waist (or beneath my bra). None. Nada. This is a bad, *bad* sign.
If you're thinking of getting this movie to see the above-mentioned actor without his clothes on, I'd suggest "Velvet Goldmine". If you're looking for a movie where you can feel some connection to the characters...hell, go to Blockbuster and grab something off of the shelf. You're almost guaranteed to do better. If you've got to write a paper for film class and need something with themes that you can dissect (or just do that sort of thing because you enjoy it), this movie will suffice. That's about all the good you'll get out of it.
Rating:
Summary: thanks for giving away the ending
Review: I haven't seen this film yet, and thanks to the review "A Finely Created Work of Art, January 10, 2001" the ending is ruined for me. The reviewer gave away a huge plot point. I'm very disappointed that it was posted here! I give his review a half a star. Please be more considerate in the future. =(
Rating:
Summary: Visually Stunning
Review: Almost every frame of this film could be printed and framed as a piece of art. Beautifully acted, unusual story leaning towards erotic but much more than that.
Rating:
Summary: wow
Review: I rented this movie a few months ago and saw it again on IFC and I quite enjoyed it. The only reason I rented it was because Ewan McGregor was in it and I had read he was naked (hehe). Anyways, I thought the movie was very good, a little strange, but the imagery was beautiful, I've never seen a movie quite like it. Does anyone know who sings the French song that appears in the movie? The words are shown at the bottom of the screen as their being sung, and it's sung by a women.
As long as you don't mind lots of naked men you will probably enjoy this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Never watch this movie
Review: I am a Ewan fan and I paid by 7 dollars to see this movie thinking that it would be good. This is the WORST OF ALL TIME!!! I have never seen a movie that I disliked as much as this one. This was the only movie that I have ever walked out on. I really hated it! So I could never recommed it even if Ewan is in it. Come on, he dies and gets skinned less than half way through.
Rating:
Summary: HOT! HOT! HOT!
Review: Ewan is a sex God ! He is so talented. He can act. He can sing! And he can strip.... full frontal naked.
Vivian too is great ! I cried buckets when I saw her in Joy Luck Club... and she is really tough cookie as Mrs Chiang Kai Shek in "The Soong Sisters".
This show is really sexy !
Rating:
Summary: Very bad mastering!
Review: This DVD has the worst mastering I have ever seen.
While still images are often exquisitely detailed,
moving objects detach from their backgrounds and
wallpaper patterns dance. Such compression artefacts
are extremely distracting and made watching this
DVD a frustrating and disappointing experience.
Rating:
Summary: A movie that you need an open mind to enjoy
Review: I really liked this movie its very deep with quite alot of symbolisim, a werid movie but dang.......I really enjoyed it!
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