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Visitors Review

countryway_48864 2012-05-25 20:35:02

I crawled out of the theater on my hands and knees chanting, who is this Chow Yun-Fat and why, in my 50 + years of movie loving, don't I know him?

I have seen all the versions made (so far), of the story of theschool-teacher and the king.None of them are factual. I really wish SOMEONE would have the courage toshow Anna as the Anglo/Indian she really was with dark brown hair and eyes.But that is really a small point.Since none of the stories are accurate, this one is not MORE INaccurate thanthe others. Certainly Anna and her King did not prance all over anyballroom. So, if people can accept the singing/dancing version, this moreserious, and some-what more factual account, should besatisfactory. I enjoyed not having to suffer through another Yul Brynner over-the-topbuffoon characterization of the King. And 30 seconds after Chow Yun-Fatfirst appeared, I forgot all about either Rex Harrison, (who was terriblymiss-cast with Irene Dunn in a very early rendition of this story,) AND YulBrynner the man I loved in the role when I was young andsilly.Chow Yun-Fat brings with him authority, brilliance, sex appeal and humor. He is warm and charming, but also not to be trifled with, cajoled orthreatened. Between the smile and the shoulders beats a heart that isfragile and can break. Yun-Fat is superb in this role.My problem with this film is the cutting. On the DVD you are treated toscenes that were shot but not included in the final cut. What a mistakeexcluding these scenes was! They give Foster the warmth and humanity shelacked in the scenes we see. They explain her motivation and hertragedy.There is part of the croquet scene that does not appear in the film, butshould. Here Anna is shown beating the King! He explains that his wivesalways let him win, and Anna shoots him a flirtatious look and says, "Well,then I don't have to..." A delicious scene that defines their relationshipand the sexual and intellectual tension between this impossible couple. Theprologue and the coda of the film as it was originally conceived are alsoincluded in the DVD. How this film needed them. Tenant made some baddecisions that made his largest work to date, a merely fine film instead ofthe great film it might have been.But even with those regrets, I love Anna and The King as it is. The musicis wonderful, especially the drumming, the scope of the productionoverwhelming and the acting excellent to splendid. The emotional tug-of-war between convention, duty and passion is wellbrought out by Yun-Fat and Foster, and the children are delightful. Thescene when the King's favorite daughter dies in his arms is gorgeous andshattering! Here the King realizes that, for all his absolute power, hecannot control or change his destiny. I cry out loud every time I see thisscene.Yun-Fat loves children and it shows in every scene he has with the talentedyoung actors who play what the King called, the future hope ofThailand.Anna and The King is a film to love as long as you don't let history bog youdown. And, just watching Chow Yun-Fat is reward enough!

Matt James 2012-05-25 05:41:13

A Beautiful Film

Leaving aside the question of historical accuracy, whatever that maybe. First-rate cinematography and soundtrack with sumptuous sets andcostumes.Outstanding acting from all the players.Jodie Foster is stunning to behold and delectably demure behind herbreathy, somewhat clipped, English accent. In probably her bestperformance after Nell she brought a vulnerability to the characterthat was at times charming and at times heart-breaking to see.Chow Yun-Fat was splendid in his role and, as Crouching Tigersubsequently showed, a consistently solid actor. Everyone involved withthis film did a superb job.An utterly charming, deeply moving and beautiful film.

TravisC 2012-05-23 13:17:43

pretty good

This movie is made on a grand scale, and it shows. I think the bad part though was Jodie Foster trying to be British. It just didn't work. The costumes and the scenery and the sets were great. The movie can be pretty predictable, though. The plot has everything in it and can appeal to a lot of different people. Not my favorite movie, but memorable.

StillJusMe 2012-05-23 03:56:51

Movie's a bloody awful mess

Imagine Betsy Ross, played by Sophia Loren, riding two days dueeast of Washington DC to draw a line in the sand and save theAlamo from the attack of Lewis and Clark.That's the kind of dreadful mess of history this film hasmade.How can anyone with any intelligence, as Jodie Foster ispurported to have, been involved with this travesty ofsense?

2012-05-20 02:57:46

Excellent movie to collect

This movie though did not made a hit in the US box office, but in February 2000, it already broke US100 millions in world wide box office, it was well received by the rest of the world. I had a reveiw written earlier at this section. Now I would like to add that after I went to see the actual film location in ClearWater Santuarty in Ipoh, Malaysia. That was the location which the filming went on for 2 months in the world largest single movie set. It was great to see that actual set with so much effort put into the set. Even with some of the thing is falling apart but the set gave you breath-taking impression, it was so great, just like the movie itself. I went to the set 3 times with my students, friends and relatives and they all love it, luckily the set now is on the process of restoration. Yet the palace temple set was gone due to technical problem, so we could only see it from the movie. I had bought the original VCD of this movie, it was so excellent! You get to see the detail to the sets and gestures of all the actors and actresses. From the VCD collection, you can clearly see the chemistry between Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat, you have to watch carefully because they acted so naturally that you might missed the small gestures they made. They and all the supporting actors and actresses from Malaysia looked great together.Last Dec., the current Thai Queen had officially made statesment that she had no objection to this movie only two parts needed minor editing, a contrast to the Thai government officers. The King newphew was surprised that this movie even bowed down to made the King Mongkut as a hero, he knew that no Thai officers dare to step forward to clarigy this. I had the original production script which shown that after the 5th editing in Thailand, they further edited at least 3 times of this script which clearly giving more depth to this movie. As a Malaysian with a grandmother from Thailand, I found this movie had a good social and cultural content. I am looking forward to collect the DVD version.

2012-05-19 15:17:38

What A Movie~!

I am sorry to all those who fell this movie is boring or not very good,but in my opionion I would say this movie is very good. This movie is adapted from the not forgotton THE KING AND I. In this movie it is pretty the same plot. Only the story is changed a little bit. For one there is no singing. I won't give away everything so I will just say I love the way this movie goes. Anna is an ambitious women who is not afraid to stand up to anyone. She defys all odds. She comes to teach the King's many childern in school. While she is there she changes the way Siam is and the King of course. As the King's prime minister said,"She think she is equal to a man!" The King replys,"No she thinks she is equal to a king." Jodie Foster and Chow-Yun-Fat are great together on the screen. The costumes are wonderful! I would say if you love movies that make you feel good this one! Watch as Anna forever changes the King. And the King changes her.

2012-05-16 21:42:47

not your father's King and I

This was a pleasure-packed film from the opening scenery to the text at the end chronicling the changes brought about in Siam owing to the influence of Anna. The country and the people(at least those of the royal household) are absolutely beautiful. The king is one to whom it would be very easy to feel loyalty to. After seeing the movie, I feel compelled to read the history of Siam, and thus, Thailand.

danjsr 2012-05-16 08:25:32

Disappointed

I had looked forward to seeing this film, as the trailers that I had seenreally captured my interest. Unfortunately, the movie did not live up tothe tease. It was very slow paced and poorly written. Jodie Foster does adecent job with the role. As I am not a big Jodie Foster fan, this was apleasant surprise. If you are familiar with King and I story, don'tbotherwith this one. If not, it is worth a cheap rental.

2012-05-07 18:26:14

Anna and the King

In time, Anna and the King, will be the classic film that, "The King and I" has become. Yun-Fat Chow and Jodie Foster could not have been more brilliant. After Chow's performance in Anna and the King, I can't imagine him acting in anything less than Broadway. Director Andy Tennant has done a brilliant job capturing the feel of the time and the majesty of Siam. The photography is breathtaking. I change you to see a film a more visually beautiful. This film is for those who appreciate art. This is a must buy for any collector of fine films.

clydfrog 2012-05-07 09:03:00

Grubby Brit's

I rented this flick on VHS just for something for my wife and myself to doon a rainy day and it wasn't a bad film. This was a compelling true (yetslightly tainted by Hollywood) account of Anna Leonowens as a teacher thattutors the children of the King of Siam.It was a romantic movie that made the viewer have the same emotions asthosethat played in it. The movie takes the viewer through the new life of theculture shocked Anna in the land of Siam. Anna, along with her son Louis(Tom Felton), goes through extremes of joy, sadness, and anger as theylearnthe ways of Siam. Anna also deals with the death of her husband and how hismemory and likeness is seen through the King.Meanwhile the British act innocently while behind the King they assist theBurmese in the on slot of attacks of the Siamese. This movie is unlike anyother I have viewed so I can't compare it to any. There is plenty ofaction,tribulation, and romance so it is good for guys or gals.

LuckyLager 2012-05-05 20:02:51

lavish and beautiful cinematography

It's hard to approach this film without thinking of "The King and I", butthe beauty of the film and the power of the story soon sweeps away thoughtsof the musical. A spectacular setting and strong performances by JodieFoster (of course) and Chow Yun-Fat. The story drags a bit at times, makingit a little longer than box-office audiences may tolerate. But stay to theend, and be rewarded with a fine film experience. Certainly Oscar-worthymaterial!

2012-05-05 07:20:27

A vapid remake of The King and I

Jodie Foster seems like an intelligent woman. That's why I can't understand why she agreed to star in this vapid remake of The King and I.The producers tried hard to give it a modern twist. They even cast Hong Kong star Chow Yun-Fat as the King in an effort to be politically correct and give this role to an Asian.Alas, though, the ghosts of Yul Brenner and Deborah Kerr haunt this production. The King and I is just too ingrained in the public consciousness. Most of all, I missed the songs, and found their melodies playing in my mind throughout.We all know the story. Anna, a proper Englishwoman, comes to Siam to tutor the King's children in 1862. Supposedly this is based on fact, but I understand that the Thai government has never permitted any of the versions of this story to be shown in Thailand and, especially in this version, the history seems too far-fetched to be true.As all movies tend to reflect the times in which they are made, this version introduces the concept of colonial oppression, and in several scenes portray the British as pompous colonialists. There are also atrocities by the Burmese and a war that is generated by a traitor general who wants to depose the King. However, although there are some spectacular scenes of the palace, we never really gain any real insights into the culture of the Siamese people from their own point of view.Basically, though, the story is a romance. And it fails here too. Jodie Foster plays Anna a bit too prim, and her British accent seems forced. Chow Yun-Fat is handsome, but lacks the energy of Yul Brenner, and the sexual tension between Anna and the King just doesn't sizzle.Some of the conversations between the characters are much too long and I found myself either looking at the clock or actually dozing off. This video just doesn't make it. My advice is to save your money, and buy The King and I instead.

2012-04-29 07:04:58

Disappointing

If you are a fan of the original movie with Yul Brenner and Debra Kerr I think this remake will be a let down. Don't waste your time.

2012-04-28 16:24:27

Excellent, touching movie

I thought that this movie was absolutely magnificent...The ending made me cry, and I enjoyed watching how a powerful love affair develops between two very different people. I saw the movie three times and I will definitely see it again. The movie displays beautiful scenery, architecture, and costume design. The acting in the movie is powerful and moving. I have never seen a more touching film. It captivated me the entire 147 minutes.

ptb-8 2012-04-27 03:42:48

shall we, Dunce?

Who at Fox thought this was a good idea? THE KING AND I withexplosions. Why not remake HELLO DOLLY and have a slap fest over dinnerat Harmonia Gardens? Maybe remake CAROUSEL and go for some heaveho'raping? What about getting Paris Hilton to remake some Betty Grablemusicals: HORNY ISLAND instead of Coney Island or MOTHER WAS TIGHTinstead of Mother Wore Tights...or in Paris Hilton's case WHAT ARETIGHTS ....this KING AND I (kaboom kaboom) is like a Mad Magazineparody with some kid exec moaning that 'the original was boring...letsmake it interesting for my generation.... with violence!" . Probablythe most misguided idea of recent times...and who or what is a Chow YunFat? A Hong Kong menu entry? Jodie Foster as brittle British Mummykins?Yeesh. KaBoom! The dreaded remake of CASABLANCA with Tom Selleck andJane Seymour seems closer by the day. Knowing Columbia's productiontastes it will be Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in a 2007 remake ofFUNNY GIRL retitled SHADDUP BITCH. The KING AND I with explosions! GodAlmighty!

ebburtis 2012-04-26 12:23:13

A beautiful film with a multi-faceted storyline

I loved this movie. It is unfortunate that it is getting billed as aromance, because it is so much more. Isee 3 interwoven storylines: the building relationship between Anna andtheKing, the politicalstruggle within SIam, and the development and struggles of the King tobecome a more progressiveleader, a better father, and a better man. The cinematography isincredible, the costumes (especiallyChow Yun Fat's) exquisite, and the chemistry between Jodie Foster and ChowYun Fat verybelievable. It does move slowly at times, but should be viewed as a modern

2012-04-23 02:21:47

Phenomenal!

An absolutely perfect performance by Chow Yun Fat as the King and a even a somewhat impressive performance by Jodi Foster as Anna. Beautiful settings and great direction combined with the fact that they gave CYF all of the best lines make this one of the BEST films of 1999, up there with my other favorite, The Green Mile. I recommend that everybody see this gem of american cinema at its finest!

Marco Schwartz 2012-04-22 15:06:35

Sumptuous, well-acted, an elegant revision of the old romance

This is the third of three interpretations of Anna Leonowens´diaries andprobably the best, although maybe because the other two now look slightlydated.The real discovery in this version is the King himself. Yun-Fat Chow istruly imperious in his portrayal of the King caught between the Scylla ofcompassion as an intelligent man and the Charybdis of authority as anabsolute ruler. His rueful admission of Anna as an equal is masterfullyworked and his tender submission to his own feelings of love towards herismovingly portrayed.Jodie Foster, sporting an English accent that she never feels utterlycomfortable with, does an admirable job of the fiendishly difficult Anna.Stiff and Victorian yet progressive and, in spite of herself, sensitive.Heronly drawback is with children. Her relationship with Louis, a solidperformance from Tom Felton, is stilted and artificial. Whenever she hastowork with children she uncomfortable and makes the viewer uneasy. Luckilythe film does not hinge around this relationship but this occasionalhiccupmakes the film, and her performance especially, a littlebumpy.The story itself is well told although the sub-plot involving the newconcubine is maybe given a little too much relevance. Although it servesasthe turning point in Anna´s relationship with the King, allowing him toshowreal compassion for the first time and peels back the glittering exteriorofthe regime for the viewer to see the cruelty underneath, I feel it couldhave more sharply portrayed, although the denouement could hardly havebeenmore powerful. The romance between the King and Anna is well judged andintelligently paced. It never becomes overpowering and the chemistrybetweenthe two is plainly palpable.This relationship is, of course, the centre of the film and is beautifullyplayed by both. It must be said that they are wonderfully supported by thewealth of Asian acting talent on show. Randall Duk Kim, especially, asGeneral Alak and look out for the three bodyguards who maintain their"insclutability" almost until the end.The scenery is extraordinary and although there are too many close-ups forit to be truly called an epic, the photography is excellent. One longsweeping view of the royal steamboat on the river between banks of denserain forest is pure African Queen meets Apocalypse Now! The remarkablecolours and painstaking costumes are striking and even Bertolucci would begrudgingly admiring. They tint the film with a glittering, authentic huewhich combined with the sumptuous sets makes the film the perfect settingfor this fairytale romance.The film is well worth seeing if only for Yun-Fat (or is his surname Chow;Idon´t know if the order of his names has been westernised) and theluxuriousmantle with which the whole film is cloaked. For those of you whogenerallydon´t like Foster (and there are quite a few of you) go and see it anyway.Ithink you will be pleasantly surprised.

Ishallwearpurple 2012-04-14 18:43:05

Forget bad reviews

I loved this film. It is beautiful, the music is wonderful and Mr. Chowisa perfect king. This is not history. It is a film to take you to anothertime and place, a dream, not reality. And thank god. Most of us havereality 24 hours a day. The music, the scenery and all the children arejust lovely. I have the video and have watched it numerous times and sofar, have enjoyed it each time.

2012-04-14 07:09:03

forget about what you saw in the musical...

Chow Yun-Fat doesn't shave his head and he doesn't dance (well, yeah, he does... but not like Yul Brenner in "The King and I") and sing... this movie takes the true story of Anna Leonowens to a level of stark realism. Other than Anna's (Jodie Foster) Victorian dress, it's easy to forget that this film takes place in the 1860's... it looks almost timeless as they are in this robust, diverse and ancient culture. Chow Yun-Fat is absolutely perfect in his role... proof that he doesn't need to weild a gun or perform martial arts to be taken seriously.There are moments that are tragic, tender and bittersweet as the Thai kingdom of King Mongkut faces an evolution of sorts as it becomes clear that they can no longer shut out the world.In a world where women are servants and accessories and the King has many wives, Anna challenges the King's ideas of the strength of a woman's mind and her resolve. While he has many wives, it is evident that it is Anna that has stolen his heart. Standing up for principals she believes in is first met with further demands and decrees from the King, but is soon followed with concession and kindness. To see the British and Thai cultures intertwine and react to one another is very interesting and the contrast of how the King and Anna interact versus the snobbish aristocracy.The Western world sees the King as just a figure-head of a primitive culture, but Anna yields respect for him as she would to her own Queen Victoria, yet does not sacrifice her ideals, beliefs or dignity in the process.The backdrops, scenery, costumes, etc. are all breath-takingly beautiful and performances by those in lesser roles are also believable and stunning. A great film - I wish it would have been recognized more in theaters.