Customer Reviews

Anna & The King [VHS]

5 star:		(96)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I found this movie to be BRILLIANT! Jodie Foster is outstanding in the role of Anna Leonowens - she is a beautiful mix of bravery, intelligence and Victorian elegance. Chow Yun-Fat is also outstanding in the role of King Mongkut - he emits a regal quality as well that of compassion and intelligence. The cinematography is out of this world and the directing exquisite. The dialogue is perfect, and it strikes just the right chord of polished writing. The musical score is breathtaking. The lush scenery and thick emotion is set to elegant, strong, and graceful music. It is forceful when it need be and then fades quietly into the background... at times supporting a scene with gentle rolling waves of ear pleasure. Oh and the costumes! They are completely amazing, and startling in their detail. From the majestic elephants to the smallest noble they are all cloaked in carefully chosen fabrics.

This movie in all its entirety affected me very deeply. The intense emotions of the characters are so expertly performed and directed that they feel incredibly real. These emotions, which course through "Anna and the King," create a moving, exciting, and anticipatory experience. I am very grateful to all of those involved in the making of "Anna and the King" for producing such a beautiful and extraordinary film. Anyone who is contemplating viewing this movie... do it. I only hope that you, too will have the pleasure of being able to fully indulge in this feast for the senses.

(....) really doesn't mention all the extra "goodies" that they've encluded in this Special Edition of Anna and the King, so I was thrilled to discover a good two hours of behind-the-scenes features, a trailor, music video, and more! The DVD quality is excellent, very sharp and clear, with a very well-done enter-menu feature, and deleted scenes, including an extention of the "White Elephant" sequence, and the "Prologue" and "Epilogue" scenes. The six featurettes are pretty repetative - if you've seen one, you've seen them all, but the interviews with Foster and Yun-Fat are pretty darn cool. All in all, a wonderful DVD from Fox... and an excellent film. If you enjoy epic romances, simple tales made exceptional by breathing romance and a passionate, gorgeous backdrop, with sets made perfect down to the tiniest detail, a film that will make you laugh, and make you cry... Anna and the King is it! The movie of the year! Don't miss it... and don't miss this edition!

As a younger person who's missed many of the "older" movies (like "The King and I") I can only see movies for the works they are -- I do not have older works in my repertoire through which to compare, contrast and filter my viewing experience.

Having just viewed Anna & the King both in letterbox and cropped views (I prefer letterbox, though smaller on a screen, the camera work and screenplay are absolutely stunning, and missing these outer details does detract from the mood of the picture), I greatly enjoyed the storyline, the actors, and the cinematography.

Admittedly Jodie Foster's English accent is a bit forced, but I commend her ability to retain it consistently throughout the picture (as opposed to some actors who've been unable to do so, regardless, they did receive outstanding reviews for their performance, nonnative accent notwithstanding). I felt Jodie's portrayal as being prim and well-educated was very accurate given the time period -- what is considered acceptable today would have been considered absolutely abhorrent in Anna's time. We seem to forget that so many things considered perfectly fine today, simply weren't done in the mid-1800's, particularly in the ultra-traditionalized societies like those of England and Siam (to name two). American attitudes have been long considered far fringe by non-Western societies around the world, both then and today.

I found the choice of actors for Siam characters to be appropriate and believable. The character portrayals were deep and true. I felt as though I was watching people, getting to know them, not watching actors playing roles. The transitions of time and space were effective and I didn't find myself yearning for "missed pieces."

The love story caught me by surprise. I found it deeply moving and the tension between Anna, and the King, and the careful play of the King's other wives, to be wonderful. I strained to hear every word and catch every expression. I appreciated the dialog and found the scenes well-written, appropriately succinct and yet adequately played to offer a "newcomer" like me an appreciation of the many issues which underlay the story.

This movie tugged at my heartstrings, as I watched these people and families grow and come to love together, and I was moved to tears repeatedly. Watching a deep love grow between Anna and the King, a love borne of respect and intelligence and attraction, watching them balance their societal dictates with the concerns of country, politics and their feelings for one another -- and of course all those beautiful children -- was like watching a gentle dance of butterflies on a summer's breeze. I felt it was beautifully written and beautifully played.

I give it a "thumbs up" for the actors, directorship, costuming and cinematography. Definitely a movie worth seeing!

This is a true outstanding epic movie. I'm really surprised why it wasn't hailed as greatly as it should have been. I personally hail it as one of the greatest movies of all time, a true classic in every sense. I've seen it totally ignorant of all the versions that preceded it and I've loved it with the very first few lines "She came unaware of all the suspicion that preceded her" " the first English woman I have seen". This story of two unconventional people in conventional times with all its historical facts and lush gorgeous background is capable of sweeping one's off his feet making him feel all that cultural and emotional struggle that Anna and the King seem to go through. Jodie Foster was lovely and extraordinary although I used to think that she is too modern-looking for such movies...I guess I was gravely mistaken. I think the movie's real surprise is Chow Yun-Fat who was truly amazing. He seems to be so much at home with all this kingly charm. He has such grace and overwhelming presence that would make him probably one of the most remembered kings on the screen. I can't help wondering if the original king was as charming as he was....and wouldn't be nice if all kings were like that? We would surly love them. And what of the palace? Do I dare and say more? I was totally amazed to know that they've built a replica of the original one...wow! I envy Jodie and Chow for being in such lofty surroundings. I think I would write a book if I were to describe everything I loved in this movie...but I must take my hat off to Andy Tennant for making such a masterpiece and for all the designers. Of course, I must not forget the movie's music and photography and the beautiful script that seems to linger in the mind forever for I would always remember that "when a woman has so much to say and doesn't say it. Her silence can be deafening.".

This modern rendition of the 'The King and I' is not without its cinematic lacunae, but it's so captivating you'll gloss over most of them.

It's 1862 and King Mongkut of Siam (Thailand) has hired a certain Mrs Anna Leonowens to be an English teacher to his 58 children. She stays there for five years and in 1870 publishes a book about her experiences, which predictably scandalizes British high society, and is considered a great betrayal by the Thai government and people.

The film may be based on these diaries but sure it'd have been blasphemy to rely merely on barebone facts, so it liberally splices action, drama, romance, suspense, even fullfledged battles into the fray.

We follow two broad arcs -- the platonic emotional connection that develops between the king and Anna, and the political backdrop against which this bond is set -- but the leitmotiv is one of change. Both our principals find themselves transformed beyond their own contexts by virtue of their acquaintance.

Jodie Foster is clearly uncomfortable with her British accent as she mumbles her way through three-quarters of the movie, but it is probably her customary detachment in expressing emotion that befits Anna's charm in this film (if one could describe it thus) -- a certain air of arrogance, a misplaced conviction in her own superiority, the 'uncommon richness' of the British way of life, so on and so forth. The film doesn't patronize her character and the few crevices in her personality do come across as cultural idiosynchrasies that can now be looked upon as such, with the benefit of distance.

Chow Yun Fat (a popular Hong Kong actor, you may know him from Crouching Tiger) is majestically imperious in his portrayal of the King caught between the throes of attraction and the cross he must bear as a conscientious ruler.

Their romance is zestful but dignified, their chemistry palpable. His rueful admission of her as an equal and his tender submission to his own feelings of love towards her is masterful. There's even a waltz.

One does wonder about his 26 concubines and 58 children though; they come across chiefly as garden props, we see them and they're there and that's all they do, part of the landscape. An unrelated sequence where a young daughter succumbs to ill health is quite plainly a tear-jerker thrown in for that sole purpose.

Things then get dodgier on the political front. Anna's heroic rescue of Siam seems heavily contrived. No king with a couple brain cells or more would find himself mired in the sort of military faux pas that occurs here. Let's not spoil the suspense but there's a goofball insurrection that culminates in a positively cartoonish battle. Little surprise to me that Thai government chose to ban the film, not for groveling love of their monarchy but out of basic self-respect.

These quibbles aside, the film is stunningly produced and well-worth seeing for the rest of us if only for the luxurious mantle in which it comes cloaked. The scenery is spectacular, with lush green mountain fields, grand palatial foyers draped in red silk, pillars etched in gold, even a long sweeping view of the royal steamboat on the river between the banks of a dense rain forest. The set and costume design are so sumptuous they'd have won Bertolucci's grudging admiration.

Without doubt a heartily made epic and recommended with equal intensity if you're willing to go easy on the rigours of historical or cultural accuracy.

This movie is spectacular in every way. At the theater I was blown away with the lavishness and constant eye-candy of the sets and scenery. I can hardly wait for the DVD, to help re-create some of the magic of the big screen.

I am a lifetime fan of the original musical "The King and I" and once even saw Yul Brenner do the stage play in person. A magical experience -- so I went into the theater thinking it might be a poor imitation, but it wasn't! A completely different kind of movie, with a wonderful, believable performance by Chow Yun-Fat, speaking of eye-candy. Jodie Foster brought the passion and bravery of Anna to life -- and though it only contains elements of truth; it is a charming, sometimes breathtaking fantasy worthy of some of the most lavish productions of Hollywood days gone by. If you love beauty, passion, and a rollercoaster ride of laughter to tears and back again -- you'll love this movie!

I'm not a movie buff nor do i collect dvd's but i thought this one was particularly worth owning. I don't understand why so many critics panned the film for being dull or too long. I was totally absorbed and enjoyed every minute of the 2-1/2 hours.

The cinematography and production design was amazing -- especially in light of the fact that they were not allowed to film in Thailand but had to recreate the palace and its surroundings from scratch. Just absolutely visually stunning.

I also disagree with critics about the lack of chemistry between the leads. I thought there was plenty - maybe more of an intellectual nature than a physical one perhaps.
Chow Yun Fat has such a strong screen presence - definitely holding his own against Jody Foster's intense yet restrained performance.

I remember watching trailors for this film when it came out - at the time I thought it looked hammy and over-done. Perhaps it was the trailor that let it down - a very "hollywood" trailor for what in my opinion was quite an "un-hollywood" film. By this I mean that it wasn't all glory and fairy-tale endings and over-the-top. Half way through as events were unfolding I found myself begging my television (I watched this on DVD recently) for this not to be a true story because I realised how heart-braking it was going to be if it was. There is dispute over the "truth" of Anna Leonowens' story but this is irrelevant - the film is nothing short of an epic in its own right and if you want to study the facts of history then do so. It is beautfully directed - there is one of the most powerful montage scenes I have ever seen (spoilers) in the execution sequence.

Speaking as an Actress and an accent coach and an English woman, Jodie Foster's accent is rather good. I have never heard an American actor/actress be as accurate. She was believable, spoilt and charming all at once. Chow Yun Fat is my favourite actor and I cannot write about him objectively. He is what the Oscar was made for. If you are also a fan you cannot miss this one. (You shouldn't miss anyhing he does!) His performance in this film is nothing short of inspiring - to other actors, and frankly to other human beings as his insight into human behaviour can teach us all. The film is worth watching for what he does alone. But it is so much more. If you are looking for a film to rent then this is the one - this is something you should see for its production values (costumes all made from scratch - along with an entire palace which they built) cinematography, direction, the performances, and especially the morals which arise from it all. Go to it..

I love this movie. I have read others' so called "reviews" here and must dispute any negative statements; especially those misguided fools who insist on "reality" when watching a MOVIE, and have no sense of artistic license or drama. Don't you hate those people who insist on tearing apart a film over the minutest of details; like most Americans could really recognize a "fake" English accent if they did'nt know the actress was American already, OY! For those of you who, like me, are marinating in "reality" 24/7, this was a great escape film, filled with gorgeous cinematography and an entertaining script. Jodie Foster is one of the greatest actresses of our generation and Chow Yun-Fat is a welcome import, a man's man, not a pretty boy who's lack of acting ability is blurred by a dazzling smile. This is an enjoyable film that is loosely based on the diaries of Ms. Anna. It is a remake of the King and I; one that is not an insufferable "musical". It is a great lie on the couch in the evening and turn out the lights and let the film entertain you kind of movie that is well worth the 2 and a half hours.

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.