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Anna and the King (Full-Screen Edition)

Anna and the King (Full-Screen Edition)

List Price: $14.98
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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: It is so slow!
Review: The story, the plot and the background story are all well developed in this movie, i.e., Anna and the King VHS ~ Jodie Foster. However, apart from Jodie Foster, the other actors have a strong sedative quality to them. Her son Lewis was and is being played by an actor whom is totally out of his league and should take some serious acting classes before attempting another movie; or maybe should reconsider his career choice as acting is not his cup of tea. The man (whose name I can not recall, since it was similar to other characters) whom plays the emperor also is very disappointing in a not too engaging performance. However, beyond these fallacies, the biggest problem that I have with this movie, i.e., Anna and the King VHS ~ Jodie Foster is its [ace. One actually feels as if one is growing older for each minute that passes and when the movie finally ends; one is then filled with a feeling of relief.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A moving movie, despite what professional reviewers say.
Review: This movie is wonderful, listen not to the professional critics who watch with eyes and no hearts. Jodi Foster and Chow Yun-Fat are magnificent together. Pundits would have you believe otherwise, yet they seem to have forgotten that these two characters are not supposed to have instantanious chemistry, that thiers' is a relationship that first begins as dislike, before burgeoning into a romance. However, when the two develop feelings for each other, it is visible, and a pleasure to witness. The visuals are stunning, the music soaring, and the cast perfect. This is a superior product to the musical version, more poignant and historically relevant. If you find it a tad long, fear not, as the final seen will break even the stoniest hearts and make the length well worth it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Simply Beautiful For the Soul At Night
Review: There isn't a whole lot I can say that everyone else hasn't already said. But I do recommend this movie to everyone. Forget about the King and I movie. This movie stands on it's own and I hardly think it fair to compare it with an earlier version of the story, seeing as how they are both loosely drawn from the stories of Anna. I don't know if they are true; but a girl can dream that such a man exist (although I would prefer he didn't have wives and concubines....)but I am straying from the point. The whole point of the story is that no matter how different two people are, there is always a way to communicate. Nowadays I simply can't find a decent love stories at Blockbuster, and what little they do have all seems so fake somehow. They all tend to focus more on the sexual matters. I prefer seductive glances, fighting converstations, and intensity from my characters than just a scene of them two in bed. Watch this movie. It is sad towards the end, yes, but if nothing else, you will have been left with lessons learned.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Pure Pleasure
Review: For an older woman who loves films. I have trouble sometimes finding one I really enjoy. This was one that I loved from beginning to end. The new to me actor Chow Yun-Fat was simply wonderful as the king. The scenery and costumes were lovely. Of course, I have read the original book and seen all the film versions, so the story is very familiar. But it is still able to cast it's spell of a time and culture exotic and fascinating. I loved it all.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Absolutely Moving
Review: Rarely has a show touched me as this one did. It's beauty and power took my breath away. A must see for the whole family.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I LOVE IT!
Review: This movie has everything a good movie requires. It has a story, plot, action, good character development, excellent photography, emotion. My dad says this movie might be more true to the history of Thailand(Siam back then) than the musical. But most of you say the romance part never happened. Anyway, I love this movie. This movie is more action packed than Ever After(Another good movie from same director). The photography is superb. I first saw it when I rented it on VHS. I on the DVD version of it. I give the DVD 3&1/2 stars. The extras are okay, I like the making of Anna and the King. The music video is okay. Other than that the extras aren't all they could be. But the DVD offers the best thing it could have on it, the movie. Rent it or buy it, and Enjoy. You will not be dissapointed.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: ehhh. . .
Review: Maybe I'm a little biased, but I found this version of "The King and I" a bit boring and not exactly the most pleasant two hours and some-odd minutes of my life. Overall it was a beautifully shot film and the acting was good (especially by Bai Ling--Wow! I look forward to more movies with her in them--excellent acting! Every scene with her in it was emotional and intense.). If you do not enjoy musicals, this may be a good alternative to "The King and I" for you. As for me I just couldn't completely like the film because it didn't have the same charm or profound effect as the musical (as silly as that may sound). Bottom line: Not a loser, but definitely not a winner.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: 2.5: Jodie is a decent actress in an above-average film
Review: After seeing Jodie Foster's dull, unsympathetic, and mostly emotionless performance in '' The Accused'' (which paled even worse in comparison with the acting of the intense assailants), I thought she was a terrible actress. But this film changed my mind. Foster plays Anna, an English woman who's husband dies in battle. She goes with her young son Louis to Siam to teach the King's children. The King, played by Chow Yung-Fat is a seemingly cold, formal man. When he meets Anna, he slowly changes. The only problem I have with this is that he never truly seemed that cruel in the first place. He does seem extremely intimidate by Anna though.With good reason. Anna is a veyr strong, sometimes touching woman- very formal, but fiercly loyal and protective of her son and the people she cares about. An intelligent woman, resourceful and bold: ('' I will respectfully remind you, Your Highness that I am not your servant but your guest''), Foster does a decent job. A painful scene is where the King's young daughter dies, a child whom Anna invested her heart and emotion, and the King stand there trembling, while Anna softly weeps, careful not to be heard by any of the King's men. Anna is a very unusual woman of her time- but a bright and caring one as well. This film realistically conveys the lowly status of women as concubines and the disrespect of them. Daughters were ''offered'' to the King as ''prizes.'' The ending is bittersweet- painful and yet somehow haunting. The beautiful, lavish, breathtaking sets are also something to celebrate- worthy and awe-inspiring. All in all, this film is decently-acted, beautiful to look at, touchign at times, and worth seeing.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fantastic scenery, captivating story
Review: Anna and the King was my favorite movie of the year. The scenery of Thailand was truly majestic and was the highlight of the movie for me. I felt like I was in another world. In addition, Jodie Foster is a great actress, and the story was fresh and interesting. If you want to buy a movie, you can't do much better than this.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Jodie Foster is always good
Review: This is a re-working of the Hollywood film the King and I without musical numbers. The King and I is banned in Thailand and is bitterly hated. The reason is that the portrayal by Yul Brunner of the king showed him to be an excitable twit. In reality the king in question was a former Monk who was asked to take over the royal throne in difficult circumstances. Rather than being a twit the King was a man of deep learning. This was illustrated by the fact that he originated the Thai alphabet. The memoirs on which the King and I are based are probably fictitious and have little relation to the truth. They were taken somewhat literally at the time of their publication because of the prejudice in Britain against foreign non Caucasian cultures. No one checked to see there accuracy and it would seem that Anna had only a passing commitment to the truth.

This film version has tried to be fairer to Thailand and has made the King a more attractive and dignified figure. Jodie Foster is a great actress and she is impressive in the role. Although the script was made fairer to the Thai characters permission was refused for filming on location. The filming has been done on recreations of the Royal Palace and are impressive.

The main problem with the film is the rather artificial ending where the Foster character is able to save Thailand from invasion by quick thinking and the use of modern technology. The end looks contrived and is unconvincing.

Despite that it is a pleasant if unsubstantial film. The enjoyment of it probably increases if one doesn't know about Thai history as the contrast with the reality can jar.


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