Rating: 
Summary: Grand Style Entertainment
Review: How disappointing that this brilliant and spectacular movie was almost ignored totally at the recent Academy Awards. This version of "Anna & the King" is superb entertainment, with all it's grandeur and spectacle that is sadly lacking in many box office hits these days. Although the musical version "The King and I" will always remain as a great classic, this one surpasses it with its dramatic content and impact. This film boasts superb photography and tight production values. The musical soundtrack is outstanding, and of course the costume designing also deserves accolades. As far as acting is concerned, why was Keith Chin as Prince Chulalonkorn not get nominated for an academy award? His performance was excellent. Of course there is much debate of Jodie Foster as the English teacher. I feel that she gave her best (as usual) in the role. Chow Yun Fat who is more renowned for his action roles is a pleasant surprise. His screen presence is dominating and was perfect as the King. This must be his most challenging role in his career, and he handled it very well, and made a very believable King Mongkut. This movie should be on the top of the list of any collector's list. I just cannot wait for the DVD version to be released, as it deserves to be watched over and over again. Despite its box-office disappointment, I am quite certain it will gain its popularity on the Video and DVD market.
Rating:
Summary: Jodie rules........again.
Review: I love Jodie Foster. I always have. She is always good. Period. I can't add much to the ringing endorsements here accept to say that this is a movie, just a movie. It is not supposed to be a historical documentary, it is supposed to entertain. It entertains. It looks really, really good. People should relax and just take it for what it is: a fanciful, imaginary, exotic journey. A well made well acted film that did not get a fair shake by reviewers.
Rating: 
Summary: It's not a true story
Review: I just want to say that this is not a true story. The story was made up and most in the film are untrue. Chow Yun Fat doesn't look like Thai, at all! The real Thai or Siamese culture is completely different from what they show in the film. These are some of the reasons why they weren't allowed to shoot the film in Thailand. (Even the location is not real, they shot the film in Malaysia!)
Rating:
Summary: A Great Costume Drama
Review: On December 17 Anna And The King was introduced into theaters a non musical retelling of Anna Leonowens. It quickly faded away at the box office. It was director Andy Tennent's movie after his other good period piece Ever After a wonderful Cinderella retelling. It was a success Ever After was and became a hit on video also. But tennent felt the sting at the box office. Jodie Foster who is always a good actress turns in another good performance. Chow Yun-fat plays King Mongkut. He is regal has alot of charm to him even though there is not alot of chemistry he turns in a performance that is powerful yet tender hearted and really the best King to date. Bai Ling who plays Tuptin in a powerful performance that gives this movie some added emotional depth. Partly why this movie achiveves so much is due to Luciana Arrighis appropriate production design is beautiful and Caleb Deschanel's sweeping photography is a treat for the eyes. On that matter so is George Fenton's sweeping magical score to accompany it. In conclusion this is a great coustume drama that really is a treat to see and when it is released on video i am gonna go a experience the magic again. There is much to like here. Wether from the Actors to the Photography or Production design there is alot to respect and admire about it maybe the audience that eluded this movie so will find and will become a hit after all.
Rating:
Summary: A movie worth watching or collecting
Review: It was know to most people that in Thailand the script was edited for 5 times. However, we found from the original script left in Penang--Malaysia that at least 3 more script revisions were done prior to the production. On the original script, when Anna was asked how did her husband died, she said, "In Bombay during a tiger hunt." However, the production crew later came to Penang and found out that Anna Leonowens husband, Thomas Leonowens died in Penang, and his grave still remained here. I was surprised to find out in the movie when the same question was asked again she answered,"He died in my arms." So you can see that Andy Tennant did try to add some historical fact to it. Oscar Winning production designer Luciana Arrighi wisely use as much as possible the beautiful heritage sites and buildings of Malaysia for this movie. The street before the palace was filmed in Armenian Street of Penang. In which the entire street is fulled of houses exited mostly since the real Anna Leonowens was in Penang. They looked marvelous in this movie. Heritage sites such as Swettenham Pier (1889) was site for the harbour and custom office, Khoo Kongsi (1906) site of market scene and the temple , Penang Town Hall (1880) site of Royal Hall of Justice, Syed Alatas Mansion (1860) site of chained slave. These places looks great in this movie. The conserved buildings of Perak state was well pictured too; The Istana Hulu (1898) was the interior of the palace and Rajah Bilah Mansion (1896) was the place of the murder. So on and the wonderful natural landscapt of Perak and Langkawi were all looked fantastic in this movie. Jodie Foster well acted in her part, in fact when she filmed the arrival of Anna in Siam, she personally went through the cultural schock similar to the character she played. It was her first movie filmed in Asia, a land that totally different from her upbringing. Like her character, Jodie later learned to appreciate the diversive multi-cultural of Malaysia. My Bristish friends said Jodie's English was brilliant. I met her in the market scene, when she talked to me before the camera was on, she was using her normal strong Southern Californian ascent. When the camera came in, she just change to a different person with really nice Bristish ascent. A natural superb actress. Chow Yun-Fat was at his best in this movie, given the fact that he is playing against not only one of the best actress in Hollywood, who also helped him with his English lines. Chow's Thai was excellent to the Thais that fimiliar with the Royal ascent, and he had an excellent Thai teacher who is the great grandson of King Mongkut. Chow's character is closer to the real personality of King Mongkut who was a passionate monk for 27 years. The supporting actor and actresses were great, especially the children. Keith Chin who acted as Prince Chulalongkorn in his first movie debut, was nominated for 'Best Performance in an International Film -- Young Performer' in Young Artist Awards of US. In overall, this is the best movie filmed about South East Asia. The Queen of Thailand said it is quite entertaining. This is a movie that you need to go to the big screen to enjoy. If you have a pirated copy to watch, you would miss the beauty of this remarkable filmed movie (a sincere warning by viewers). I would love to collect the original VCD of this movie for me to teach in my history class. Can't wait until it is release in May.
Rating: 
Summary: A fabulous costume drama
Review: Having loathed the movie 'The King and I', from the time I first saw it, I was rather reluctant to sit through another version of this story, but was truly delighted with the new version. Although the source of the film (Anna Leonowens) took great liberties with truth in her diaries, if you disregard that, and approach the film as a grand action/love story, you won't be disappointed. The real surprise of the film was the performance by Chow Yun-Fat as Mongkut. Although I have seen a few of his John Woo films, they didn't do justice to his acting talents. As the King,Yun-Fat portrays a man juggling the problems of modernising a fractured country without antagonising the nobles or submitting to British colonisation. He conveys much with a glance or smile, and his English has improved enormously since "The Replacement Killers". Jodie Foster was also very good, and although her accent seemed a bit Scottish at times, I doubt any other actress could have done as well. When you combine these two actors with an excellent cast of children, a fine script, lavish costumes and breathtaking scenery, how can you lose?
Rating:
Summary: The King of Siam is my hero!
Review: Anna and the King is my all-time favorite movie! I've seen it several times, and I never get tired of it! The relationship between Anna and the King of Siam is beautiful to watch, and I feel myself drawn into their lives. The chemistry between Anna and King Mongkut is the best part of the movie, but I also love the setting, the costumes, and the music! Chow Yun-Fat creates one of the most interesting characters I've seen on screen. He deserves an Oscar for his performance. Thank you Anna and the King for adding such beauty to my winter!
Rating: 
Summary: Le conquista goes on...
Review: This re-made-film reflects much of the West's reconsideration on imperialism and Orientalism, but shows nothing has changed, may be contrary to the makersides' intention. I really got bored and asleep watching this film. After all, like the film "13th warrior", they get satisfied conquering enemies, that used to be Barbarians, Easterns, Asians, Economic animals, and today their own histories called Orientalists' or ancient irrationals'. In this film is nothing but Western self-satisfaction like mass-produced Viet nam films of 80's , "Dance with wolves", and any other films by Hollywood taking up Indians, Blacks, Orientals, Women, all the repressed in their own histories. The view point of this film is the very "Monologue" of Bakhtin. After all they have never understood about what Others, in this film Asian people, live for. Here two person, the king and Anna the teacher, who has his/her own rule, make the gap between them too clear like dualism. There is no dialogue, no transcendence and no Jenseits. In this film Anna never compromise because she is an exceptional cosmopolitan democrat in the Imperial atmosphere, and absolutely right. On the contrary the king always reflects, compromise, work in unreasonable policy. In that view point can not be understood what is out of Western/modern cosmos but as chaos and stubbornness. They pretend to have recognized what The Other is, but distorting in fact.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you!
Review: I must say I was skeptical walking into this show, especially after hearing so many "chick-flick" lovers almost freaking out about the movie. But, I was very pleasantly surprised...and coincidently excited to see a movie appeal to so many senses and likes. The way in which they handled everything in the story was beautiful. The breath-taking scenery and awesome music are enough incentive for me to see it twice. But the story and the characterization were just as compelling. Of course, the story may not be exactly accurate, but it can be given credit for enabling us to understand and appreciate the significance of what Anna did...and what the king did. I think the romance was excellently handled as well. Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat showed such reserved, but powerful emotion...it was fascinating to watch. And, with politics and religions of two different worlds intertwining, the story became all the more fascinating. I'm excited to see that it's a movie in which you can "catch" things you may not have noticed the first time. This movie has so much to offer...don't pass it up! I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: a timeless love story
Review: I saw this movie 4 times. I fell in love with it. Amazing how you can feel the intensity of their love for each other even without kissing or hugging. Beautiful cast and setting with fabulous performance. This is truly the under-rated movie of 1999.
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