Anna and the King (1999)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Matthew S

  
  The plot wasn't focused enough, trying to fit in too many themes and coming up short and shallow on every one. Wonderful cinematography though, with beautiful locations.

• Jim H

  
  The king of Siam employs a British woman to teach his more than fifty children. This is lush costume drama, full of all the pomp and circumstance and majestic panning shots that you would expect. Occasionally the cinematography actually reminded me of <i>The English… More
  The king of Siam employs a British woman to teach his more than fifty children. This is lush costume drama, full of all the pomp and circumstance and majestic panning shots that you would expect. Occasionally the cinematography actually reminded me of <i>The English Patient</i> which is no small compliment. And Jodie Foster is a premier actress, especially when it comes to playing vulnerability and her character's attempts at overcoming vulnerability. She has that pout and fearful but determined look in her eye on full display in many of her scenes. However, I think the film is quite muddled and uneven. First, there is a great deal of talk about colonization. After all, one of the principal conflicts in the film is internal to the king's educative mission: how does he push for modernization when the definition of modernity is to be like his oppressors? How does he resolve the contradiction of tradition and modernity? These are compelling questions, both academically and cinematically. But they are not adequately explored. For example, Anna travels with two Indian servants, and their objections to colonization's evils are restricted to a single look they share during the first ten minutes of the film. What is more, the king has few scenes taking this conflict on head-on, and the one character who does is later villainized. Second, the film is uneven because there are several dramatic, heart-tugging scenes that are immediately followed by sprawling shots of beautiful scenery or teaching sequences in which everybody is smiling and laughing as though nothing of consequence happened just five seconds ago. Overall, despite Foster's classic performance -- the type that has made her famous -- there are still too many structural flaws to ignore.

• Rachel F

  
  Such a beautiful story. Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat play their roles perfectly. I loved it.

• Red L

  
  I knew the basic story from the Yul Brenner version of the King and I, but this is well done. The scene on the bridge is a bit of a stretch. But I liked the movie's humour and the lessons it teaches. The ending is appropriate as well.

• Candy R

  
  Execelletn modern adaptation of the King and I. I love the costumes and the kids.

• Jennifer X

  
  jodie foster being feminine. not something you see everyday.

• Dean M

  
  This wonderful epic dramatisation of the love story that had everyone humming in <i>The King & I</i>. This film stands up as a fine culture clash romance.

• xGary X

  
  Visually sumptuous adaptation of the novel the musical The King And I was based upon. The comparison is inevitable, and rather interesting, but in the end it is Chow Yun Fat's star presence that carries the film as Foster (as usual) lacks charisma.

• Leigh R

  
  It was okay.

• Dannielle A

  
  It is was okay, but I enjoyed "The King and I" much more so. Fox never should have advertised this movie as "a true story," when in fact it is mostly fiction with little fact. It follows Anna Leon Owens diaries well, but her diaries are sprinkled with fantasy.… More
  It is was okay, but I enjoyed "The King and I" much more so. Fox never should have advertised this movie as "a true story," when in fact it is mostly fiction with little fact. It follows Anna Leon Owens diaries well, but her diaries are sprinkled with fantasy. "Anna and the King" insulted the Thai people so much that it was banned from Thailand.

• Steven V

  
  This wonderful epic dramatisation of the love story that had everyone humming in The King & I. My favorite part oddly enough was when they kill that woman who becomes a monk and her lover.

• Deb S

  
  Yun-Fat Chow is truly imperious in his portrayal of the King seeking Western enlightenment yet torn between old customs and superstitions on one side and modern scientific knowledge on the other. Jodie Foster, sporting an English accent that she never feels utterly comfortable with,… More
  Yun-Fat Chow is truly imperious in his portrayal of the King seeking Western enlightenment yet torn between old customs and superstitions on one side and modern scientific knowledge on the other. Jodie Foster, sporting an English accent that she never feels utterly comfortable with, does an admirable job of the fiendishly difficult Anna, a British schoolteacher who is sent to the Kingdom of Siam to teach the King's children English. It is interesting to see that King Mongkut and Anna have much in common, both being stubborn and headstrong. This is precisely why they develop a quiet respect and attraction towards each other as the story unfolds itself, individuals from two different worlds caught up a love that can never be. The cinematography is superb, with great detail in the scenery (especially the palace) and the period costumes. <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2lwls2w" target="_blank"><img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/2lwls2w.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2ic06rt" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/2ic06rt.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=15ga0x5" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/15ga0x5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=kd4rhl" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/kd4rhl.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2drxk43" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/2drxk43.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

• Naughtia N

  
  A great story about a widow who moves to Siam with her son to work as a teacher for the king's children. She brings a whole new culture to the Siamese people and she isn't afraid of telling them her opinion on various things. Fantastic acting skills by Chow Yun-Fat &… More
  A great story about a widow who moves to Siam with her son to work as a teacher for the king's children. She brings a whole new culture to the Siamese people and she isn't afraid of telling them her opinion on various things. Fantastic acting skills by Chow Yun-Fat & Jodie Foster.

• Yinalí R

  
  Cool.

• Marion R

  
  It was okay, but I prefer the musical version

• Sunil J

  
  Don't know exactly why it's entertaining but it is. Jodie Foster is quite charming.

• Sarah B

  
  I found this strangely moving. I don't usually like Jodie Foster as she's too cold, but here it works. Chow Yun Fat is no replacement for Yul Brynner, but I'm glad of the lack of songs. Watch out for her son as he goes on to play Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter, he's… More
  I found this strangely moving. I don't usually like Jodie Foster as she's too cold, but here it works. Chow Yun Fat is no replacement for Yul Brynner, but I'm glad of the lack of songs. Watch out for her son as he goes on to play Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter, he's absolutely brilliant in this film.

• Ira Z

  
  Visually, this movie was a treat to the eyes. The script was very good as well. But it was the awesome performances and chemistry between Jodi Foster and Chow Yun Fat that truly garnered this film it's success.

Read all 18 featured audience ratings