Product Description

Academy Award winner Jodie Foster and international action star Chow Yun-Fat bring to life the epic true story of a woman who challenged the heart of a king and inspired the destiny of a nation. English school teacher Anna Leonowens has traveled to Siam to educate the fifty-eight children of King Mongkut. If she has preconceived notions about the East, the King has similar notions about the West. But amid the danger of growing political unrest, their respect for each other slowly turns into something more.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9580 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-02-04
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French, Thai
• Running time: 148 minutes

Amazon.com
What's a director to do? Andy Tennant's previous film was the highly enjoyable Cinderella romance Ever After, which vanished from theaters and became a video hit. Then Tennant made this gorgeous, nonmusical version of Anna and the King, and once again felt the sting of box-office failure. Both films deserved better, and this Anna is certain to eventually find the appreciative audience that eluded it in theaters. In many ways, this delightful costume romance transcends the latter-day quaintness of The King and I to offer a more lavish and rewarding version of the story of Anna Leonowens, based on her diaries and first told in Margaret Landon's 1944 novel.

In an otherwise admirable performance (although many felt her miscast), Jodie Foster struggles with her Victorian accent as Anna, the grieving widow who arrives in Siam in 1860 with her young son. Having accepted a post as tutor for the many children of the polygamous King Mongkut (Chow Yun-Fat), Anna finds herself drawn to the progressive monarch, whose passions swirl in a turbulent political climate. If the chemistry isn't entirely there, this culture clash still has plenty of regal charm, and Luciana Arrighi's production design is appropriately magnificent. Humor and politics are given equal measure, and Chow Yun-Fat is arguably the most endearing king to date--powerful yet tender, forceful but anguished by the heavier burdens of leadership. Bai Ling's intense performance as the tragic lover Tuptim adds emotional depth to one of the most underrated films of 1999. --Jeff Shannon

From The New Yorker
To remake "The King and I" without the music is a risky enterprise, like leaving the bosoms out of a Russ Meyer flick. But Andy Tennant has stuck gamely to a tough job and made a moody, respectable epic that would have been even better if he had shortened it by three-quarters of an hour. Jodie Foster, doing her scary-intelligence number, plays the widowed Anna; Chow-Yun Fat, forsaking the firepower of his action movies for a killer smile, plays King Mongkut, who doesn't want some smart-ass Westerner telling him how to run the country or why he shouldn't remove the heads of those delinquent citizens who fall in love. In fact, the moral and political issues feel cloudy and unresolved; what stays with you is the elegant comedy of a romance that never quite comes to pass. -Anthony Lane
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

From Parents' Choice®
This is not your mother's The King and I. In fact, you can forget about any Rogers and Hammerstein tunes since this is a straight up drama based on Margaret Landon's true-life story of a British governess in 19th century Thailand. Although commercially unsuccessful, and certainly not representative of Jodie Foster's best work, this update of the classic love story works on some levels as an entertaining drama for the 12 and older crowd. Foster makes a strong female role model as Anna, a woman who overcomes her prejudices and fears when she accepts a challenging job in an exotic land. Chow Yun Fat is King Mongkut, who slowly warms up to his newest employee. Any turbulence or violence in the film is mainly implied, although the movie depicts a time and place where concubines and beheadings were part of the culture. Still, director Andy Tennant's fabulous landscapes make for a beautiful geography lesson and the story reinforces the belief that even very different personalities can learn to get along.

Reviewed by Laura Fries, Parents' Choice® 2000

Customer Reviews

An Extraordinary Experience
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.

Extra Features
(....) 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!

Grand Style Entertainment
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.