Matt James Leaving aside the question of historical accuracy, whatever that may be. First-rate cinematography and soundtrack with sumptuous sets and costumes.Outstanding acting from all the players.Jodie Foster is stunning to behold and delectably demure behind her breathy, somewhat clipped, English accent. In probably her best performance after Nell she brought a vulnerability to the character that was at times charming and at times heart-breaking to see.Chow Yun-Fat was splendid in his role and, as Crouching Tiger subsequently showed, a consistently solid actor. Everyone involved with this film did a superb job.An utterly charming, deeply moving and beautiful film.

Neil Welch It is interesting to be faced with a fundamentally different reworking of something which is so familiar that it has practically worn grooves in your brain. The much loved (especially by me) musical The King And I is a filmed adaptation of the stage musical based on the diaries of Anna Leonowens, tutor to the children of the 19th century King Mongkut of Siam, and charged with helping the Royal family of Siam move towards an understanding of, and accommodation with, the western world. Anna And The King, with Jodie Foster as Anna Leonowens and Chow Yun-Fat as King Mongkut tells the same story in straight dramatic fashion.It is a good film. The culture clash story is just as engaging as it was before. The story gets out and about rather more than the studio-bound musical, with production value well on display in terms of gorgeous scenery. Both Foster and Chow give excellent performances (Chow particularly so) and one gets a much better picture of the importance of the issues involved.This is a rewarding companion piece to The King And I.

lemondgrass first of all as I was born and raise in Thailand. this movie is extremely disturbing and inaccurate in every mannor. the thai language had been spoken in this movie by the Chinese actors and actresses almost incorrect and can't be understand and the 2nd, Lady Tabtim according to the thai history stated to be very attractive woman of that time because she has south Asian (Indian descent) large eyes and curl hair - that is the ideal of beauty of thai people in old time which influenced by the Indian literatures -Beiling the Chinese actress as lady tabtim is a very poor choice and 3 rd, there is no thai princess names fa ying - this word means princess.

Peter-John Johnson I remember seeing Anna And The King on its Australian release in 1999 and thinking what a wonderful, sumptuous, if at times tragic romantic drama it all was. SPOILER ALERT Certain images remain in the mind long after the film is viewed such as the bathing scene where we see much of Ms Fosters legs or the execution of Tuptim or the bridge being detonated.The performances of Main and Supporting cast are superb; Jodie Foster and Chow Yun Fat work well together.SPOILER ALERT The dialog allows for some ironic political correctness about the nature of imperialism which mark this as a liberal and not conservative film in the Raj tradition of the Rank films.On release the 2.30min length passed quickly enough but now in the light of even most period costume drama such as Sofia Coppala's Marie Antionette or the British Film The Duchess, Andy Tennants pacing seems slow and not as wonderfully paced as his delightful Drew Barrymore period Comedy Ever After. On release I would have given this a nine. Now as it has dated a little I feel it merits only 7 out of 10.