Anna and the King

views updated

Anna and the King ★★½ 1999 (PG-13)

Based on the story of English widow and schoolteacher Anna Leonowens (Foster) who, in 1862, is hired by the King Mongkut of Siam (Yun-Fat) to introduce his 58 children to the ideas of the West. The film looks stunning (it was filmed in Malaysia) and Yun-Fat is regal and charismatic but Foster is too stiff upper-lipped and remote and there's respect rather than any hint of romance. Previously filmed as 1946's “Anna and the King of Siam” and the 1956 musical “The King and I.” 147m/C VHS, DVD . Jodie Foster, Chow Yun-Fat, Bai Ling, Tom Felton, Syed Alwi; D: Andy Tennant; W: Steve Meerson, Peter Krikes; C: Caleb Deschanel; M: George Fenton.