Hello fellow Ciaoers! I've been away for a while now but I'm back and ready to write!

My next review is on one of my favourite films: Anna and the King. I have always loved this film and there have been many makes and re-makes of this film but this latest crack at it, is by far my favourite!

As always I shall include a couple of quotes for your amusment from the critics!!

"A richly satisfying mix of history, drama and romance."
Susan Stark, DETROIT NEWS

"Holds its own against the beloved 1956 musical The King and I."
Steve Murray, ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

"Even folks familiar with the original accounts will find much to enjoy in the new one."
Lawrence Toppman, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

I personally would agree with every last quote here!

Well that's done, now on to the boring gritty bits!

***TECHIE STUFF***

This film has a running time of approximately 2 hours and 27 minutes. To me it went by in a flash!

It has a 12 certificate. Parents should expect a little violence in this film particularly in 2 scenes as there is an excecution.

This film comes under the drama/romantic film genre.

I have the VHS edition of this video and it cost me £5.99 from Amazon.co.uk. It can be bought from places like Woolworths, WHSmiths and HMV for around the same price, perhaps a little more expensive.

This film was made by 20th Century Fox

***ACTORS AND ACTRESSES***

Jodie Foster - Panic Room, The Dangerous Lives Of Altar Boys.

Chow Yun-Fat - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Bullet Proof Monk

Ling Bai - Wild Wild West, She Hate Me

Tom Felton - Harry Potter and the Philiosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Syed Alwi - Other than this film I don't know what this man has been in.

Randall Duk Kim - Enter the Matrix, The Thin Red Line

Kay Siu Lim - Rogue Trader, Avatar

Melissa Campbell - This little girl has not been in any other films

Keith Chin - This little boy has not been in any other films.

***CHARACTERS***

Anna Leonowens:
Played by actress Jodie Foster. The ways of England are the ways of the world....a wise man knows that. Anna is the schoolteacher who upholds many morals and values both for herself and for her son Louis. A teacher, a widow after her husband died, a foreigner and a father and a mother to her son, you wonder if Anna has time to be herself. Anna is no fool, and no pushover. When tradition and honour are at stake, Anna's opinions and views can sometimes get her into trouble but she is every bit as equal to our next character

King Mongkut:
Played by actor Chow Yun-Fat. Father to all of Siam and has been described as Lord of Life. A loving father to all 68 of his children! It's important for Mongkut not to lose face in the eyes of his people and also to keep the traditions of Siam alive. His hardened heart must now open to Anna and her way of doing things. Being told that he is wrong by Anna is just not the way things are done. Mongkut has devoted his life to the monastery and to learning and without Anna, he will learn nothing of the outside world and the way it works. Mongkut doesn't always keep his King mask on as you can see how much he cares for his family.

Tuptim (as Bai Ling):
Played by actress Ling Bai. The daughter of a propserous tea merchant and nobleman, Tuptim is offered as a 'gift' to Mongkut. Tuptim went to the palace against her will after leaving the man she so deperately loves. She learns English with Anna and Anna becomes her greatest friend.

Louis Leonowens:
Played by actor Tom Felton. Anna's son Louis misses his father terribly but loves his mother and follows her everywhere. Full of questions for a small boy, Siam opens his eyes to another way of life and realises that things are not as simple as they seem.

The Kralahome, Prime Minister:
Played by actor Syed Alwi. The Prime Minister is probably the most sarcastic one of the lot. A no-nonsense kind of man he is a very loyal servant of Siam and to Mongkut. Somewhat surpised by Anna and the way she addresses the King, he grows to accept her and the importance of her being in the King's life.

General Alak:
Played by actor Randall Duk Kim. The suspicious looking general. This guy gives off the impression that he is untrustworthy, but then again most generals look like that. A great believer in the future and in vision...in all it's form, Alak has a few secrets up his sleeve.

Prince Chowfa, King Mongkut's Brother:
Played by actor Kay Siu Lim. Prince Chowfa is the younger brother to Mongkut. Still he takes an active role in the running of Siam and his opinion is very much valued by his brother. Chowfa has good instincts...maybe...too good.

Princess Fa-Ying:
Played by actress Melissa Campbell. Mongkut's little girl. Mongkut teaches his daughter to speak English and Fa-Ying seems to be his favourite daughter. A sweet little girl, she forms a unique bond with Anna and loves the idea of Anna and her father together.

Prince Chulalongkorn:
Played by actor Keith Chin. The next heir to the throne of Siam. The oldest son, Chulalongkorn has many questions and is some what resistant to the idea that a woman, let alone Anna could be his teacher. Chulalongkorn has been brought up to think in much the same way that his father thinks which could be viewed by Anna as not such a great step forward. Chulalongkorn learns from Anna that maybe they way Siam does things should be changed for the greater good of all.

***PLOT***

It's the 1860's and the King of Siam, King Mongkut has sent for Anna Leonowens to teach his eldest son english and the ways of the world.

When Anna and her son arrive in Siam, they are surprised at how different Siam looks. When coming off the ship, they are taken to the palace to meet the Prime Minister. Anna is told that she will be staying inside the palace. Anna however does not agree. In her letter confirming her employment, she and her son were to have a home outside of the palace walls.

So after 3 weeks of trying to see the King to get the matter sorted and living in the Palace, Anna is finally told she gets to see the King. Just when she goes to talk to him, she is told by the Prime Minister that it will have to wait another day. That for Anna is the last straw and she speaks to the King anyway.

Thinking that Anna is only in Siam to teach the King's eldest son, the King requests that Anna teach all of his children, all 58 of them with about 10 more on the way. A little reluctant, Anna agrees and the teaching begins. Soon after teaching begins Anna is herself taught that in Siam everything has it's own time...even her house.

In the meantime however there is trouble in Siam. A group of terrorists have been attacking and killing merchants, women and children in Siam. King Mongkut and his advisors believe them to be of Burmese origin, which in this period was under Britsh rule. However, no one knows who is behind the killings and struggle to find evidence.

Anna soon comes across a number of problems that test the limits of her temper and patience as well as her values and what she believes in. When the daughter of a prosperous tea merchant gives herself to Mongkut, she finds that she left the man she loves and decides that she cannot live without him. After she hides in the monastery to be with her love, Mongkut finds out and has her excecuted. Anna is appalled that the King would execute this girl, simply for loving someone else.

Meanwhile, the terrorist attacks continue and it becomes apparant that the attacks are on merchants who refuse to trade with British merchants.

King Mongkut and his advisors soon learn that there is a traitor within the palace walls, someone who wishes to end Mongkut's rule and kill all of his family, not to mention anyone that supports him.

Anna and Mongkut form a bond, with his desire to protect the people he loves. Anna shares this desire as well as she has grown to love the children she teaches so very much. Anna and Mongkut must now come together in order to save everything that Siam stands for. If they don't then Mongkut and his family will fall.

***QUOTES***

Here are a couple of quotes to show the effect that Anna has on the King and Siam in general.

ANNA: "You have the power to lead your people....."
MONGKUT: "Now is not the time to change the way that things are done!!!!"
ANNA: "Well if not now then when? How many more people must die so that you might safe face!?!?"

PRIME MINISTER: "Your majesty...I believe there has been enought insult caused by this woman, who believes herself to be, the equal of a man."
MONGKUT: "Not the equal of a man Chow-Pi.....the equal of a King."

MONGKUT: "Husband must have been very understanding."
ANNA: "My husband, Your Majesty, was never threatened by my ideas or my opinions."

PRIME MINISTER: "Then how will you will greet him?
ANNA: "With the upmost respect."

***MY PERSONAL OPINION***

I loved this film. It's one of my favourites because it has an interesting mix of fact and fantasy in it. There are some fictional elements in the film, but much of it has been taken from what really happened. To me it's interesting to compare it to real life.

The actors and actresses who were chosen for this film have the upmost respect from me. The fill the shoes of their characters extremely well.

This film bring in perhaps too many issues to light. There is a main story but there a lot of gritty sub plots which make the film seem broken and divided. As a result, this is a lengthy film when perhaps it does not need to be. The gritty parts of this film do seem to show up the bond between the King and Anna and the romance that sparks between them.

In my opinion I don't think that a 12 is suitable for this film. It should really be a 15 certificate. There is an execution scene not to mention a number of action and violent scenes that will disturb children. I don't think that this is a film that children will understand even if they are old enough to watch it. All of the issues and values that come into this film take a bit of understanding and knowledge to look at them.

As this is the altest adaptation of this story, the special effects have stepped up a notch as have the costumes and sets. Bright colours and detailed patterns worn by people in Siam is nothing short of stunning. When the film was made the palace set was one of the largest sets built for a film!

I am also a music buff and the musical score for this film was excellent. The music set the scene for Siam and for those more emotional moments which is exactly what a good soundtrack shoud do!

Overall I think that in places, it's a very heart-wrenching film and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoy films with a cultural aspect to them.

As always the decision is yours.

Happy trails kids!

Leila :)XX

p.s. it's great to be back! Yippee!!!