fan-19
Joined Jul 1999
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Reviews3
fan-19's rating
I wouldn't have missed this new Kevin Spacey film, and he was fine in it. Too bad that the rest of the movie isn't fine. The script is unbelievable and it plays like a Disney movie. However, I think America will generally like this film since it pushes all the right buttons.
That score--I've heard it before (I LOVED it in AMERICAN BEAUTY, but folks, this movie is NOT AMERICAN BEAUTY). That kid--I've seen him before (how many more times do we have to see him play "sensitive undersized boy with quivering lip" before the kid grows up?)That mom--I've seen her before in everything Helen Hunt plays, just ratched up a notch.
Helen Hunt is one of those actresses I would like to like, but I don't.
Kevin Spacey is good, as always. He usually doesn't miss when picking a script, wonder why he missed on this one. Oh well, there will be other fine movies from him. This one is a big yawn.
That score--I've heard it before (I LOVED it in AMERICAN BEAUTY, but folks, this movie is NOT AMERICAN BEAUTY). That kid--I've seen him before (how many more times do we have to see him play "sensitive undersized boy with quivering lip" before the kid grows up?)That mom--I've seen her before in everything Helen Hunt plays, just ratched up a notch.
Helen Hunt is one of those actresses I would like to like, but I don't.
Kevin Spacey is good, as always. He usually doesn't miss when picking a script, wonder why he missed on this one. Oh well, there will be other fine movies from him. This one is a big yawn.
What a treat this film is for the eyes! Stunning architecture and decoration! Lovely costumes! Beautiful scenery! The Art direction will surely win an Academy Award!
Too bad the story doesn't equal the quality of its visual support. It is kitschy to propose that a young British schoolmarm could outsmart the military leaders of Thailand while leading the country's powerful monarch around by the nose. I didn't expect this movie to be historically accurate. Anna Leonowens' diaries showed a preposterous assumption of self-importance at the court of Siam. But, I did expect this mega-movie to be good theater. What a disappointment!
Anna and Mongkut's romance was neither interesting or plausible. This Anna, hell-bent on educating everyone around her to social justice issues rather than the western classics she was employed to teach, is an invention of Hollywood hacks. Anna's politically correct and unargueable views, were simply a cover for no progressive story line. It's hard to see how this powerful, thoughtful king would be interested in this busy-body.
Jody Foster was her usual cool self, often competent, not compelling. Chow Yun-Fat was excellent as far as his lines allowed. The Malaysian children who played Monkut's progeny were delightful, and his concubines superb. Again, all were lovely to look at.
The real stars here were the set designers. They should have been allowed to write the screen play. Bet they wouldn't have done any worse.
Too bad the story doesn't equal the quality of its visual support. It is kitschy to propose that a young British schoolmarm could outsmart the military leaders of Thailand while leading the country's powerful monarch around by the nose. I didn't expect this movie to be historically accurate. Anna Leonowens' diaries showed a preposterous assumption of self-importance at the court of Siam. But, I did expect this mega-movie to be good theater. What a disappointment!
Anna and Mongkut's romance was neither interesting or plausible. This Anna, hell-bent on educating everyone around her to social justice issues rather than the western classics she was employed to teach, is an invention of Hollywood hacks. Anna's politically correct and unargueable views, were simply a cover for no progressive story line. It's hard to see how this powerful, thoughtful king would be interested in this busy-body.
Jody Foster was her usual cool self, often competent, not compelling. Chow Yun-Fat was excellent as far as his lines allowed. The Malaysian children who played Monkut's progeny were delightful, and his concubines superb. Again, all were lovely to look at.
The real stars here were the set designers. They should have been allowed to write the screen play. Bet they wouldn't have done any worse.
This film was, for the most part, a big yawn. Kidman was great and believable, but Cruise wasn't convincing as a physician. The REAL star of this movie was London and it's surroundings--those UK locations dressed as New York City did an excellent job playing the Big Apple. The credits said location shootings were in Norfolk, but the credits also thanked City of Westminster, Kensington, and Chelsea areas. Great art direction!
And yes, as a previous poster mentioned, the music was a bit different. It enlivened an otherwise slow film.
And yes, as a previous poster mentioned, the music was a bit different. It enlivened an otherwise slow film.