ANNA AND THE KING

1999

As with the ghosts in "A Christmas Carol," this film has ghosts hovering over it....the ghosts of versions past of the classic "Anna and the King of Siam" story. The reasons that classics are redone is usually because the new creative team has a fresh point of view, or something to add to the original. Instead of adding, this version subtracts from the other versions. It subtracts a charismatic King(as played in the past by Rex Harrison, Yul Brynner, and Lou Diamond Philips)and more importantly, it subtracts the beautiful Rodgers and Hammerstein music...music that has become such an important part of every major scene in the story. In its' place it adds unnecessary sub-plots involving boring political intrigues, violence, some battle scenes, and the blowing up of a bridge! It's not a fair trade.

2 Stars

NJB