If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Great Film overall

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Not only for exotic atmosphere . or for forbidden love story. but for the questions about the presence of Anna Leonowens. and for the status of tool for noble message , without be always convincing. but touching. a teacher woman in Siam. and a beautiful performance of Jodie Foster. the chemistry between the lead actors, the accuracy of story are only insignificant details. because the most important remains the emotion to the landscapes, dramas, the crumbs of humor and the romanticism. and, sure, the result of clash between two different civilizations.

As people that born and lived in Southeast Asia, the depiction of modernization in Thailand is educating, while at the same time this movie is really entertaining. This movie is very important for student to learn geopolitical and culture development. I understand that this movie is banned in Thailand, which from my point of view I somewhat agree that as government is very difficult not to banned this movie.

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.

The King and I was a great adaptation of the true story based on the lead female character's diaries, and then there's more realistic version from director Andy Tennant (Hitch). Basically, set in the 1890's, English school teacher Anna Leonowens (Jodie Foster), with her son Louis (Harry Potter's Tom Felton), is summoned to the palace of Siam by King Mongkut (Crouching Tiger's Chow Yun-Fat) to teach his fifty-eight children. It takes quite a while for Anna and the King to get to used to each other, but she wins over the royal children, especially Princess Fa-Ying (Melissa Campbell), very easily. Throughout the story, Anna tries to help the King get the respect of the English, but instead a war is started, she tries to avoid a forbidden romance being found out, and she cannot be near him when he has someone executed. Obviously their hate is not all the way through, it is obvious they grow stronger feelings for each other, though you never see anything happen, you get the idea. Also starring Ling Bai as Tuptim, Syed Alwi as The Kralahome - Prime Minister, Randall Duk Kim as General Alak, Kay Siu Lim as Prince Chowfa, King Mongkut's Brother, Keith Chin as Prince Chulalongkorn, Mano Maniam as Leonowens' Indian Servant Moonshee and Geoffrey Palmer as Lord John Bradley. Foster sports an impeccable English accent, Yun-Fat is alright at being mostly sweet-natured with a little majestic attitude, if the film wasn't so long and political it might be a little better, so I much prefer and recommend The King and I. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Costume Design, and it was nominated the Golden Globes for Best Original Score for George Fenton and Best Original Song for "How Can I Not Love You". Okay!