Anna and The King

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Entertainment: +3 1/2

Content: +3

This very lavish, beautiful remake of the story of Englishwoman Anna Leonowens is based on a true story, but also has fictionalized elements. It follows two films based on the same story released in 1946 and 1956. It's a very engrossing romantic drama, but lacks the music of the very popular THE KING AND I released in 1956. It begins in 1862 when widowed Anna (Jodie Foster) arrives in Bangkok with her young son to tutor the many children of the King of Siam (Chow Yun-Fat). Anna soon upsets the king with her bold, independent attitude and defiance of some of his directives. But the king comes to respect and admire her, and they become attracted to each other. The king's children also come to love her. All the while, the king struggles to sustain his empire against attacks by Burmese death squads and a plot by his own general to overthrow him. This leads to some very intriguing drama, action and battles. But most of all, ANNA AND THE KING is a visually spectacular, moving film about a king and an English school teacher who fall in love. Audiences will also fall in love with this poignant movie.

Although rated PG-13, the film is refreshingly free of any foul language, sexual content, nudity or undesirable messages. In fact, the central themes of the film are understanding and respect for other cultures, family love and loyalty, and a king's willingness to sacrifice for his country. While the king practices Buddhism, Anna respects his religion, but does not compromise her Christian beliefs. The PG-13 rating comes from some rather severe hand-to-hand battles, a suspenseful beheading which isn't actually shown, beatings and views of some bloody murder and battle victims. But the violence is not excessive or exploitive and adds some legitimate realism and impact to the film. Though the king and Anna become romantically attracted to each other, they do not become involved in an affair. There is one moderately suggestive scene between the king and one of his new wives. The film is too intense for younger children, but it will be a fine, memorable experience for older teenagers and adults.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: None

Obscene Language: None

Profanity: None

Violence: Moderate and Severe (young boys hand fight, bloody murder and battle victims shown, brief graphic hand-to-hand battles with killings, man shot in head, men poisoned, man struck in face, woman beaten on back, man and woman beheaded but not shown, man killed when bridge blown up)

Sex: None

Nudity: None

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: Twice (Moderately suggestive scene between king and young wife, king makes mildly suggestive remark)

Drugs: None

Other: Cultural understanding, family love and sacrifice for country portrayed, woman's Christian principles not compromised in Buddhist country

Running Time: 140 (est)
Intended Audience: Older teens and adults

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