 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The King and I (1999)
- Review Date: January 10, 2005
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1999
Common Sense Media says
OK for kids, but a waste of time; classic is best.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this version can't hold a candle to the original 1956 movie or the Rogers and Hammerstein play. It's perfectly age-appropriate for kids, but the animation isn't great, and it strays from the original storyline.
What's the story?
In this animated version of THE KING AND I, Anna Leonowens and her son Louis leave their home in London for Siam, where Anna becomes governess to the King's many children. As in the stage play and the classic musical, the King and Anna don't see eye-to-eye at first, but the King begins to respect her worldly advice and listens to her when she tells him to throw a party for British officials instead of waging war on them. But Siam's dastardly prime minister, Kralahome, sets out to become ruler by ruining the King's reputation in front of the British bigwigs.
Is it any good?
Don't waste your time on this animated version -- rent the classic version with Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr instead. Some of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein songs remain, but second-rate animation and massive plot changes (mostly of the dumbing-down variety) remove most of the value.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how this take on the story compares to the classic 1956 movie with Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner. Families can also talk about the history of Siam, which is now Thailand.
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AGE
An Insult to both Thailand and to the makers of the Sound Of Music
THIS stupid movie is a grave insult not just to Both rodger and hammerstein, but to Thailand too!!! I like Thailand and THis movie doesn't praise it, It insults it. Get Mulan instead, It's better and It praises China. Skip It
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AGE
Feels more like 2 half-films than a full film
I don't think this movie could decide what its target audience was. The forbidden love story will come across as boring for kids while the evil sorcerer thing will be too childish for adults. Had the two plots integrated together like in Aladdin, it could have worked, but it didn't. Also, the comedy relief is really annoying, not funny in the slightest!
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AGE
Waste
They took a really good book and some prior really good movies and killed them completely. This movie is a mistake.
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| Topics: | friendship, music and sing-along |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Richard Rich |
| Cast: | Christiane Noll, Martin Vidnovic, Miranda Richardson |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 87 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 19, 1999 |
| DVD release date: | July 6, 1999 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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