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.

Anna and the King (1999): Dir: Andy Tennant / Cast: Jodie Foster, Chow Yun-Fat, Bai Ling, Tom Felton, Randall Duk Kim: Rehash of The King and I right down to its tiresome relationship. Someone must have gotten bored and suggested, "Let us make the umpteenth version of The King and I, only give it a different title in an attempt to fool people into thinking that we came up with someone original!" Jodie Foster plays a school teacher named Anna who is assigned to teach the King's children. Chow Yun-Fat plays the King in a departure from his action roles. Structure is so boring that cable channels should replace it with beer commercials before the forgiving climax where Anna tells the King to remove the stick from his ass. Director Andy Tennant does his best. He previously made Ever After: A Cinderella Story as well as the dreary It Takes Two, which in itself is a rehash of The Parent Trap. Foster is one of the most dependable actresses in the business but she is playing a role so xeroxed that all she can do is recite what has been done before. Yun-Fat is known as an action star but here he plays his most boring role. Supporting actors play host to a bunch of stereotypes. Also with Bai Ling and Tom Felton who also get to weigh in on every other stereotype presented here. Excellent art direction within a film that changes nothing but its title. Score: 2 / 10

first of all as I was born and raise in Thailand. this movie is extremely disturbing and inaccurate in every mannor. the thai language had been spoken in this movie by the Chinese actors and actresses almost incorrect and can't be understand and the 2nd, Lady Tabtim according to the thai history stated to be very attractive woman of that time because she has south Asian (Indian descent) large eyes and curl hair - that is the ideal of beauty of thai people in old time which influenced by the Indian literatures -Beiling the Chinese actress as lady tabtim is a very poor choice and 3 rd, there is no thai princess names fa ying - this word means princess.

Being Thai myself, I admit that the issue about Kings of Thailand are quite sensitive. But I say the movie itself is not bad in terms of the production and story telling. One thing about the production that bothers me is the bad-accent Thai. I understand that they needed the casts who spoke fluent English and they mustn't have gotten much cooperation from Thailand with the casting, so they put up with the Chinese casts who are Thai look-alikes with the weirdest Thai accent. I respect their effort but I can't understand what they say without subtitles. The script writer tried so hard to put as much respect for Thai culture as possible into the movie, which I appreciate that. But since they work on the book written by a very self-absorbed woman, it didn't help much on the unconvincing story elements though. The original material is very distorted and too fictionalized to be called a biography. According to many Thai and foreign historians, Anna just observed and then integrated herself into the important events occurred during her time in Thailand. For example, a Thai king in ancient times would never, ever, allow an English teacher on the same royal boat, no matter how he likes her. This is only the start. She even made stuff up about geographical facts.Anna was most likely lying about the king mentioning her in his will and that she didn't accept the legacy. Because, in 'fact', if a Thai king liked anyone so much, he would just award the official title and some money or properties to that person. And that's it, not the royal legacy.Best of all, the real King Mongkut did mention Anna in a written document,shortly, as 'a teacher who is quite nosy', not an inspiring friend who had led Siam into a new era like she imagined herself to be, or she would've been in Thai history along with other important women or foreigners. I bet the real Anna wasn't even as brave or outspoken as in the book. Because with our 'uncivilized' way, she'll be right back on the ship the minute she was so rudely barged into the palace hall. In conclusion: As a movie, the friendly teacher-and-student relationship, with a little touch of romance, between Anna and The King is portrayed quite beautifully. The film shows the respect for cultural differences and even the most brutal part of the movie (the execution) isn't come off so savage. The movie is pretty good in its own right.But as for Anna's story, I say her book isn't any more true than Forrest Gump or The Last Samurai. Only that Forrest Gump didn't flat out lie about being a true story. I bet she fantasized herself and The King as John Smith and Pocahontas.This movie was banned from being shown in Thailand. Though I do not agree with the over-protective policy of the Thai government, I do not think that it's right to honor the lying btch as a heroine who saved my country either. So, if you want to watch it, just don't take it seriously, at all.PS. Chow Yun Fat did an admirable job speaking Thai. His pronunciation is quite good.