DB Reviews- The King and I

Poster from fanart.tv

My next review is of a classic movie that's celebrating it's 60th anniversary this year! It's Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I! This movie featured Yul Brynner reprising his role as the King from the original Broadway production, itself being based off of the book Anna and the King of Siam by Margret Landon.

This movie is a classic and I can see why! The film had a great story, fantastic, high beat songs and the acting was incredible! I even loved the scenery! This film was a masterpiece and I don't say that to most films!

Yul Brynner brought his experience as the King to the big screen in a big way! His voice was loud, commanding and strong, a few things which are necessary for this type of character. His singing voice was good too! This role was made for him! I think the folks who made this film definitely made a good choice when they casted him for this role! Even if I see another version of this movie, I don't think anyone could beat Mr. Brynner in this! He earned the Best Actor Oscar in this picture!

Deborah Kerr did a good job in the role of Anna in this film. She did a good job bringing the style of the English woman to this film. She was a good dancer too! She also did a good job standing firm when she needed to.  Marni Nixon did a good job too providing Anna's singing voice.

Speaking of the music, all the songs were performed very well! I especially liked Getting to Know You. That song because a staple in the musical in my eyes (and in my ears too). The choreography was good. I liked the dance that Anna and The King had towards the end of the film because it was a simple dance, very easy to dance. It also became one of motion pictures most famous dances!

The story itself was good and simple. King hires Anna to teach the kids English, which sets off a great Siam experience. This story was very well written.

The story featured a Siamese version of Uncle Tom's Cabin, another classic book. This book was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Rita Moreno, who was later cast in the classic West Side Story, provided the narration as her character Tuptip. I thought Tuptip was good. I can see that this character was in love with the person who brought her to the palace.

Uncle Tom's Cabin, the Siamise version, was good, but a little stereotypical. The costumes were good. They reflected the Asian style costumes of the era, with the white faces and headware. I thought "Evil" Simon's mask was scary! If the filmmakers plan was make a scary mask for Simon, then I say job well done!

The scenery was definitely Siam like! Whoever built the sets did a fantastic job! Even the boat where Anna and her son came to Siam on looked real!

The costumes in the entire movie were good. They reflected the customs of England and Siam very well. I could definitely tell the difference between the styles of Siam and England.

I could also see why the film was banned in Thailand (which Siam became). There were some mistakes made about the history of the world. But, I do feel that the filmmakers did get a few facts right. One of which is Buddhism. I believe the people of Thailand do believe in Buddha. That's why Buddha was used in the Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet instead of God. It fits the Thai culture better, or at least the culture of Siam in the movie.

Overall, I thought this film was AWESOME! This musical cracks my Top 2 favorites, just behind the Phantom of the Opera! I even thought this film was better then The Lion King! I wonder if any scenes from this film helped the making of the Lion King? I don't know.

One thing I do know is this: I call this film A MASTERPIECE!

DB Reviews- Florence Foster Jenkins

Image from finalfilm.co.uk. 

Hello once again! Today, I give you my review of the new film Florence Foster Jenkins, starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. 

This film is about how the singer Florence Foster Jenkins rose to stardom despite her awful singing! 

This film may have awful singing, but I do think the actual Madame Jenkins would approve of Ms. Streep's portrayal of her. I thought Ms. Streep did an OK job singing badly (which she did NOT use her real singing voice). Her character never gave up on her dream to sing and that's something I like in a main character in any movie. I thought Ms. Streep did an OK job portray her characters willingness to never give up on that said dream! 

Hugh Grant looks like James Bond in his costume! He did a good job with his monologues (even thought I don't have the slightest clue which plays were some of his monologues are from). I thought his acting when his character was under pressure to keep the New York Post out of Ms. Jenkins hands was OK. He did a good job playing a timid character, which is a completely different role then the one he has on Big Bang. It's good to see something different out of actors once in a while. 

If you're a Big Bang Theory fan, then you'll probably recognize Simon Helberg, who played the pianist in this film. Boy, can he play! I think the producers of Big Bang should watch this film and consider a scene where Howard Wolowitz (Helberg's character on Big Bang) can play the piano. He was great! Perhaps you can sense a bit of Wolowitz in Helberg's Jenkins character? 

Another great thing about this film is the set design. I've always been a fan of nostalgia and this film didn't disappoint! The sets were brilliantly designed to look like New York City from the early 40s! Whoever supervised the set design should be nominated for an Oscar!  The buildings were great, the streets looked great, even the rooms inside the sets were great! 

The music selection was good too, though I have no idea what any of the song's names were. 

My review: AWFULLY ENTERTAINING! 

I gave this film 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. The only thing for me is they didn't need to do any scenes with anyone in the bed with their clothes off. That's a private thing!