Valentin-7

After seeing the film, I walked out of the movie theatre with my eyes all red and still tears on my face. I don't remember how many times my eyes went wet and dry, wet and dry, andt wet again throughout the film.

Having seen all the other versions of the same story, I must say this is the most honest and truthful one. Everything was so beautifully put together. It honestly displays the kind of crude beauty of Asia, the culture, the landscape, the people, even the custom that is often difficult to understand. The performance of all actors involved are superb, intensed but well-balanced. I saw the King of Siam with his most appropriate dignity, the way I always vision a king should behave. Everything in this film were precisely the way they should be: the music, the set, and the story line. For me, I think that's the ultimate Art a film can achieve: the Precision. There is this understated, unspeakable emotions between Anna and the King. I think that's the most extraordinary thing about this film. The sense of modesty in their relationships. And the ending was just perfect. No need to say more, just feel.

However, I'm not surprised that the film is not well-received by the film critics, or audience here in America. Being an Asian, I can understand the beauty it stated and understated in the film naturally. Of course it's totally different from any other versions, even the one non-musical version done by Rex Harrison all those years ago. Because we are looking at the real things here, the real interaction between Asians and Westerners, not just from the Western point of views. And it is certainly not another empty spectacular saga. It is a love story, and more than that, this is not just the crush, it's the real thing. Not many people can take that beauty.

I've seen this movie at least a dozen times, and never once, never, didn't I cry at the end! I'm glad this is my first impression of sci-fi movie (besides ET, when I saw it at 6, which I don't quite remember what was really going on until I become a grown-up) since I first saw it at the age 18. It forever influenced my view of sci-fi movies. Whenever I go to see sci-fi films, I always pay attention to the styles, the messages contained within, the connection between the imaginative world and the real life. For me, that is what sci-fi movies really about, not some fancy special effects.

The other day I was surprised to find out we have copies for sale in America, I order a copy at once. But I was also shocked to find that this wonderful film, probably the best Hong Kong movie I'd ever seen, was not received well here in America. Almost all the people who praise the film are Asian. I don't think this has something to do with culture gap, because this is a very unusual Hong Kong films, it didn't contain anything specific about the Asian culture. And that's the point. It is not anything you expect to see in a Hong Kong, or any other Asia films you can find here in the United States. It didn't have fancy martial art, no strange custom (which I strongly disagree with. They always portray Asia as bunch of strange, mysterious, sick places. Because that kind of films can easily won the prize in European film festivals). This is simply a film about humanity. At the same time, it was so beautifully done. Very stylish, with the music that was so heartbreakingly beautiful. But do see this film in its original language with subtitle. NO FOREIGN FILM SHOULD BE WATCHED IN ENGLISH DUBBED VERSION! IT IS ALWAYS THE BIG DISASTER!!! Do take a moment to think about what you see and enjoy that beautiful ending.

I finally see one real movie this summer. I mean, a real movie, a production of Cinematic Art, not some box-office addict.

One thing I love the most about this film is that it did not rely too heavily on music, as most of the movies about music did. This one is simply the storytelling, a story about the divine instrument and the passion, time, love, hate, and people. It's always amazed me the most not the Art itself, but the stories behind. I must confess, after finishing the movie, I walked out of the theatre with the great sense of regret of my giving up playing piano all those years ago. I hate the music then, because I couldn't understand why I should routinely spend one hour a day to play the piano and listened to the teacher scream at me. Later I heard about some professional piano players practice 7,8,9 hours a day and found it unbelievable. I understand now. It's that perfection and passion we should be looking for. And passion, above all, I believe is the essential element present in any form of Art. And that's what this movie is.