Anna Karenina (2012)Movie Reviews

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  • No
    Written November 25, 2012

    Ugh

    by fannn

    Really difficult to sit through. Plodding and wandering. Took awhile to figure out the supporting characters. Keira Knightly is lovely to look at but there is no chemistry or passion or anything to grab onto with her lover. The story is so convoluted that I was tempted to walk out after 30 min., but i stuck it out.

    • 7 out of 11 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written December 16, 2012

    Absolutely Breathtaking!

    by cmacooks

    My mother and I went to see this film.. What a wonderful experience to be able to see such a beautiful piece together. The scenery, the costumes, the staging; all were magnificent, to say the least. Keira Knightly is just gorgeous, and her portrayal of Anna was perfect. Jude Law was outstading as the controlling husband, cuckolded, then becoming vindictive. There was a bit of poetic licence with regard to the Count's role, but I don't think Tolstoy would have minded the slight tweak. Accurate, however, were the references to the class differences of the time. All in all, Anna Karenina was the type of film I adore; an escape from the every day.

    • 4 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written November 18, 2012

    Terrifically Romantic!

    by pedsarq

    Anna Karenina remains one of the great tragic stories of all time. This new retelling mixes elements of the stage with classic Hollywood moviemaking. Let me explain. There are many scenes that either start or end on a theater stage, as if to create a limited window into the action or drama that's unfolding. There are even scenes that are highly choreographed where all of the characters are doing routine movements in unison. It works well, for the most part, and elevates the artistry of the scenes. There were moments when I was tired of the gimmick and didn't care for it, but it was well established and added a certain flair that I appreciated overall. Aside from this, it's essentially faithful to the Tolstoy novel and that's not a bad thing at all. Keira Knightley is terrific!

    • 9 out of 15 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written November 25, 2012

    Not Your Czar's Anna

    by celluloidsweetie

    For those who have been weaned on more traditional cinematic treatments of the Tolstoy tale, this new version may startle, annoy, thrill or elicit a combination of all of these. Joe Wright has liberated the story from the confines of opulent interiors and set it in a theater, with much of the action being literally "played out" on a stage. Yet, opulent costumes and jewelry are fabulously in view, underscoring the grandeur that was imperial Russia. Keira Knightley as Anna delivers a glamorous and complex performance; Jude Law is the very model of the bespectacled, stodgy, dutiful and cuckolded Karenin, right down to his tight lips and receding hairline. With his sculpted facial features, arresting blue eyes and almost flippant confidence, Aaron Johnson is note-perfect as Anna's lover Count Vronsky. Visually beautiful, stylish and stylized (and brave enough to reveal more of the Levin character), "Anna" is a must-see. Long, but never dull.

    • 5 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written December 11, 2012

    Weird Format - Hard to Follow

    by libdev

    I did not care for the format of the movie as a performance within a performance. It made it confusing and I often could not tell whether it was really happening or just in the imagination of the characters. Kiera Knightly was outstanding as was Jude Law. The costumes were amazing! I liked it, but some parts were slow and I was a bit confused with the format.

    • 15 out of 27 found this review helpful.
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  • Oh No!
    Written December 3, 2012

    Anna Kareninna

    by lwmsmd58

    Really disappointing for Knightley fans. The juxtapostion of stage and film was distracting and made a compelling story seem like a bad dream. The period effects were wasted on the unreal, bizarre presentation. There was no real chemistry between Anna and Vronsky, either. I almost fell asleep during the afternoon matinee and found myself checking my watch as to when it would end.

    • 7 out of 11 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written November 17, 2012

    When bad casting of a leading role ruins a work of art

    by Russkaya

    It's a crying shame when what is basically a lovely movie, with some of the most gorgeous cinematography and art direction is years, is soured by a horribly-miscast leading role. I refer to Aaron Taylor-Johnson's effeminate and creepy Count Vronsky...looking like the blonde twin of the Colorado Mass Shooter. How on earth can we believe that this creep was the cause of Anna's downfall? The movie started beautifully with the opera-house concept then quickly took a nosedive the moment that Vronsky appears. Additionally, I did not care for some of the odd choreography and wavy hand movements by ballroom dancers in the background -- were they trying to dance the hula? Most distracting. But the worst thing was Taylor-Johnson as Count Vronsky. His looks and manner just 'kill' the story.

    • 8 out of 14 found this review helpful.
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  • Oh No!
    Written November 23, 2012

    Anna Karenina got Moulen-Rouged!

    by igorsat

    Kira Knightly is way over her head, unable to master any kind of emotional complexity. She is totally unbelievable and flat. Jude Law is left to carry the movie, and he does what he can, but can't save this mess. The most boring version of Anna Karenina ever, stay away. If you are in the mood for costume drama, go to see A Royal Affair instead.

    • 4 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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  • Oh No!
    Written December 26, 2012

    anna kare little

    by examatrix

    I've read this 700+ page Tolstoy monstrosity twice in my lifetime and can tell you that it's a 10 part miniseries, not a two hour movie for a reason. This film is a visually pleasing yet confusing mashup of multiple storylines that were unexplained to the viewer. The sheer inability to compress the story was further wrecked by some out-there aren't-i-so-clever staging making this hideous mess even kookier. What a bore. And I know the story.

    • 4 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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  • No
    Written November 29, 2012

    A DISAPPOINTING REMAKE OF LEO TOLSTOY'S EXCEPTIONAL NOVEL.

    by Peneflix

    Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) is an iconic, archival author; his books, required reading in higher education; "War and Peace"(1860's) a massive epic, still resides comfortably in the annuals of finest historical novels ever composed; his genius unquestioned, forever lionized...

    "Anna Karenina" (1875) written at a time when women where chattel; had no power or control over their destinies or the unexpected whims of their hearts; shackled in man-made conventions, rules, restrictions (as crippling as their corsets). "Anna" is woman felled by love and life: married at eighteen, unfamiliar with disruptive, all-consuming passion, marches precipitously towards her sealed fate. She is tragic, but in the twenty-first century, rather stale...

    TWO STARS!!

    ***For full review please visit peneflix(dot)com!!!

    • 8 out of 15 found this review helpful.
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  • I'm In
    Written November 26, 2012
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    Written December 31, 2012
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    Written October 22, 2012
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  • I'm In
    Written September 25, 2012
    by Bchlvr15

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  • I'm In
    Written November 10, 2012
    by ridnxc

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Anna Karenina (2012) Movie Reviews + Ratings

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beatccr One of the highlights of watching Anna Karenina last night was a very brief unspoken cameo by Samwell Tarly!!!

17 hours ago.

shestheweird Anna Karenina has the flawless story line ever. Each second was intense

20 hours ago.

korbykorby It's my birthday. I keep thinking that when Tolstoy was my age he had already finished War and Peace and was halfway through Anna Karenina

1 days ago.

SimplyScars Watched Anna Karenina. Loved it! Though I have to admit I haven't read the book :/

1 days ago.

carlieins aaaaand i watched anna karenina today

1 days ago.

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Cast Interviews Exclusive Cast Interview Keira Knightley talks about her "tricky" character, Jude Law on his passive-aggressive role and Joe Wright on filming the movie on a stage. More Films on Fandango's Award Watch A sneak peek at Hollywood's race to the Oscars!