Anna Karenina (2012)Movie Reviews

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    Written December 2, 2012

    Good, if there was hype, would not live up to it

    by Claire.m.northam

    Good movie. It was interesting to see Joe Wright's interpretation of the story. The way they did the party scenes was not what I expected, but AWESOME. At the beginning I thought, "I hope this isn't how the entire movie is," but I left feeling like I had just witnessed some creative genius. A little disappointed with the sex scene because I went in expecting something akin to Atonement's. If you're into costume and set design, it's definitely worth going just for that ? it was beautiful! My boyfriend and I loved it, but we think others probably will not feel the same way. Not necessarily a "must-see", but if you have the time and means I believe it's not to be counted as "missable".

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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    Written December 6, 2012

    Anna Karenina

    by MissBee3867

    Good movie. Different presentation for a classic. Costumes were wonderful and so were the scenes. Worth to see with your girlfriends. Guys might not appreciate it.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • No
    Written November 24, 2012

    A Beautiful Beast

    by

    I'm referring to the film, not to its Anna. Knightly's portrayal isn't worthy of such strong descriptive words. Admittedly, she wan't bad...until she opened her mouth. In truth, the film would've been much richer had it been a silent one. Wright never fails visually. There is no doubting that this adaptation is ambitious and imaginative, but, in the physical world, one's ambitions are nearly always unmet. I found myself cringing during dialogue. Tom Stoppard is an extraordinary writer, but neither him nor Wright were good conductors of Tolstoy's ideas. The script seemed unaware of the vision, and the vision of the words. I felt as if I was listening to a high school literature teacher, finger on the fast-forward button, struggle to hit all the major plot points of a book-on-tape. The dialogue only served to make the story feel rushed and the viewer spoon-fed. Setting it in a theatre was brilliant, but the too-literalness of this literary classic was not.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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    Written December 3, 2012

    Anna Karenina

    by ghyoung

    Beautiful, artsy, imaginative, and original, but just a bit slow. The tension of improper love vs. societal mores filled the movie, but was paced and interjected well. Costumes were great along with the sets. The scene dancing in the ballroom was amazing. Kids might be bored. It should be rated R considering the sexuality in the movie.

    • 7 out of 10 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written December 1, 2012

    GOOD movie, BAD projection

    by cinesurfer22

    This fine visual spectacle was RUINED by a mis-aligned projection lens on one projector at the Consolidated KAHALA 8 theaters, which is the only theater showing this movie. The whole left side of the screen was defocused every other reel. If you're looking to see this movie DON'T see it at this theater and if you do, complain to the manager and ask for your money back. Its really too bad, I enjoyed this movie except for the poor projection.

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

    Too Bad No One Read the Book

    by Jonathan A Weiss

    Tom Stoppard's script desecrates a great novel. The use of a stage, based on a one line reference, is absurd; the operetta music and clerk scenes. ridiculous, and the constant opening and shutting of doors, annoying. Anna is complex. Here an overwrough Miss Knightly plays here as a neurotic. Vronsky is reduced to his looks. Karenin is made almost noble in his rigidity. The photography6 is lugubrious. Shooting it in Russia did not help in 1997, it helped less now. A complete failure.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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    Written January 11, 2013

    Different than expected, but very enjoyable

    by aeroblonde

    Overall, I enjoyed the movie, although at times the stylization reminded me of Moulin Rouge (which is one movie I truly dislike), but the costumes and acting were so well-done that I was able to enjoy the film and the story. My friend was in tears at the end (I am not so emotional as she) and she thoroughly enjoyed it.

    I love the quote from the Countess in the early part of the film: "I'd rather say I wish I hadn't than I wish I had." (Which is ironic by the end of the story.)

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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    Written December 12, 2012

    See It Again For the First Time!

    by jaybels1

    If you think you've seen "Anna Karenina" before -- or read the book -- you'll be surprised
    at what you see in this version. It's a berautifully directed/acted piece, worth seeing if only
    for the spectacular production values, costumes and sets. A masterpiece of editing!
    Not a Kiera fan, but she's brilliant here, as is Jude Law and Aaron Johnson. Haven't spoken
    to anyone who didn't find something magnificent about the film!

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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    Written December 22, 2012

    A great adaptation -- but it helps to have read the book

    by rptimberwolf

    Let me begin by saying that I really liked the movie and found each scene bringing back memories of the text of what is rightfully considered one of the greatest novels in world literature, if not the greatest.

    I saw it with a friend who hadn't read the book and he was rather lost for the first 20 minutes or so since the adaptation (particularly staging it in a theatre) can be confusing. Having read the book, I "got the gimmick" immediately and relaxed into what is essentially a "greatest moments" condensation. Nothing wrong with that, given that the book is 900+ pages and full of minor characters and incidents and wonderfully philosophical passages.

    Having seen one of the screen or TV adaptations would probably suffice. The magic of this movie is that all the families, happy and unhappy, are brought to the fore, rather than just the tragic triangle of Anna, Karinin, and Vronsky.

    Of course, the screenplay is by Tom Stoppard and can stand on its own.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written December 1, 2012

    Epic!

    by

    I loved the movie, the theater approach was beautifully done. Keira did a great and dramatic acting, so did Mr. Law. There are some comic spices that make the journey entertaining. Stage was well done and costume design amazing. This movie is not for children under 18 (in my opinion). If you are sensitive, bring kleenex.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written November 19, 2012

    A gorgeous, daring, brillant marathon

    by 212toni

    Settle in for this groundbreaking extravaganza, which captures almost a thousand pages of Russian epic in about 2 1/2 hours. The costumes alone are enough to keep you enthralled. Amazingly, the bold conceit of depicting the story in a theater, onstage and backstage, a literal metaphor for the glories and constraints of life in 19th century Moscow and St. Petersburg, is in itself thrilling -- besides, as the story swoops from scene to scene like some mad waltz, from time to time, a door opens and we find ourselves confronted with the breathtaking literal vastness of the Russian countryside. You never know where you'll find yourself next. Meanwhile, a ravishing Keira Knightly appears in gown after fabulous gown, each a rich solid color reflecting her current passionate emotion. Her face, often shot in extreme closeup, registers her every thought. Surrender to this movie, and its images will stay with you for a long, long time.

    • 7 out of 10 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written December 9, 2012

    Beautiful, visually stunning, yet boring

    by kpions

    The setting was beautiful. The structure of the movie was a bit confusing. After an hour it became boring and just wanted her to end it. Gratefully that happened. The acting was good with a bit too much crying.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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    Written December 16, 2012

    Anna Karinenna

    by congenial

    I loved the movie.
    I was ready not to like it, because it received poor reviews, but to my surprise, I found the play within a movie format miraculous and beautiful. I've always enjoyed Tom Stoppard.
    The cinematography, the acting, and the directing carried me into the mind of a 19th century woman who dared to challenge the social mores of her time, and paid the price. More than that,
    the themes are universal.
    Finally, after many attempts, I've resolved to get through the book!

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written December 2, 2012

    A missed opportunity

    by

    The costumes, the sets, the actors and actresses, it seemed to have all of the pieces, but it fell flat. While I admire the stage-set device, I was given no reason to see its point--yes, all of life is a stage, and there are natural and contrived moments within life--Tolstoy was trying to make this point, and so was the movie. But it still felt more a device than a successful series of effects. Kiera Knightley was lovely and very engaging as Anna--she shines throughout the movie--and the series of gorgeous closeups help affirm this. But I was left feeling disappointed--this is a novel I love and I had loved the looks of the previews (so much so that I attended in the first weekend--something I rarely do), but overall, it just didn't do it for me. I knew it wasn't when I kept looking--at least 30 minutes before the actual end--for the fatal train!

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written November 18, 2012

    Very pretty, but....

    by raskin46

    This isn't Pride and Prejudice....it's more a Chanel commercial for Tolstoy. The movie is very stylized to the detriment of characterization....Count Vronksy is a 19th Century club kid until he suddenly becomes emotionally adult (but nothing leads you to that conclusion) and the same goes with Anna, the dutiful wife who shuns Vronsky and then is suddenly in bed with him and on and on. I really liked Matthew Macfadyen (who teams up with Knightley again), as Anna's brother...I've never seen him so alive and animated (he usually seems dull and plodding). I'd say go see it if you like Tolstoy....but despite the beauty, I was struggling to literally stay awake at 10am on a Saturday morning.

    • 8 out of 12 found this review helpful.
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Anna Karenina (2012) Movie Reviews + Ratings

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Sheyla_Davis I watched #AnnaKarenina and so much #love it. #Beautiful #movie. #keiraknightley was awesome.. #judelaw was awesome,he is so handsome.

20 hours ago.

_aRoBtTh_ Joe Wright has once again outdone himself #AnnaKarenina was simply beautiful.

22 hours ago.

eyelashwishes_ anna karenina looks like suuch an amazing film and it annoys me every single time I see the advert that I havent watched it yet

1 days ago.

AmandaLazzari07 Trying to read Anna Karenina was a failure at age 11. Maybe I'm finally ready at age 23

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iJelenur Just Watched Anna Karenina The Movie. #perfect.

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!