Anna Karenina (2012)Movie Reviews

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    Breakdown:
  • So-so
    Written December 17, 2012

    Story line was good but scene transitions were annoying

    by labutlercpa

    I enjoyed the story line, as I had not read the book. However, they transitioned between scenes as if it was a play. That made it very hard to get into the story and feel compassion or any other type of feeling for the characters because the transitions took you out of the story. I would wait for video.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • No
    Written January 3, 2013

    no

    by NMHiker

    Someone said this movie was more of a musical, not to me this was more of a play. Sets were moved as the place changed or mood. I left during the movie I was so turned off. Didn't like it at all.

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

    Weird production choice

    by Ivana Vital

    The idea that it's played out in some sort of "operetta" was a weird production decision. It was difficult to know who was doing what, where. It moved verrrry fast. The story is CLASSIC and a must-read for anyone who ever enjoyed a high school english class where the concepts of theme, irony, symbolism, foreshadowing, etc. are the focus. The story is FULL of that and double meanings. I would have enjoyed it much more if it was just played out as a regular movie with a story and a set - period. Although, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is so crazy, incredibly GORGEOUS it's almost worth seeing just for that! The acting was great but the premise was...well...not for everyone. Unfortunately I'd suspect that more people hated it than enjoyed it just for that reason alone. Which is a shame because the story is timeless and classic.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • Oh No!
    Written December 10, 2012

    Terrible film adaptation of a great Tolstoy novel

    by tony_kenney1971

    Turn back! Run away! Go see a hobit or a british special agent or a vampire. Do not waste any money on this film. I don't think I am "enlightened" enough to appreciate a movie, within a play, within a musical, within a nightmare, but this story is nothing like what we expected. This is a tremendous novel; why they chose to make it a film in this way is baffling. It confuses everyrhing about the novel and only distracts from what could have been an outstanding cast. If it is not the random tuba player that interjects himself into the scene, it is the blindingly stupid scenes involving ink stamping and coat changes. I do love movies and pride myself on the fact that I must stay to watch a film unitl its' end no matter how bad (although Punch Drunk Love was the exception) but AK certainily tested my will. Good Luck if you choose to drop the $10+. Remember, you were forwarned.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • No
    Written December 22, 2012

    SEMI MUSICAL FEEL TO IT...SEMI IMPRESSED

    by cinemafan1965

    I was somewhat disappointed with the music and cinematography arrangement. I was expecting to see something that felt like a drama with an interesting historical lesson. However, what I got was a story with the kind of music from a production like Annie. I almost thought someone was going to be flying across the screen or something. I like some musicals... just not what I expected when I bought my ticket.

    • 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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    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 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 28, 2012

    Visually Stunning

    by FLASH1465

    I rate this film an A. I have never read the novel so I went in blind. It is a visually stunning film!! The set design and costuming were top notch. The fact that it is part play and part film is a new concept to me and worked well. Keira is beautiful and perhaps the best period piece actress I've ever seen (Atonement and Pride & Prejudice). Her performance is fantastic, believable, moving, and deserving of any nominations that come her way. GO see it.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • No
    Written December 9, 2012

    Anna Karenina

    by michaelmagdol

    Costuming was lovely. Characters all attractive to look at.
    Substantively the film was a disappointment, using some of the core themes of a classic novel to deliver of story of unfaithfulness and retribution without any insights into the characters other than they do everything with style (of the period?).

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • Oh No!
    Written December 9, 2012

    awful

    by john612

    My wife and I love period piece dramas and the like. This was an attempt to do some artsy stuff with this film going from a play type film to a movie style. I was so awlful we left after 45 minutes. We just could not stand it anymore. I have seen pride and prejudice and it was very good so I thought this might be along to the same lines. However this was a total waste of time and money. I would not recommend this flim to anyone as it was a huge disappointment.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written December 17, 2012

    Entertaining but not a must see

    by HanBeMau

    If you like period movies with great scenery and costumes, this is a great choice. But the setting was a bit strange (I don't want to say more as to give it away) and a bit confusing. The plotline is classic "soap opera" and, since I have not read the book, I can't say how true to the plot it was. The acting, however, was very good and it was a good way to spend a rainy Sunday. If you miss it at the movies, DVD is a good option for this movie.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written December 31, 2012

    ugh . . . .

    by kjstrom

    Thankfully my daughter told me about the whole "set on a stage" scenario of this movie, otherwise I would have been completely baffled. Even being prepared for it, though, I thought it was really strange. I didn't like that at all. I wish it had just been shot like a normal movie. Maybe I'm just not "artsy" enough, but it really kind of ruined the movie for me.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written December 17, 2012

    Bravo!

    by niklandia

    I am Russian and I have seen multiple versions of this movie ( I also read the book a million times since Tolstoy is my favorite author). None of the movies had ever touched me as this one did. Director did an amazing job with the theater-like transitions. Because of them all the scenes move really fast and you don't waste any time. Considering that the book is about 600 pages, it really helps. Plus, it keeps you focused on the main characters.
    I was very curious about how British would interpret such a classic piece, and I was not disappointed. As usual, they stayed very close to the story, the details were realistic.
    But the best part of the movie is the acting. Keira is outstanding as always, Jude Law is unbelievable(his best), and Vronsky is the way I imagined him when I was reading the novel.
    The chemistry between Anna and Vronsky is so vivid, it's electrifying. You really feel like you are there!The final touch is the fantastic music.Definitely watching it again.
    Bravo!

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written December 10, 2012

    Anna Karenina

    by jeaniel

    Beautiful to look at, wonderful music to listen to, fabulous performances, over the top costumes and sets, and a timeless story combined with relevance in a specific historic time -- what could be better.

    • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Anna Karenina (2012) Movie Reviews + Ratings

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Tweets About Anna Karenina (2012)

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BoyPrincess32 so I read this scene of Anna Karenina where Vronsky follows anna to petersburg and I had a dream about it, except Vronsky was Jahar [cont]

10 hours ago.

LouieV95 Finally saw Joe Wright's adaptation of my favourite novel, Anna Karenina. They at least got Anna's character right. Keira Knightley love me.

15 hours ago.

jillresh finally saw Anna Karenina. I now have so many existential questions about life and love. #ugh #dontwanttothinkrn

15 hours ago.

_iRun You would have had to have read the book and watched Anna Karenina to appreciate Arron Johnson's beauty as the role of Vronsky..

17 hours ago.

douchequeen I KNEW THAT CARA WAS IN ANNA KARENINA I WASN'T CRAZY WHEN I SCREAMED "CARA" AS I WAS WATCHING IT WITH MY GRANDMA OMFG

17 hours 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!