Based on 64 votes and 16 reviews.
terrible - the acting was fine but karenin and vronsky in particular both poorly cast even though we like Jude Law (that is why it was poorly cast - people LIKE Jude Law). Setting the film in the theatre was off-putting, distracting, annoying and left us wondering if the film had no budget...the original was not a play but a grandly epic book which calls for sweeping scenery and using all of the russian landscape to bring this story to new generations. Sad. See older versions instead.
Well I haven't watched the movie but anything Knightley plays in will be amazing!
Excellent. Stunning. How brilliant to film it this way thereby avoiding just another stuffy period piece!
Disappointed. My husband was bored, should have seen this on cheap movie night or DVD instead.
Loved this movie, fast paced, sophisticated, beautifully shot, liked the stage/play setting style and fantastic costumes. Highly recommend it but I see how this is not for everyone.
Confusing to begin with, fell asleep early on but it did pick up after about one hour. Looks like Hollywood can no longer afford the onsite productions and this is something you might see at a play - since it looke like a playhouse rather than a movie. Lincoln and ARgu came across in the same way. Poor.
I strongly recommend renting/downloading the 1997 version of Anna Karenina directed by Bernard Rose instead! While I love the story of Anna Karenina and was fully prepared to love this version too, I was immediately put off by Joe Wright's very odd choice to stage this movie like a play. Of course, the movie is based on Tolstoy's classic novel and not a play, so this choice is not only illogical but it makes what could have been realistic ridiculous. The casting of Vronsky is also problematic. He is immature and arrogant and seems like a mischievous school boy next to conservative society wife, Anna. It makes her choice to be with him seem purely hormonal and not one of grand romance.
strange that they would film a stage! This is supposed to be a movie, not a stage performance. Was not impressed!
Great story, excellent acting!
Me and my husband went to see it and just loved it!