| Overall: | B |
|---|---|
| Violence: | B+ |
| Sexual Content: | A- |
| Language: | A |
| Drugs/Alcohol: | A |
| Run Time: | 133 |
| Theater Release: | |
| Video Release: | |
| MPAA Rating: | |
| See Canadian Ratings | |
| How We Determine Our Grades | |
After watching a movie with your children or students, we encourage parents and teachers to look for education opportunities to teach with movies. Here are a few discussion topics that can help with lesson plans or teaching in the home.
This movie opens an opportunity to ask your children about other “historical” events portrayed in popular media. Some questions you may want to ask include:
What is the movie industry’s primary goal—to educate or entertain?
Is it possible for movies based on historical facts to create misunderstandings or confusion?
Where might you find reputable information?
For The King and I, here are two Internet suggestions:
First, go to the source—in this case Thailand—where you can find a page of information about His Majesty King Mongkut located at: www.kmitnb.ac.th/KingMongkut/kingmke.html
At the Smithsonian Magazine website, a page describes (and shows) a bust of Mongkut that was commissioned by his son eight years after his death. It was first exhibited at the U.S. Centennial Exposition in 1876. The accompanying article provides a concise history of Mongkut along with information about Leonowens. It can be found at:
www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian/issues97/
apr97/object_apr97.html
Join the Conversation
About the Reviewer: Rod Gustafson
Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. He currently serves as the President of the Alberta Association for Media Awareness, a provincial non-profit society. He also authors a regular column for The Parent's Television Council in Los Angeles. He and his wife Donna have four children.
