Search - Farewell to the King on DVD

Milius's Most Underrated Film

Hulagu Khan | Northern Virginia, USA | 10/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Farewell to the King" is a superb adaptation by John Milius ("Red Dawn" "Conan the Barbarian") of Pierre Schoendoeffer's novel. Epic in scope, beautifully photographed, scored and acted, it is Milius's most underrated film. Milius has done a fine job of reshaping a difficult novel, to be more faithful to the story would have required a six hour movie. He is also more optimistic than the novelist in both the story's ending and in the treatment of the episode of the phantom Japanese column, but it is still a haunting, powerful film that undeservedly failed at the boxoffice. Much of the film was actually filmed on the island of Borneo, in the Malaysian state of Sarawak (formerly ruled by the White Rajahs until 1946).This is just the type of visually and aurally appealling film that cries out for rediscovery in the DVD format, with commentary by the director and lots of bonus material."

War Drama in the land of high adventure

Ironmike | California | 07/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent adventure/war film set during WWII and this one is a surprise and should be on DVD. The storyline is top notch, the acting and actors carry themselves well through some horrendous experiences. Great action scenes and plenty of gunfire and weaponry that are trademarks of the director.
Find this one if you can and enjoy with a good cigar and a couple of beers on a Saturday afternoon."

OVER LOOKED WAR EPIC

FRANK ROCKER | RIVERSIDE, CA | 06/29/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was stunned to see this movie is finally out on DVD format. I have waited years for this film to appear, it deserves a bigger audience. Like a previous reviewer, I have a number of war films in my collection. I rate this picture 4 and a half stars.

Nick Nolte does a solid job as a former Marine who leaves the war behind him and finds refuge with a head hunter tribe in Borneo. Through fate and circumstance, he becomes king and leader of his tribe. He takes a wife, and believes that WW II is behind him. Then the Japanese forces arrive near his domain.
His emerald forest changes, fate forces him to revert to his military tactics to save his tribe.
A British commando team discovers him and tries to get him to
fight the Japanese. Nolte will have no part in the war until it
arrives at his front door. Farewell To The King does a great job in showing the angst and sadness of joining another battle,
a man torn in two by war, frustration at not being able to control the events around you.

John Milius does a good job directing this picture. It has a similarity to a David Lean picture, not unlike Bridge On The River Kwai, or Lawrence Of Arabia. He directed previous action movies such as Red Dawn, Big Wednesday, and the first Conan feature. This movie was better than recent WW II films that came out in the last two years. Empire Of The Sun shows war through the eyes of a child. Farewell To The King shows war through the eyes of a man who has been to hell and back.

Thank you MGM for finally releasing this film, now, if only someone will release Boys In Company C, and Twilights' Last Gleaming.


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A very fine film

Phillip G. Cameron | 06/07/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of my favorite flicks. The acting is right on cue, the score is beautiful and fits perfectly and the story is tight and easy to get into. Another reason I know that this is a great film is because I actually like Nolte in it. Normally his work bores me to tears. It's very hard to find, so get it while you can.
Check it out!"