LastingAware
The greatest movie ever!
Inadvands
Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess
Voxitype
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
Portia Hilton
Blistering performances.
dunsuls-1
One fabulous movie !!! OK it's not Lawrence of Arabia but its a movie based on a novel by Pierre Schoendoerffer so we know it's fiction and nothing more.Ah but what fiction !! Director:John Milius crafts a fine tale that makes you think as I once heard somewhere else,IF that story isn't true it should have been (film - the cowboys)There was a time Nick Nolte could really act and this film released in 1989 proves it.At 115 minutes I wanted MORE.There is NOTHING not to like about this film.The story of a third party being caught up in the dispute of others is timeless and when that dispute is war and the third party are savages or really just not civilized in the western sense,they only collect heads and live in the jungle,rather than live in comfort based on the exploitation of others,like colonial powers involved in such war,that you have a set up for a Don Quixote story as played by Nolte. So don't look for Lawrence but rather a violent but principled Sancho Panza and you will enjoy the film.British,Japanese and Borneo as a battleground works as well as any other setting from WW11 and less done to boot.Fine acting by Nigel Havers as a Lawrence type,Capt. Fairbourne really complements Nolte as this American deserter from Corregidor survivors after being beached on Borneo and seeing the soldiers he escaped with die.He then survives in the jungle only to be captured by headhunters,and here's the romance,is loved by a native and he thus learns there way and becomes "free"to lead his "comanches"as KING !!!Great stuff if not for that damned old war !!! The darker issue of re-colonizing after the war is also delved into although not as much as one might wish.Do yourself a favor and see it,for they really don't make um like this anymore.
merklekranz
From the opening scene of a lifeboat being tossed about by gigantic waves, "Farewell to the King" leads us on a glorious World War 2 adventure into the jungles of Borneo. Nick Nolte plays an army deserter, who becomes king of a tribe of headhunters. Ultimately the war comes to him, and he and his tribe must face the ruthless retreating Japanese army. I cannot believe how magnificent the photography is in this film. Each frame could stand alone as a beautiful photograph. I believe to fully appreciate "Farewell to the King", you must forget the film's shortcomings and simply enjoy it for what it is, and what it is, is beautiful. - MERK
freethinker365
This is the type of movie Hollywood _should_ be producing more of... this is 10fold Nick Nolte's best performance, and should be seen by any fan of Nolte's, and any fan of quality film making (something that's becoming a "rare gem" in today's hedonist society)! This film has almost everything; happiness, misery, love, hate/revenge, hope, disillusionment, discovery, loss, and exemplifies many of life's lessons... truly one of the best films I've ever seen.
dwpollar
1st watched 11/19/1999 - 5 out of 10 (Dir-John Milius): Unbelievable although well-played out story about an American army soldier washed up on the shore of Bornea during World War II who became a king of a headhunting tribe.Not enough understanding as to why things are happening throughout the story.
