Farewell to the King (1989)

During the Second World War, an American soldier escapes his Japanese captors and flees into the jungles of Borneo, where he is found and taken in by Dayak headhunters. Two years later, British commandos arrive and are amazed to discover that the American has become king of the tribe. Initially reluctant to help the commandos, the king wages an all-out war on the Japanese after the invaders destroy his village.

Farewell to the King

This is a great movie that was recommended to me by a friend. Nick Nolte plays a convincing part in this gripping story about a man who finds home in the jungles during WWII. Two thumbs up! October 15, 2008

Nolte really is a "King" is this one

As good as he was in Rich Man-Poor Man, and as great as he was in 48 Hours, and Another 48 Hours, these pale in comparison to "Farewell To The King."
Nolte makes you believe there really is a King Leroy in charge of all the tribes in Borneo.
As The King says, "What's life without a little salt?" If you don't get this movie, you'll surely find out. October 24, 2007

Knowledge of history....

Here a 'deserter' finds a way of life more meaningful than that offered by 'civilization'. He is acutely aware of protocol, cruelty, the fragility of family and the inevitable extinction of value in the pursuit of pacification. It's not the greatest anti-war movie made, but it touches upon all the forgotten values of the people that we extinguish in our drive for peace and domination. May 25, 2007

Not very realistic.

An American setting himself up as king in the middle of Borneo during WWII? That's a bit of a stretch. Although there was actually a white rajah of Sarawak (Borneo) at the time, who was living in exile, it is really difficult to imagine a GI fleeing the Philippines to wind up in a native paradise. But that's Hollywood...

Overall, unrealistic with good scenery, and a seemingly good ending because the bad guys lose and the good guys win. February 1, 2007

The best of Milius

Beyond the hyperbole of other reviews (best WWII film?), there is much good to say about this messy but wonderful movie.

Messy? While I love Milius' movies, one must admit they often seem to lack the production quality and polish of typical hollywood fare (the opening rowboat scene and escape while dramatic were poorly dubbed and the cinmatography seems like it could have offered more). This should be excused by the epic storytelling. Milius' movies are like garage band music that compensate in spirit what it lacks in polish.

One might say this is an original story but Milius shows us it's derivitaive nature when one scene describes the narrator's adventures as akin to Conrad or Kipling. Certainly this story is cut from the same cloth as The Man Whould Would be King and Lord Jim. But somehow that still seems to qualify as original in the current Hollywood.

If you are a lover of the aforementioned writers or Milius himself, or you are looking for adventure tales told well, get the DVD. I think it ranks with Big Wednesday as Milius's best movie. September 21, 2006

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