First and foremost a confession: I have not yet read Anna Karenina and therefore can't judge how well Joe Wright's interpretation captured the spirit, style and message of Tolstoy's novel. What I do know is that I have just seen a daring and immensely powerful film. Clever use of tableaux, surrealist elements and breathtaking visual images bring out the character's emotions so strongly that halfway through the film I felt like I wasn't a mere spectator anymore. I WAS Anna, so completely and utterly was I engrossed in her world. Knightley performs well. For years I was convinced she could only play one single type of role - the pretty girl who stands around and bats her eyelashes - but "A Dangerous Method" and now "Anna Karenina" have changed my mind. Knightley's matured as an actress, and now manages to give a depth to her characters that makes them utterly believable. Though many have criticized him, I think Aaron Taylor-Johnson works as Vronsky. He's charming and seductive and it's easy to see why Anna cannot resist him. And as for Jude Law, his portrayal of passionless, prudish, but oh, so decent Karenin was nothing less than Oscar worthy. Wright's "Pride and Prejudice" is mediocre, his "Atonement" is good. His "Anna Karenina", however, is sensual and stunning and I can only recommend it.

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source: Anna Karenina

I don't understand the bad reviews. This is one of my favorites... it's beautiful, engaging, and the casting choices were phenomenal. Watching this now, 8 years after release and I still am in love with it.

I started watching this film and literally stopped because of the silliness of the "stylization". I could not finish it. Don't get me wrong; I love a good stylized period piece. I loved Stoker. However, the implementation of "stylizing" the film in the form of a stage setting does not add to the film's richness. Rather, it takes away from the seriousness of the subject matter and is inappropriate. I was on the edge of my seat only because the fear was so great that they'd at some point break out into song and dance. If you want to see a serious adaptation of this novel done properly, watch Anna Karenina 1997 with Sophie Marceau. It is far superior. If you're reading this and want to know which version you should watch, do pick the older version. Sophie Marceau is phenomenal as Anna Karenina. Kiera Knightly? Not so much. She doesn't capture the heartbreak as well as Sophie does, in my opinion. It saddens me to think that people will see this version and not that one.

From the first seconds of the film I knew it was bad. It was incredibly boring throughout. None of the characters or scenes got me to feel anything but annoyed except some scenes with levin and kitty, the whole movie should have been about them to be enjoyable. Without a single scene in the theatre: I didn't like the way it was made at all. I remember thinking that the backstage door is a Narnian gateway that everyone uses to enter and exit the stage. blah blah blah. Vronsky looked like a queer with the mustache. Keira played the same character (herself) that she plays in every movie. I have no positive things to say other than the character levin which I liked. Just wanted it to be over.

I loved the cinematography of the Theatre. I loved that everything got out from the stage. The director did a pretty good job directing this.

I do not understand the 6.6 star review on here and so I felt I needed to add my piece.. this film is achingly beautiful and my heart is still racing having just finished watching it. All the lead actors were amazing and believable and the film is so beautifully produced with excellent pace. Keira & Aaron were just amazing. I'm just gutted about the ending!! I am now off to buy the book I loved the film so much!