Chocolat (Wide Screen)

Advantages: Tempting, Wonderful Performances, Great Looks, Passable Story
Disadvantages: Shallow, A Little Fake,

Chocolat is the story of Vianne, a lonely traveller who wonders from place to place with her young daughter Anouk. When they find themselves in s small French town, Vianne decided to open up a chocolatiere, but her small business causes huge ripples throughout the Catholic villagers. Is she some sort of witch? When Vianne starts to make friends with the abused Josephine and persuades her to get away from her aggressive husband people see that as ...
...ideas head on…. Chocolat requires you to suspend your disbelief maybe a little bit too much and for more cynical viewers it may be a torturous cinematic experience; with its mushy romantic edge, rather serendipitous occurrences and the idea that chocolate can change peoples lives. But, if you are prepared to stick with it you will find a gentle, affectionate, warmly crafted little drama/romance which has some pretty important things to say. It's ... Read review

Advantages: What the film inherited from the book
Disadvantages: What it changed and left out

My reaction to the film Chocolat was an odd mixture of regret and pleasure. The regret was from two sources. For having read the book before I saw the film (although I wasn't to know that the film was already in the making), and for allowing that to mar the cinematic interpretation. I'm not going to repeat the intricacies of plot in this review. Those who want more than this can read other reviews of film or book. It is enough to say that a young ...
...for all the aggravating changes, Chocolat was still a wonderful delight to the senses, the casting, and cinematography was mostly excellent, and I would recommend seeing it, then afterwards, tasting the much finer flavours of the book. Take the very best chocolate bar or truffles you can to eat as you watch it, or you will find it intentionally creates unbearable cravings, and the crude tastes of the cinema foyer pick-and-mix bar will never satisfy. ... Read review

Advantages: Good
Disadvantages: not as good as it should have been

Ah, Johnny, Johnny. We might as well get this bit out of the way at the start, for it was my primary reason for going to see this film. Yes, it's based on a lovely book. Yes, it's directed by someone really cool. Yes, it got nominated for tons of Oscars. What drew me into my local, and forced me to hand over my hard earned cash was none of these things: it was the presence of the utterly beautiful Johnny Depp. I have sighed over those cheekbones, ...
...an it's proved a remarkably beneficial obsession. His habit of going for interesting-arty over box office megabucks has meant that in pursuit of my celluloid love, I have en route discovered many films that I would otherwise not have glanced at twice. What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands.... fine movies all, and of course none the worse for Mr Depp's presence. All of which brings me to this film, which I will in future be adding ... Read review

Advantages: Just about everything, actually
Disadvantages: The DVD Extras are a tad on the slim side

When I first saw the trailer for this film, I knew I had to see it. I know, one shouldn't "judge a book by its cover", but a movie where chocolate is practically the central character was totally irresistible for someone who is known in certain Internet circles as "The Chocolate Lady". That, and an amazing cast, was what pulled me into the movie theater. But the charm of this film - despite some critics calling it contrived - was what made me purchase ...
...was a quiet little village in the French countryside - whose people believed in Tranquilite - Tranquility." Simply stated, this is a film about change and simple pleasures, and how the latter effects the former. Into a sleepy, conservative, devoutly religious French town come two strangers - Vianne Rocher (played by Juilette Binoche) and her daughter Anouk (as well as Pantoufle, Anouk's imaginary kangaroo), arriving at the exact same time as the ... Read review

Advantages: Beautifully acted and shot film
Disadvantages: It might have been interesting if the film had been in french

I have to write this op. in the film section even though it's just become a video (rent it now). I liked this film very much, and if you have ever done A level English Literature you will understand why. Far from allowing you to be creative, this qualification did make you very analytical of symbolism and this film is full of it. Bringing out these points becomes an art. Cue the beginning of the film, a strong north wind blows through a small provincial ...
...wide-open in mid-sermon. The mayor played by Alfred Molina rises swiftly to his feet and closes the door lest the village inhabitants be affected. This sets the pattern beautifully for the rest of the film. With the north wind comes two arrivals, Juliette Binoche and her daughter, they are clothed in red capes which emphasises the fantasy feel of the film. It also has reminiscences of Mary Poppins, a point which I will return to later. They go straight ... Read review