Finding Neverland / Chocolat (Johnny Depp Set) (DVD)

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>> FINDING NEVERLAND <<

> Synopsis
This is the story of J.M. Barrie's inspiration to create the classic story of Peter Pan - after one of his play's flops, he meets 4 young children in a park, leading to a remarkable friendship for life. Child-like himself with a vivid imagination, Barrie plays with the children daily, with his friendship with the kids mother, Sylvia, deepening, much to the disapproval ...
...who said with reference to Finding Neverland, "It's not the exact accurate story, but for me the film really isn't about reality. It's about the transformation of imagination, about creativity, about belief. That basically, if you believe, you can make anything happen."

> Cast
Johnny Depp brings Sir James Matthew Barrie to life, with Kate Winslet portraying Sylvia Llewelyn Davies - incidentally, these were the ... more

These two DVD's come in an attractive small box, and make the perfect present for any Depp fan - these were bought for my mother, who loves him as much as I do! Despite being bought together, they still have some extra features, and of course both are excellent films in their own right! I apologise in advance for the length of this review.. I haven't even written it yet but I can guess how long it'll get! There are no inserts in the DVD cases, but I believe the extra's on the DVD's are exactly the same as if you buy them individually.

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>> FINDING NEVERLAND <<

> Synopsis
This is the story of J.M. Barrie's inspiration to create the classic story of Peter Pan - after one of his play's flops, he meets 4 young children in a park, leading to a remarkable friendship for life. Child-like himself with a vivid imagination, Barrie plays with the children daily, with his friendship with the kids mother, Sylvia, deepening, much to the disapproval of her mother, and his wife, Mary. Everyone is suspicious of the reasons for Barrie's interest in the children - and their mother, so naturally rumours of paedophilia and an affair spring up. Despite this, his experiences lead him to write Peter Pan, and with Sylvia's health seemingly worsening, Barrie wants to bring Neverland to her.

> Info
Approx. runtime 97 minutes.
Certification is PG for mild language and sex references.
Directed by Marc Foster, who said with reference to Finding Neverland, "It's not the exact accurate story, but for me the film really isn't about reality. It's about the transformation of imagination, about creativity, about belief. That basically, if you believe, you can make anything happen."

> Cast
Johnny Depp brings Sir James Matthew Barrie to life, with Kate Winslet portraying Sylvia Llewelyn Davies - incidentally, these were the first two to agree to acting in the film. Julie Christie plays Sylvia's imposing mother, Mrs. Emma du Maurier, with Radha Mitchell playing Barries Wife, Mary Ansell. Big-name Dustin Hoffman also stars, as the theatre owner, Charles Frohman. The Llewelyn Davies boys are played by Joe Prospero (Jack), Nick Roud (George), Luke Spill (Michael) and finally Freddie Highmore, who won numerous awards for his part as the youngest brother in the play, Peter.

> Taglines
Unlock your imagination.
How far can your imagination take you.
Where will your imagination take you?

> Opinion
I was reluctant to watch this, as originally I believed it to be another 'Peter Pan' tale - when I learnt it was about the man who wrote it, I didn't think it would be a good film. I was wrong. Johnny Depp is brilliant in his role of J.M. Barrie, and whilst the script is a mix of reality and fantasy, it is excellent. Its a very moving tale - I found it difficult not to cry at the end. It isn't anywhere near as boring as I expected! It makes you smile, remembering the purity of a childs innocence, happiness, and the vast expanse that serves as an imagination. This film I believe triggered me wishing I was a child again, for the simple fact it was pure enjoyment, not tainted by something, as so often joy in adults lives is. It really brings your imagination to life, which in society at the moment, is hardly the most common of occurences. It makes you realise what you're missing in your struggle for money and status, getting caught up in the trivial things.

> Advantages
Johnny Depp, a touching story.

> Disadvantages
Not 100% historically correct, or action-packed (if you like that type of film).> Trivia

• On the second day on-set filming, Dustin Hoffman lost the tip of a finger when a folding chair collapsed and dropped him to the floor - doctors were unable to re-attach it.
• The film should have been released in 2003, but Columbia Pictures, who had the rights to J.M. Barrie's play for Peter Pan, refused to allow Miramax to use some scenes if they released it at the same time. In exchange for rights to Barrie's words, Miramax agreed to delay release by a year.
• There were actually five Davies children - the fifth child, Nicholas Llewelyn Davies, does not appear in the film.
• The real-life daughter of Nicholas "Nico" Llewelyn Davies, Laura Duguid, does star in the film with one line, and brought to the set the real-life engagement ring J.M. Barrie was going to propose to Sylvia with - sadly, she died before he had the chance.
• According to producer Richard N. Gladstein, over 50 directors passed on the project of Finding Neverland.
• In reality Arthur Llewellyn-Davies did not die before J.M. Barrie met Sylvia - he was alive and well, even at Peter Pan's premiere.
• In the formal dining scene, the children are laughing more at Johnny Depp putting a fart machine under Julie Christie's chair, using a remote control to trigger the sounds, than at him putting a spoon on his nose.

> Awards
Finding neverland won the following 16 awards, and were nominated for a further 47, which I wont list for the sake of saving space. Below are the awards won:

• An Oscar for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score.
• 2 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, for Best Family Film and Best Young Actor (Freddie Highmore).
• An Empire Award for Best Newcomer (Freddie Highmore).
• Heartland Award of Excellence (Marc Foster).
• Heartland Truly Moving Sound Award.
• 3 Sierra Awards for Best Actress (Kate Winslet - also for Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind), Best Family Film and Best Youth in Film (Freddie Highmore).
• 2 NBR Awards for Best Picture and Outstanding Film Music Composition.
• PFCS Award for Best Performance by Youth in a Leading or Supporting Role - Male (Freddie Highmore).
• Laterna Magica Prize at Venice Film Festival (Marc Foster).
• 3 Young Artist Awards for Best Family Feature Film - Drama, Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Ensemble Cast and Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor (Freddie Highmore).

> Special Features

• Directors Commentary gives some interesting details about shooting, working with Depp/Hoffman, the budget, but only touching on the reality of J.M. Barrie's story.
• The Magic of Finding Neverland focuses on the actors, mainly Johnny Depp.
• Creating Neverland is a 3-minute feature on the special effects.
• Deleted Scenes provides 3 deleted scenes, available with or without commentary.
• The 5 minutes of Outtakes features the fart machine scene mentioned in Trivia.
• On the Red Carpet offers clips of the films premiere.

-->> CHOCOLAT <<

> Synopsis
Set in 1959, Vianne Rocher and her young daughter, Anouk, travel from town to town; this time they wind up in a conservative town in rural France, opening a chocolate shop in premises rented from Armande Voizin. Comte Paul de Reynaud is the Mayor, and disapproves greatly, of both Vianne and the visiting 'river rats'. He wants nothing to do with the 'immorality' of the river drifters, including handsome Roux, an irishman Vianne takes to. Vianne faces a struggle to win over the town; she begins with Josephine, whose husband beats her, and Armande, the seemingly hostile owner of her shop, whose daughter, Carolin, wont let her see her grandson, Luc. Her chocolates provide temptation to the townspeople, to abandon themselves to happiness. Watch and see if striking Vianne can transform this old-fashioned town into a place of open-minded happiness.

> Info
Approx. runtime 117 minutes.
Certification is 12, for occasional, mild language, infrequent and moderate sex/nudity and infrequent mild violence.
This was directed by the swedish Lasse Hallström, who has since directed Casanova.
The film is based on the novel by Joanne Harris.

> Cast
Juliette Binoche plays the leading character - the striking Vianne, whom she won 2 awards for playing. Judi Dench also won an award for her superb performance as Armande. Other excellent performances come from Alfred Molina, as the close-minded and controlling Comte Paul de Reynaud, with Carrie-Anne Moss playing his secretary, and Armande's daughter. Josephine is played by Lena Olin, with her husband, Serge, being played by Peter Stormare. And, of course, it also stars Johnny Depp, as Roux, the head of the river drifters. The young Victoire Thivisol stars as Anouk, Vianne's daughter, with Aurelien Parent Koenig playing Luc, Carolin's son and Armande's grandson.

> Taglines
One Taste Is All It Takes
One taste is not enough
What do you see?
...and the world is still indulging!

> Opinion
Its not the fastest of films - its something different. It isnt action-packed, or fast moving, but its a feelgood story. I'll admit I was reluctant to watch it, despite the Depp factor, but when I finally conceded, I was glad I did. It is by no means your standard story. It has hints of romance, but it is NOT a romance film. There is a comedy factor, but its still not the type of film you'd want to watch over and over again - more of an 'every now and again'. There isn't a serious factor, its reasonably predictable, pretty standard stuff. The plot isn't exciting, and the film relies mostly on charm - I'd summarise it as a nice, feelgood film - nothing spectacular.

> Advantages
Johnny Depp, with an irish accent, long hair and a guitar! A feelgood film.

> Disadvantages
You dont see Johnny Depp until just after 50 minutes of the film! And he isnt in as much of the film as I'd previously thought. Also, at first you may have to turn it up a bit to understand the accents, if you're not too good with them!

> Trivia

• Juliette Binoche and Lena Olin (Vianne and Josephine) previously appeared together in The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
• Johnny Depp plays guitar in 3 scenes, and in the first and last songs on the soundtrack.
• This film is the second time Victoire Thivisol has played Juliette Binoche's daughter - she also did in Enfants du siècle, Les.
• Anouk's imaginary kangaroo is actually a rabbit in the book, called Pantoufle, which means slipper in french.
• When we see Pantoufle hopping away, hes actually a wallaby, not a kangaroo.

> Awards
Chocolat won the following 8 awards, and was nominated for 5 oscars and a further 27 awards, which, again, for the sake of saving space, I wont list. Below are the awards won:

• Excellence in Production Design Award for Contemporary Feature Film, from the Art Directors Guild.
• A Bogey Award from the Bogey Awards, Germany.
• A Golden Guild Film Award for Foreign Film from the Guild of German Art House Cinemas.
• Silver Ribbon for Best Dubbing, Female (Juliette Binoche).
• A Palm Springs International Film Festival Audience Award.
• A San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
• A Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Judi Dench).
• An Audience Award from the European Film Awards for Best Actress (Juliette Binoche).

> Special Features

• Audio Commentary from Lasse Hallström, David Brown, Kit Golden and Leslie Holleran, revealing production details, e.g. all the snow was fake.
• 7 Deleted Scenes - most of these are brief, but there is an amusing one.
• The Making of Chocolat is about half an hour, with an interesting look at taking the novel to the screen.
• The Costumes of Chocolat takes a brief look at designing the costumes and their part in characters traits.
• Production Design Featurette focuses on choosing the locations. 

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