Films

Chocolat

Starring Johnny Depp, Juliette Binoche and Judi Dench

From Amazon:
Chocolat is an enchanting, moving and heart-warming tale of love and temptation, a big-budget movie with its roots in European art house cinema. Magical and almost fairytale-like in theme, it's the story of the mysterious Vianne and her arrival in a quiet, old-fashioned French town at the end of the 1950s. Gradually her attitude to life and the delicacies that she prepares in her chocolate shop have a marked effect on the local people, bound as they are by the twin forces of religion and politics.

Juliette Binoche is perfect in the role of the sensuous, captivating Vianne--a masterstroke of casting matched by the performance of Judi Dench as the splendidly grumpy but ultimately inspiring matriarch Armande. Very much an ensemble piece, the whole cast are indeed excellent, with Johnny Depp (making a fair fist of an Irish accent) superb as the drifter Roux, the one man capable of unlocking Vianne's own desires. From its majestic opening swoop to the final, joyous scene.

Carole's Comment:
Any film starring Johnny Depp is a good film in my book - so this is hardly an impartial comment! Fabulously filmed, much lighter in tone than the book but no worse for it in my humble opinion.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Starring Gene Wilder

From Amazon:
Having proven itself as a favourite film of children around the world, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is every bit as entertaining now as it was when originally released in 1971. There's a timeless appeal to Roald Dahl's classic children's novel, which was playfully preserved in this charming musical, from the colourful carnival-like splendour of its production design to the infectious melody of the Oompah-Loompah songs that punctuate the story. Who can forget those diminutive Oompah-loompah workers who recite rhyming parental warnings Oompah-loompah doopity do..." whenever some mischievous child has disobeyed Willy Wonka's orders to remain orderly?

Oh, but we're getting ahead of ourselves ... it's really the story of the impoverished Charlie Bucket, who, along with four other kids and their parental guests, wins a coveted golden ticket to enter the fantastic realm of Wonka's mysterious confectionery. After the other kids have proven themselves to be irresponsible brats, it's Charlie who impresses Wonka and wins a reward beyond his wildest dreams. But before that, the tour of Wonka's factory provides a dazzling parade of delights, and with Gene Wilder giving a brilliant performance as the eccentric candyman, Wonka gains an edge of menace and madness that nicely counterbalances the movie's sentimental sweetness. It's that willingness to risk a darker tone - to show that even a wonderland like Wonka's can be a weird and dangerous place if you're a bad kid - that makes this an enduring family classic.

Carole's Comment:
I didn't see the original until after I'd seen the recent remake. I know that the purists prefer the original Charlie, but I think they're both charming in their own way. What would Christmas be without a Roald Dahl film?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 2005

Starring Johnny Depp

From Amazon:
Director Tim Burton’s take on Roald Dahl’s classic story is undeniably more faithful to the source material than the 1975 musical retelling of the same story. His Charlie & The Chocolate Factory is also a slightly darker, visually inventive film, and is ultimately a tasty treat that the whole family can enjoy.

Filling the coat of Willy Wonka is frequent Burton collaborator Johnny Depp--the pair have previously worked together on the likes of Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood and Sleepy Hollow--and what fun he clearly had. His Wonka is a kooky, isolated figure, extremely distrusting and clearly uncomfortable around the children who win a golden ticket to look round his factory. Burton invests time in his main character, giving him a rounded back story that pays dividends, and while some will inevitably prefer Gene Wilder’s edgier take on the same role all those years ago, Depp nonetheless is on strong form. The cast around him also perform well, particularly Freddie Highmore in the title role.

The story is as you’ll likely remember it, with five children given the chance to visit Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory. And what a visual treat that factory is, bursting with colour and vibrancy. Along the way, they encounter chocolate lakes, industrious squirrels and the infamous oompa loompas, and truthfully, it’s fun to be along for the ride.

Is it better than that aforementioned 1975 version? Actually, it’s just different. Each film will no doubt have its legion of fans, but the bottom line here is that Roald Dahl’s classic has provided the source for an enjoyable, well pitched movie with plenty of rewatch value.

Carole's Comment:
Charlie and the chocolate factory 2005, a quirky updated version of the 1971 film, starring Johnny Depp. So it's a must see film then...

Like Water For Chocolate

Starring Lumi Cavazos

From Amazon:
After watching this film expect to be hungry, In the small genre of food movies, Director Alfonso Arau, adapting a novel by his former wife, Laura Esquivel, tells the story of a young woman (Lumi Cavazos) who learns to suppress her passions under the eye of a stern mother, but channels them into her cooking. The result is a steady stream of cuisine so delicious as to be an almost erotic experience for those lucky enough to have a bite.

Carole's Comment:
Very slow and brooding, filled with meaningful looks!