Rating: 
Summary: My love for Chocolat
Review: I just recently saw this move after longing to see it for about three months. Let me say i was not disappointed. The story is one you can relate to, the people are real, and the chocolat is delicious.
I loved Vivian because she was a free spirit. She cared not what the villagers thought of her, though she di dbecome angry when the mayor steps too far. She protects, stands up for what she believes in and makes wonderful hot chocolate.
I thought Roux was a interesting character. He was a wonderful musician, who could almost read vivian's mind. He had a soft heart, and a longing to be known for who he was not what he was.
all in all i would rate this movie a 5 out of 5.
You have to see it.
Rating: 
Summary: A VERY PLEASANT CONFECTION...
Review: This is a pleasant, though obvious, adult fable, broadly hinting at the often sensual, restorative, and mystical properties of chocolate. A beautiful and mysterious woman, Vianne, delightfully played by the winsome Juliette Binoche, along with her daughter, Anouk, arrive in a remote and very provincial French town, where she rents a patisserie from an elderly, crotchety woman, magnificently played by Judi Dench, and turns it into a chocolatier. From here, she concocts visually dazzling, mouthwatering amounts of chocolates, along with copious cups of hot cocoa made from a very special recipe, that are always sold or given by Vianne with a Julia Roberts style, mega watt smile. Vianne is always kind, compassionate, and tolerant. She is, therefore, a person to be feared by those who lack those traits. That is why she is greeted with bare civility by the town's mayor, wonderfully played by the always underrated, very talented Alfred Molina. He is a sanctimonious, intolerant, unhappy, religious prig, who insists on writing the sermons for the town's young, beleagured priest. Offended by Vianne's easy charm and her resistance to his invitation to attend church services, the mayor, whose hardened exterior hides a profound sorrow, declares war on Vianne, as he perceives her to be a threat to his established order of things. Meanwhile, Vianne finally warms up and disarms her crotchety landlady, jumpstarts a tired marriage for two villagers, and befriends a battered woman, played with appropriate pathos, delicacy, and spirit by Lena Olin. She also manages a flirtation with an Irish drifter named Roux, well played by Johnny Depp, though they seem to lack chemistry together. She gains the confidence of those willing to become friendly with her through the mystical properties of her chocolates and hot cocoa, changing their lives forever. Though the mayor has vowed to drive Vianne's business into the ground and run her out of town, Vianne hangs on, determined to stay until the North winds blow her and her daughter to yet another unhappy town. What happens in this town, however, ultimately changes the lives of its mayor, the villagers, and even Vianne, forever. This is a lovely, well acted, and moderately entertaining film, that thematically deals with the mystical, sensual, and palliative properties of chocolate. It is a frothy, pleasant confection. If you want a film, dealing with a similar theme, that will fully satisfy an appetite, however, one need look no further than the superb film, "Like Water for Chocolate".
Rating: 
Summary: Beware of Chocolat
Review: I highly reccomend this movis but bewarned the experience of seeing this film will leave you with a deep need for chocolate so keep somegood stuff handy right afterward.
Rating:
Summary: A charming fable about happiness and tolerance
Review: I am on a badly needed news fast, so I rented some films having nothing whatsoever to do with our present unfolding horrors. If you have never been to rural France, the village and countryside will give you a very good idea of what some of it still looks like. The tale is delightful. For my fundamentalist friends and relatives, let me note that the first recorded miracle of Christ in the Gospels was turning water into really first-class wine to keep a good party going. The most Christ-like figure in the film is not the petty hypocrite of a mayor, but the mysterious chocolate shop owner who heals people of their fear, hatred, and bigotry. I will buy a copy soon. It gives you hope.
Rating:
Summary: Up For Some Chocolate?
Review: Taking place in the early 60's, "Chocolat" weaves together the tale of a tiny French town and one women that changed the lives of its people forever. "Chocolat" may seem cute and simplistic on the outside, but if you watch carefully, you may just notice the amazing amount of symbolism used to portray lessons learned that we take for granted every day - and maybe haven't quite caught on to yet. The movie begins by introducing the stiff, proper, tiny French town, and its even stiffer and meaner mayor. See something your not supposed to see? Turn the other way. Miss mass? Hide in a cave. A very gypsy-like mother and daughter find haven in the tiny town, doing all that is forbidden. What's wrong with opening a chocolate shop in the middle of Lent? What's wrong with refusing the mayor's invitation to the Sunday preach? Why does she have to wear black when there's a flaming red dress in the closet? Slowly, the women begins to tempt passerbys into her chocolate shop (which, by the way, is VERY good), all the while earning the hatred of the mayor. When she becomes associated with the so-called "river rats", the mayor despises her all the more. There must be an end to this 'madness' and he's nearly suceeded in putting the chocolatry out of business for good. How will a tiny chocolate shop survive in a town such as this? Will Josefine ever face up to her husband? Will the little boy Luke see the light in his grandmother and break away from his protective mother? Will the river rats suffer an untimely fate? Pop "Chocolat" in your VCR to find out.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning and important!
Review: The recent atrocity by spineless cowards in NY found me in dire need of a comedy. I've always been a movie freak, and knew that "Chocolat" was up for Oscars...yet, reviews kept me from seeing it or renting it (I'm so ahshamed to admit it!) Well, the reviews were wrong."Traffic" was moving & profound, and OH! so heavy. "Gladiator" was very good, but over-rated...my favorite of the Best Picture nominees this year was "Erin Brockovich" because it had humor as well as a riveting performance by Julia about an important issue. The luminescent Juliette Binoche has never given a bad performance (absolutely deserved her Oscar for "English Patient"). "Chocolat" is timely, now more than ever.Like a faiy tale, it's a tale about good & "evil", but only certain people's idea of evil. Fundamentalist behavior? So appropriate. Johnny Depp is always great, and Dame Dench & Lena Olin and Alfred Molina were so in touch.This is not a trivial film, as some Academy critics have said. I enjoyed it immensely and recommend this to people who love to laugh at intolerance. This is not a film about decadent indulgence (well, not entirely). It's a thoughtful display of a fairy tale world where good triumphs over evil. RENT or BUY THIS FILM!
Rating:
Summary: A magical confection of a movie...
Review: First off, Chocolat is a metaphor -- a metaphor for thinking in new ways, trying new things, renewing the human spirit, enjoying life and salving deep emotional wounds. On that level the movie works wonderfully well, with Juliet Binoche giving a marvelously subtle performance that balances her character on the edge of vulnerability while exuding confidence. Some windy sourpusses reviewing this simple, wonderful and heartwarming tale (How many of those does Hollywood put out a year? Two, three?) seem to focus on The Horror that the main character tempts townspeople with chocolate during Lent, and therefore it is anti-Catholic. Those arguments are simply silly dreck. It's not anti-Catholic, it's anti-dogma and pro-tolerance and pro-living. I suppose those reviewers would be happy if the townsfolk had burned the woman at the stake for being different and a veritable magician! Unless you will be offended by temptation (in which case you shouldn't see ANY movie), you will find Chocolat a delicious treat.
Rating:
Summary: Deliciously Naughty
Review: A fairytale fantasy of temptation by chocolate that is so seductive in nature, you must have some chocolate of any kind close by. The scenes literally drip with smooth liquid pleasure as chocolate is melted and then formed into creations of desire. Pleasures that await and a temptress who enchants an entire village with the call of chocolate melting slowly in your mouth is the theme around which this story is molded. There are moments of humor, an almost wild wind that calls to Vianne to follow her gypsy spirit and a handsome rover who challenges her sorcery. While the religious villagers show an outward piety, in their hearts they want to abandon themselves to temptation and happiness. Vianne arrives in the tranquil French town and in her own way changes the future. There are various ideas that are in a way, just a fantasy for some and for others may be a reality. Issues like having a child out of wedlock, leaving your husband and not going to church are portrayed in a "you choose the way to live" light. Morality is frowned on and this film makes no promises to those who don't want to just escape for 122 minutes. I found the religious aspects to be almost a comedy...which is not always a good thing, since those that don't see religion in a good light won't find it any more appealing. It also shed a light on the sometimes misinterpretation of how we are to live this life. Love is essential. There is a balance between pleasure and godliness. Somewhere in the middle you can find peace and happiness. In the style of a story, adult desires are captured and woven into a tale of pure pleasure. Anything that happens, does so only in your mind. Captivating from beginning to end. As a chocolate lover, I have always known that chocolate holds powers, no other food has. Chocolate brownies anyone. ;> The appeal of the story comes from those pleasures we want to succumb to. With this movie, you can have all the fantasy and none of the guilt. Well, unless you are eating a container of chocolate brownie ice cream while watching it. An escape from the ordinary that will melt in your mind....
Rating:
Summary: Do not watch this movie on an empty stomach
Review: This appetizing romantic comedy features little romance and little comedy. Yet it's entertaining, the acting is good, and it co-stars the most mouth-watering confections since C.S. Lewis's mythical rooms of Turkish Delight. I would recommend renting this film before purchasing, but to be honest, I can't really think of a reason why you as a viewer would be displeased with this one.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing
Review: A movie that is refreshing in hollywoods manufacturing machine. Juliette Binoche saves her career after The English Patient from drool predictable "blockbusters" by taking this subtle title role. Johnny Depp is his usual magnificent self. Actors--Excellent
Story--Refreshingly different
Look--Classic
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