Like Water for Chocolate

Starring:Marco Leonardi, Lumi Cavazos, Regina TornÃ©, Mario IvÃ¡n MartÃnez, Ada Carrasco, Yareli Arizmendi, Claudette MaillÃ©, Pilar Aranda, Farnesio de Bernal, JoaquÃn Garrido, Rodolfo Arias, Margarita Isabel, Sandra Arau (II), AndrÃ©s GarcÃa Jr., Regino Herrera, Genaro Aguirre, David Ostrosky, BrÃgida Alexander, Amado RamÃrez, Arcelia RamÃrez
Director: Alfonso Arau
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Product Type: DVD

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Expect to be very hungry (and perhaps amorous) after watching this contemporary classic in the small genre of food movies that includes Babette's Feast and Big Night. Director Alfonso Arau (A Walk in the Clouds), 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. The film's quotient of magic realism feels a little stock, but the story line is good and Arau's affinity for the sensuality of food (and of nature) is sublime. You might want to rush off to a good Mexican restaurant afterward, but that's a good thing. --Tom Keogh

Description

Based on the best-selling book -- now experience for yourself the erotic tale of forbidden love that seduced both critics and audiences nationwide! Tita and Pedro are passionately in love. But their love is forbidden by an ancient family tradition. To be near Tita, Pedro marries her sister. And Tita, as the family cook, expresses her passion for Pedro through preparing delectable dishes. Now, in Tita's kitchen, ordinary spices become a recipe for passion. Her creations bring on tears of longing, heated desire, or chronic pain -- while Tita and Pedro wait for the moment to fulfill their most hidden pleasures!

Customer Reviews:

tasty, romantic and incomparable............2007-06-13

If you are looking for a great introduction to magical realism and food, in cinema, COMO AGUA PARA EL CHOCOLATE (LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE), directed by Alfonso Arau, is the film to see. For those of you unfamiliar with magical realism, this is probably the most straightforward way to explain it. It is an artistic genre in which magical elements appear in an otherwise realistic setting. CHOCOLATE is rich in this fine art of storytelling, prevalently seen in Latin American literature. This splendid adaptation of the novel of the same name, by Laura Esquivel, is beautiful.

Tita (Lumi Cavazos) is the youngest daughter of Elena (Regina Torné), a heartless Mexican woman, who, by tradition, must stay with her mother and take care of her. This tradition is upheld even when Lumi remains in love with Pedro (Marco Leonardi), who wants her for his wife, but is turned away by Mama Elena, and marries her older sister, Rosaura (Yareli Arizmendi) to be close to her. This is just the beginning of Tita's deeply rooted connection between her emotions and the food she prepares. Everything from a wedding cake, to a dinner, becomes a reflection of Tita's state. It also is her way of connecting with Pedro, to show him her love.
What's more, those who consume the food absorb Tita's mood and react accordingly. One example is in the wedding cake she prepares of Rosaura and Pedro. Tita cries tears of anguish into that batter and everyone who eats it wants to die and gets really ill.

I feel that food and mood are very interconnected. I have made a habit not to cook when I am angry. Something always goes wrong when I am unhappy. I will burn the meal, it will come out too salty or I will almost have an accident with the knife. Yes, I have had kitchen accidents. This film confirms that for me. This film is a very sexy, beautifully acted and sensuous journey for the senses. Tasty!

Hands Down, The BEST Romantic Movie Ever!.......2007-06-09

Like Water For Chocolate is an amazing film that I very, VERY highly recommend. I've always loved foreign films and this one is by far the best. For those who prefer hearing it in english, this dvd offers the english language track, which helps you enjoy the film even more.

Basically, this is the story of Tita, the youngest girl of 3, who is bound by tradition to never marry so that she can care for her heartless mother until she dies. Tita falls in love with Pedro, who then requests her hand in marriage. But because of the tradition, the mother decides Pedro can not have Tita as his wife, and promptly offers her eldest daughter! That is terrible enough, but then when Pedro accepts the offer, it is even more troubling. His idea is to marry the sister so that he may be close to Tita (a difficult task considering the mother watches them like a hawk).

Over the period of many years, Tita uses her cooking to express herself and her love for and with Pedro and it affects her family in many interesting ways that make this an excellent film. It is not for children, so please do not share it with those under age 12.

Like Water for Chocolate.......2007-05-31

Wonderful movie. I purchased this movie many years ago in VHS format. My recent purchase of this movie in DVD format is because I am updating my movie library of my favorites from VHS format to DVD format.

Silly, but lovable........2007-04-10

I don't often enjoy indulging in sentimentality, but this was a good one. It was silly but lovable. I wished it would have ended a little differently, but that just shows I cared, huh? It got me.

A Sensual, Spellbinding, Love Story--Truly Magical!.......2007-02-01

If you are, have been, or ever wish to be in love, then you NEED to see this movie. It's a familiar formula...Love that cannot be permitted for unjust reasons--and being unjust, the rules must be flouted. There is a storybook quality, a natural, beautiful kind of magic permeates this truly great movie. It's hypnotic, visually appetizing, funny, beautiful and erotic...and they're not shy about nudity, which is a sweet plus.

Miramax Inspired Romance Collection (Amelie/Like Water for Chocolate/Il Postino/Chocolat)

Average customer rating:

Hours of European Classics
...The ULTIMATE collectors pack...
Amelie
Eclectic collection of "Inspired Romance"

Miramax Inspired Romance Collection (Amelie/Like Water for Chocolate/Il Postino/Chocolat)
Starring: Juliette Binoche , Alfred Molina , Carrie-Anne Moss , Judi Dench , and Antonio Gil-Martinez
Director: Lasse Hallström , Alfonso Arau , and Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000AGQ61
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Description

This four-movie collectible set includes widescreen versions of AMELIE, CHOCOLAT, IL POSTINO, and LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE. CLICK ON INDIVIDUAL TITLES BELOW FOR PRODUCT DETAILS.

Customer Reviews:

Hours of European Classics.......2006-11-10

This is a great set of films that will have you watching them over and over.

...The ULTIMATE collectors pack..........2006-02-18

Amelie and Chocolat..together...in a box set!!!!! well thats a must buy if ever there was one!!! Amelie is my fave movie of all time, it touched me, it moved me and its just like its main star...beautiful, scrumptious and likable!!! Amelie is a little french waitress...who after finding a chldhood treasure of a man who once lived in her apartment, she seeks out on being a regula dogooder, making couples fall in love, finding ways to make those who mourn, be comforted, punishing hose who are mean...all whilst neglecting her own love life...Chocolate, Johnny Depp, and Judie Dench in a film...sounds good to me. Chocolat is about a wman and her child who move into a religious and spirtiual community and who dont fit in with the social order of the town..but you must always have faith in yourself even if ppl dont have faith in u!!! IlPostiniooooooooo...so poetic and touching...wow...like water for chocolate is beautiful definitely for those who appreciate sweet romance...

Chocolat and Like Water....like its name...sweet and fluffy and sugar coated fun for the whole family
Amelie and IlPostino...smart and touching, poetic and stunning

BUY IT NOW!!!!!! ps: hi alex!!! hermy...

Amelie.......2004-05-18

An amazingly refreshing work of art. This creature is not only tintillating due to her own sneaky intentions, however she is quite jovial in her pursuits of happiness for herself and others. An amazing movie, please send more over to America!

Eclectic collection of "Inspired Romance".......2004-05-07

Romantic movies somehow seem a lot sweeter when they don't fit the usual boy-meets-girl mold. Four such movies make up the Miramax Inspired Romance Collection, four romantic movies that will make you want to cuddle up under a blanket (even the somewhat silly "Chocolat").

"Amelie" is the charming tale of a young French woman (Audrey Tautou), secluded and shy. But when she returns a childhood toy to a man, changing his lonely life, Amelie decides to keep doing good for others to improve their lives. But one of her deeds leads her to a handsome young man who may be her soulmate.... if Amelie can learn to help herself out too.

Sensuous, passionate "Like Water For Chocolate" introduces us to Tita (Lumi Cavazos) and Pedro (Marco Leonardi), young Mexican lovers who desperately want to get married. But Tita's domineering mother is determined to keep Tita single because of a mindless tradition. Pedro ends up marrying Tita's sister, and the heartbroken Tita is lost in her grief... only to have some very unpredictable things happen.

"Il Postino" is the way to love, when an exiled Chilean poet (Philippe Noiret) settles on a small Italian island. He befriends a poorly-educated young fisherman, Mario (Massimo Troisi), who is given the duty of delivering the newly-enlarged mail inflow. When Mario falls in love with the beautiful Beatrice, he needs the poet's help -- and the power of poetry -- to win her heart.

"Chocolat" celebrates joie de vivre, with big sides of chocolate (warning: Do not watch on an empty stomach). Vianne (Juliette Binoche) and her young daughter move into a small French town and set up a chocolate shop just at the start of Lent. What's more, Vianne strikes up a romance with a local drifter (Johnny Depp). The mayor is deeply ticked off by this, but as Vianne starts to improve their lives, the townspeople start warming up to her.

This collection is a pretty wide-ranging one. Some have the happy endings you'd expect, some turn out in ways you would never dream of. Okay, "Chocolat" is a bit silly even for magical realism; what keeps it from being absurd are the wonderful performances of Depp and Binoche. But these films have all kinds of romance -- the sparkling surrealism of "Amelie," the stomach-tingling heaps of chocolate, the sweet lyricism of poetry, and the sexy, sensuous "Like Water."

Basically, the "Inspired Romance Collection" is a must-have for movie-loving romantics. Sweet, sexy, sparkling and may leave you feeling hungry for candy. A solid, beautiful collection.

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