2008 Woodie Awards
Movie Review: Blood and Chocolate
A sweet tooth for Valentine's
Paul Davis
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Vivian Gandillon (Agnes Bruckner) ends up moving from her home in Colorado to Bucharest when her family is shot by hunters. She is a werewolf and in Bucharest, the wolves rule the city from the shadows. She's to marry the head wolf, but instead falls in love with a starving artist, Aiden Galvin (Hugh Dancy).
The beginning is the life of Vivian. They introduce the werewolf social order, and establish that Vivian is to marry the leader of the Bucharest pack, Gabriel (Oliver Martinez). The tension for succession between Gabriel and his son was also created, pitting Vivian in the middle as she wanted nothing to do with royalty.
The social tension and the romantic story was built up in the first hour of the movie. The creators also set up the abilities and the past of characters. What surprised me most was a well placed montage that effectively got the point across that time had passed and Vivian and Aiden were in love.
The second hour wraps up the first hour nicely. The plot is slowly unwound. Where many other movies, such as "Underworld," had loose ends and abilities that didn't make sense, "Blood and Chocolate" made comments for all of the characters on their capabilities and eventually explained all of the major questions.
The soundtrack was good and the casting was very well done. The shots of Bucharest were also beautiful. The locations the directors picked for talking scenes were quite scenic.
The one point that bothered me about the movie came about through cinematography. They would blur and go into slow motion, and the whole time I wondered if it was really necessary. It was a neat effect back with "Mission Impossible: 2," but now it feels more like an annoyance and abuse of what's possible with special effects.
The well done story, beautiful location, well executed plot and setting, and great casting made this an amazing movie that had something missing for so long from supernatural movies: depth.
The beginning is the life of Vivian. They introduce the werewolf social order, and establish that Vivian is to marry the leader of the Bucharest pack, Gabriel (Oliver Martinez). The tension for succession between Gabriel and his son was also created, pitting Vivian in the middle as she wanted nothing to do with royalty.
The social tension and the romantic story was built up in the first hour of the movie. The creators also set up the abilities and the past of characters. What surprised me most was a well placed montage that effectively got the point across that time had passed and Vivian and Aiden were in love.
The second hour wraps up the first hour nicely. The plot is slowly unwound. Where many other movies, such as "Underworld," had loose ends and abilities that didn't make sense, "Blood and Chocolate" made comments for all of the characters on their capabilities and eventually explained all of the major questions.
The soundtrack was good and the casting was very well done. The shots of Bucharest were also beautiful. The locations the directors picked for talking scenes were quite scenic.
The one point that bothered me about the movie came about through cinematography. They would blur and go into slow motion, and the whole time I wondered if it was really necessary. It was a neat effect back with "Mission Impossible: 2," but now it feels more like an annoyance and abuse of what's possible with special effects.
The well done story, beautiful location, well executed plot and setting, and great casting made this an amazing movie that had something missing for so long from supernatural movies: depth.
Be the first to comment on this story