For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Continuing my plan to watch every Johnny Depp movie in order, I come to The Ninth Gate.When this was announced I was disgusted Depp would work with Roman Polanski. I decided to still see it in cinemas, as I did everything Depp made back then. I think my disgust may have clouded my judgement as I hated it. And like Fear & Loathing, I have never revisited it, despite the DVD sitting in my collection for over a decade. Depp is once again solid, but this movie is not two of his better hours. Frank Langella normally brightens up any movie just by having his name in the cast. But here he is in pantomime villain mode!! He even shouts "Boo" at one point!! Depp's Donnie Brasco costar James Russo has a role as Depp's trusted friend Bernie. Who says his loyalty is 100%, unless there is money, women or work involved.I'm still not sure what happened at the end, as it is certainly not clear!! The Ninth Gate grossed $18 million dollars at the domestic box office, not landing a spot on the highest 100 grossing movies of the year.Depp met Vanessa Paradis whilst filming this movie in France, he promptly fell in love with her and moved to France. There was no more arrests, no more trashed hotel rooms and outside of one incident early in their relationship, there were no more fights with paparazzi either. The next 5 years would be the most stable period of Depp's adult life.

I love chocolate and in this movie it is like a supporting actor: many scenes evolve around it being eaten or while it is being made. I really had to visit the local chocolaterie on my way home...It is a movie to be enjoyed by the whole family, with some odd moments that can be described as humorous, and some clichés that may only be considered realistic if one had the experience of living in a small town, where everyone knows everyone and gossip is the favorite pastime.As a confessed chocoholic I enjoyed this movie but I must admit that its slow pace and story line may not appeal to everyone.

Having lived allover the World as U.S. Military, living at Villages just like this Chocolat 1959 Village, except from the 1960s till decades later. This movie is so accurate of life in a village, but not a stereotype.Some of the villages I lived at were even smaller. A dozen homes and businesses at the center surrounded by miles of farmland and some (large) homes within walking distance of the center of the village. Typical of the villages I lived at orange ceramic tile roofs, with white buildings, cobblestone streets.Takes months to years for the locals to trust you. But once they do, their trust is for life.Some of the Common Rules. Church on Sunday absolutely no work. Saturday Recreation no loud noise work like mowing the lawn, expected that you are at the local Village Bar, Tavern, Gasthaus Saturday Evening to discuss anything. Police yourself and each other, as the nearest Law Enforcement is miles away at the nearest Town, this adds an extra layer of Security as if a Villager sees something suspicious everybody knows within minutes with a dozen or more Villagers taking a look. Every Year you were expected to participate in the dozen or more Village Festivals celebrating Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Planting, Harvest, Beer, Wine, whatever crop(s) they grow, Founder's Day, and many more or be considered "Anti Social".

This is truly a "Feel Good" movie. A movie that I love to watch and watch again and again, especially when I feel bad. A very nice story, full of sweetness and sweets. Great actors, beautiful music, very nice scenery. It shows a very nice small French village, very typical, very authentic. The characters are very interesting, each one got a specific character and even the "bad guys" can be "liked" in some ways. Every one has a special history. Well just a little touch of everything to make a delicious movie to watch alone or not :) And not to say that it speaks of CHOCOLATE and for a chocolate lover it's just the PERFECT "Feel Good" movie to watch with a real hot chocolate (with spicy pepper) !!!