Merand's review
Chocolat
by Joanne Harris
I didn't much like the film for the very reason you didn't like the book, too much had been sanitized and/or changed in order to fit the conventional length of a film. The story seemed insipid on screen.
I completely agree, and I haven't even seen the film to compare it with, but it definitely came across as an unnecessary attack on religion.
Merand's review
Chocolat by Joanne Harris
Merand's review
rating:
I loved the movie...but I didn't enjoy the book. Actually, I didn't finish it either because I just wasn't enjoying it. Too many details had been changed from the movie and what really bothered me was the priest. I'm certainly not denying that priests/religious figures have their problems or are total hypocrites and I'm not denying that many horrible things have been done in the name of religion BUT I am tired of reading books where the evil character is the religious leader. Inevitably the priest is bad, hypocritical, hyperreligious, and out to get the poor misunderstood, abused hero of the book. It's just so stereotypical and happens all too often. For once I would like to read a book where the priest actually is good and truly believes in and lives what he preaches (something besides Mitford). They are certainly out there in real life; why can't they be out there in the books too? Plus, Vianne's total unbelief in God and her opinion of how Christianity is stupid and just ano...more
I didn't much like the film for the very reason you didn't like the book, too much had been sanitized and/or changed in order to fit the conventional length of a film. The story seemed insipid on screen.
I completely agree, and I haven't even seen the film to compare it with, but it definitely came across as an unnecessary attack on religion.