http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE is a great coming-out party for the movie&rsquo;s young cast and talented director. They shine in this light, yet Shakespearean, werewolf love story. Agnes Bruckner is Vivian, a young American werewolf living in Bucharest, which is the only safe haven for her kind, creatures known as the loup garoux. These werewolves are shapeshifters &mdash; able to transform at will to their furry alter-animal selves. Her pack runs the town and their alpha dog, Gabriel (Olivier Martinez), is looking for a new mate, as he does every seven years; it seems she will be the lucky puppy. Vivian would rather &ldquo;free run&rdquo; across the picturesque European cobblestone streets. &nbsp; When she was a child, Vivian&rsquo;s immediate family was slaughtered, so she now she lives with her Aunt Astrid (Katja Reimann), the former lover of Gabriel and mother of his child, Rafe (Bryan Dick). Rafe needs a whack on the snout with a rolled-up paper right from his murderous get-go. He defies Gabriel&rsquo;s laws, and once Vivian&rsquo;s romantic interests are piqued by comic book writer Aiden (Hugh Dancy), he can&rsquo;t decide whether to act out on his daddy issues or his vague incestuous obsession with his cousin. Waiting to usurp his father, Rafe runs with a small litter; they look like boy-band castoffs and are just as articulate. This is where the ROMEO + JULIET borrowing really takes off. Young love &mdash;&nbsp; star-crossed, even &mdash;&nbsp; destructive obsession and an innocent union of warring factions; these are familiar themes, but not overdone here. The script plays it straight &mdash;&nbsp; if not too deep &mdash;&nbsp; but, ultimately, that makes it more enjoyable. en-US Critics Rant info@criticsrant.com Subtext Version 1.9.4.0 http://www.criticsrant.com/images/default_gravatar_bullhorn.png http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx 77 60 http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#768 If I hadn't gone into this movie with pre-expectations, I would have loved it and sung it's praises. The title and characters were taken from a book that was written several years ago, but bares absolutely no resemblance to it at all other than that. <br /><br />As a love story peppered with the peeks at the hidden society of a pack of werewolves, it was top notch and well done. I recently rented it and saw the deleted scenes and feel a little cheated that they were taken out. The deleted scene of Astrid committing suicide should have stayed in the original. But that's just my opinion. I got pulled into the story, and even though I love werewolves with a passion, found myself rooting for the human. Leighlia http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#768 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:59:22 GMT http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#960 I thought it was pretty good, except could almost tell what was going to happen next. LtlTruk http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#960 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:25:53 GMT http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#983 Left of Self-Centered Joseph Francis Joy The Field Where I Died Piljke FRONTLINE Wild Wild Mess Smad7 protein Lead Vocals Grey Death Elway Elway http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#983 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 23:51:13 GMT http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#998 List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 372 South American Lungfish Brasilia TV Tower Lapsed Catholic Panguitch, UT The New Archies El Cerrito (CA) Israel (country) Rap Music John Cooper (Skillet) John Cooper (Skillet) http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#998 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:52:26 GMT http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#1106 Loved It .....Loved It gfieldmama http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#1106 Sun, 05 Aug 2007 21:57:33 GMT http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#1579 alot of people said this movie was complete and utter doo doo. Those people usually got punched in the face. I personally thought it was everything it was supposed to be. Werewolves, violence, and hot chicks being werewolves and doing violence...problem? nah. Jackedunl http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#1579 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:28:29 GMT http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#1763 great movie loved it:) tinkluvspan http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#1763 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 12:45:31 GMT http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#1857 it was okay but i thought it would be better. ralphespinoza http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/06/15/Blood-and-Chocolate-or-An-American-Werewolf-in-Bucharest.aspx#1857 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 03:08:24 GMT