No Reservations (2007)

Wonderful Movie

No Reservations if one of those classic type movies that I can watch multiple times and never tire of it. Great movie. There should be more like it. November 16, 2008

No Reservations - Blu-ray Info

Version: U.S.A / Region A, B, C
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
VC-1 BD-25 / Advanced Profile 3
Running time: 1:44:18
Movie size: 16,15 GB
Disc size: 20,04 GB
Average video bit rate: 17.53 Mbps

Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps
Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 640 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps

Number of chapters: 24
Subtitles: English / English SDH / French / Spanish

#Food Network: Unwrapped - episode (hosted by Marc Summers - 23 min)
#Emeril Live - talk show episode (HD - hosted by Emeril Lagasse - 45 min) November 9, 2008

FOOD, LOVE, OPERA AND VOILA!

Kate (Zeta-Jones) is one of the top chef's in one of Manhattan's most renowned restaurants. She is known for her unbelievable unique dishes and for the flair in her cooking.

Her sister is coming to visit with her niece Zoe (Abigail Breslin). Then the unexpected happens and Kate gets a call at the restaurant. En route to arrive that evening, her sister and niece have been in a terrible car accident. Kate's sister is dead and Zoe is at the hospital.

Dealing with the grief of the loss of his sister, Kate throws herself more into her work. She is now mother to Zoe. Kate has never been good in relationships - she is not the most affable of people as all she thinks about is her kitchen and her cooking. Both Kate and Zoe are thrown together by chance and both are dealing with their grief. Zoe needs love and understanding as she has lost her mother and Kate has no idea how to provide that, as there is little warmth between them.

Meanwhile, Kate's sous chef is about to give birth, so she is replaced by Nick (Aaron Eckhart). Kate takes a week off as her overwhelming grief has eventually caught up with her. Upon her return to the restaurant, she finds Nick running her kitchen. His gregarious opera-loving manner is something that Kate is unprepared for and is quite unwelcome in her precise and well-run kitchen. He is light-hearted, witty and completely charming and Kate is certain that Nick's M.O. is to take over her kitchen. The war starts.

One night Kate brings Zoe to the restaurant as she has to work and cant leave Zoe at home alone. She is also beside herself, as Zoe will not eat any of the flamboyant dishes she has cooked for her. Zoe forms a tenuous bond with Nick and soon Kate is also drawn to his charm and how well he deals with Zoe.

Nick woos Kate and soon their relationship blossoms.

NO RESERVATIONS is very well cast - each actor plays their role to perfection. Zeta-Jones is magnificent in her role of top chef and struggling instant mother. Young Abigail Beslin - does a remarkable job in the woebegone Zoe (she is developing into a fine young actress) and Eckhart - who is sexy a hell - is the prince charming in the story! This is a terrific and touching film for those whose attraction is food, music and love!

PS! AWESOME SOUNDTRACK AS WELL! November 6, 2008

Sweet, but not as good as the original

I really enjoyed this movie. It's light, but has some emotional depth. It's sweet, but not cloying. It's fun, but no comedy. The soundtrack is playful and serious - opera and easy-listening, just like the movie.
However, I have to agree with other reviewers that the German original, Bella Martha, was superior in it's nuanced performance.
If you won't watch movies with subtitles and want a relatively clean (only suggested intimacy, nothing visible), sweet romance to watch on chick-flick night, this is a good choice. If you want a more subtle, endearing version of the film - watch the original. I own the original and borrow the remake :-)
October 30, 2008

Finally a feel good cozy movie!

I have been waiting for the next "When Harry Met Sally" movie. It has been years since a really good, feel good saturday afternoon movie has come along. One of those watch anytime, a hundred times, movies that eventually ends up on Oxygen or AMC. I love the music in this movie and have ordered the soundtrack to go with it.
The only downfall of this movie was that Catherine kind of sucks in this film. I am not a huge fan of hers anyway. She is beautiful, but her acting sucks. I think the part would have been better played by
Claire Danes. October 28, 2008

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