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78 of 81 found the following review helpful:
 Charming tale of love & magic Jun 09, 2007
By D. Matlack
"Guidedog"
Came across this by sheer accident and I'm very grateful for it.
"Mistress of Spices" is a nice cross between "Bell, Book, & Candle" and "Like Water for Chocolate", with a dash of "Practical Magic". The rules are the same the Heroine maintains her powers and influence over the lives of others though selflessness and the manipulation of food stuffs. However to fall in love will result in negative consequences.
Arguably the main character of the movie is the Spice Bazaar itself. The set is lush in color and design, it is so remarkable that while watching the movie you might feel as though you are standing right in the middle of it and will begin to imagine the scent of all the combined spices.
Aishwarya Rai's natural radiance gives Tilo a gentle warmth that conveys a concern for others with very little effort and it's nice to see Dylan McDermott return to playing a handsome romantic lead who combines sensuality with respect. The two leads are charming, classy and beautiful, the story is stimulating and dreamy in quality compared to so many other romance movies which leave nothing to the imagination.
For a soothing and vibrant viewing experince, a bit of romance, and a touch of class with a satisfying ending. This movie is highly recommended - especially for repeat viewings, the Spice Bazaar is a pleasant place to visit.
53 of 55 found the following review helpful:
 "Everyone Has A Spice" ~ An Intoxicating Fragrance To Be Absorbed As Much As Viewed Jun 16, 2007
By Brian E. Erland
"Rainbow Sphinx"
The rather obscure '05 release 'The Mistress of Spices' is a wonderfully engaging romance filled with magic and Hindu mysticism that caught my full attention from the beginning and carried me transfixed to the end. Aishwarya Rai and Dylan McDermott make an endearing couple trying to not only bridge the cultural gap between the two but also overcome the mystical connection between the beautiful Tilo (Aishwarya) and the exotic spices that fill her shop.
The key to the success or failure of this film is Aisharya's ability to make her spice store appear a magical space where she communicates with the fragrant essences surrounding her and exude a mystical essence about herself and her sacred duty as Spice Mistress. She does a magnificent job at both.
A rare treat awaits the unsuspecting viewer, I can't wait to watch it again!
31 of 32 found the following review helpful:
Old and New World co-exist Jun 21, 2007
By LMB
This movie was a delight to watch. It's simple presentation of tradition and the power it holds trying to bond with the here and now. It shows that you can hold on to your beliefs and values and still find happiness. Beautifully acted.............camera work wonderful.......director did a great job.
14 of 14 found the following review helpful:
much better than i expected Jun 05, 2007
By Ishtar
Aishwarya Rai's acting leaves a lot to be desired-- it's not at all bad, just not terribly notable. However, she plays this role with a kind of innocence and charm that make certain scenes that could be hokey, really pleasent to watch. She & Dylan McDermott have very good chemistry. The film is sexy and sensual all the way through. The back-story is a bit flimsy, but let's face it-- we're not watching this movie for the character's past, but for their present. Visually, it's stunning. Loved the saris, loved the mis-en-scene of the spice shop. Well done.
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
 "Are you ready to give up your own lives forever...for the spices?" May 27, 2007
By H. Bala
"Me Too Can Read"
Coincidentally enough, Tilo is named for the sesame seed, the spice of nourishment. From an early age, Tilo has been special, being gifted with second sight, although that wasn't enough to prevent a fatal tragedy from befalling her family. Tilo ends up in the care of an ancient Indian woman who instructs her and other young female students in the mystical ways of the spices. Tilo proves to be an apt pupil. When a girl is ready, she is dispatched to wherever she is most needed in the world. In Tilo's case, it's San Francisco. She sets up her Spice Bazaar shop in the Bay area and begins to dispense her spices to her patrons. Her rapport with the spices enables her to determine her customer's deepest needs and, thus, she is able to administer the proper potion and remedy (holy basil for memory, cinnamon for making friends, black cumin seeds for warding off the evil eye, etc.).
Her magical powers, though, come at a price as she must abide by three rules: she can never use the spices for own desires; she cannot leave the store; and she cannot touch anyone. As her teacher had sternly warned, "If a mistress fails her duty, the spices will punish her." So Tilo lives in quiet solitude even as she ably and selflessly serves her clientele. Until, that is, a handsome architect has a motorcycle accident in front of her shop...
The gorgeous Aishwarya Rai is a global star and is a phenomenon in her native India, but she isn't as well known here in the States. THE MISTRESS OF SPICES re-introduces her to the Western audience as she makes another bid to cross over, although, make no mistake, her allegiance is firmly to Indian cinema. But, yes, it's nice to stretch. She did really well with the well-received BRIDE AND PREJUDICE. She's also got the forthcoming THE LAST LEGION, which co-stars Colin Firth (crossing my fingers for that one). But, back to THE MISTRESS OF SPICES...
There's something so very sensuous about a girl indulging in tactile contact with her exotic spices. And when it's Aishwarya running her fingers thru a heap of sesame seeds, well, the hotness factor elevates by quite a bit. The photography work treats us to a delectable sight of herbs and spices (not to mention Aish herself) awash in glorious, lush colors. THE MISTRESS OF SPICES is lovely to look at. But here's the thing, I expected more from the film and more from Aishwarya. And, yes, maybe it's because I've seen the sublime Chocolat (Miramax Collector's Series) and the sumptuous Like Water for Chocolate, both of which also indulge in magical realism, so comparisons are inevitable. Like those two films, this one also falls into the same sub-genre in that it links foods with sensory delights (I mean, holy smokes, check out an artistically semi-nude Aishwarya lolling about on a bed of chile.). But, of the three films, this one, unfortunately, is the least.
Aishwarya is luminous, but her performance is bogged down with an excess of exposition. Her character provides the film voice-over and she also has a tendency to talk to her spices, of whom only the chiles seem to be responsive (think of the chiles as her disapproving uncle). While I believe Aish's acting is solid enough, she isn't given nearly enough to do. Meanwhile, Dylan McDermott is just plain inadequate as a leading man and has zero chemistry with Aishwarya. I found his character's backstory to be truly boring. Also, after a while, claustrophobia sets in as most of the scenes insist on taking place within her tiny shop. The film does invest some needed screen time on Tilo's customers, which include Haroun the cabbie and the tradition-minded grandfather, both of whom are likable. So, yeah, that was good.
I consider Aish to be the most beautiful woman in the world. If cast in the right role and with the proper director, she has the acting talent to shine (Want proof? See Devdas (2 Disc Set), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, and Raincoat). Unfortunately, her career's been undermined by several less than stellar feature films, and this one is well on its way to being placed in that category. THE MISTRESS OF SPICES is brought to you by the same folks who collaborated on Bend It Like Beckham (Widescreen Edition) and Bride and Prejudice, which are excellent. So what happened? Well, another flaw here is that one of the collaborators, screen writer Paul Mayeda Berges, chooses this film to make his directing debut. I can't help but think that MISTRESS... would've greatly benefited if Berges's wife, the higher profiled Gurinder Chadha, had instead been at the helm. At 95 minutes long, there's a dichotomy here in that this shorter film seems to actually be longer in length than her normal two-and-a-half hour long Bollywood ventures. Most of the plodding film constitutes Tilo tiringly moping and pleading with her spices. Ultimately, there's just something lifeless and decidedly lacking here, a missing ingredient. I dunno, maybe an energetic Bollywood musical number should've been thrown in to spice things up. So, a disappointed two and half stars for this one.
By the way, the special features aren't so special, having only a paltry three and a half minute long "Making Of" segment and a movie trailer.
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