Chocolate (2008)

Director:

Prachya Pinkaew

Writers:

Napalee (screenplay)
Chukiat Sakveerakul (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 February 2008 (Thailand)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

Taste the fury.

Plot:

An autistic woman with powerful martial art skills looks to settle her ailing mother's debts by seeking out the ruthless gangs that owe her family money.

Plot Keywords:

Autistic | Debt | Martial Arts | Star Crossed Lovers | Abacus

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

JeeJa Yanin	...	Zen (as Yanin Vismitananda)
Hiroshi Abe	...	Masashi
Pongpat Wachirabunjong	...	No. 8
Taphon Phopwandee	...	Mang Moom
Ammara Siripong	...	Zin
Dechawut Chuntakaro	...	Priscilla
Hiro Sano	...	Ryo (as Hirokazu Sano)
Aroon Wanatsabadeewong	...	Ice Man / Factory owner
Anusuk Jangajit	...	Candy Man / Shop owner
Nattakit Teachachevapong	...	Pork Man / Slaughterhouse Owner
Kittitat Kowahagul	...	Epileptic Boxer
Thanyathon Seekhiaw	...	Fur
Pirom Ruangkitjakan	...	Petch
Abalhaja Soumia	...	Boxer's Henchwoman #2
Silpakorn Mongkolnimite	...	Masashi (3 years old)

Also Known As:

Chocolate (USA)
Fury (Malaysia: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence throughout, and brief sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

110 min | Canada:90 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:90 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | UK:92 min

Country:

Thailand

Language:

Thai | English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Hong Kong:IIB | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:18 | Malaysia:18SG | Argentina:16 | USA:R | South Korea:18 | Japan:PG-12 | Australia:MA (2009) | New Zealand:R16

Company:

Baa-Ram-Ewe

Trivia:

Some of the actors got injured and two had to be hospitalized during the shooting because no stunts or body wires was used in the movie.

Movie Connections:

Features Ong-bak (2003)

Don’t Make Fight Club Out of Rambo

Well, I’m Thai and there is something foreigner needs to know is that no matter what, Thai people will only (I meant ONLY) opted for action movie over everything else. So I guess the studio mostly made this kind of movie just for the marketing scheme.

For what I see this isn’t that bad of an idea, only which it has not been executed that properly. How can anyone complain about its story, it is like a bloody riff off Kill Bill plus Rain Man, and I see no one complain about that.

For what I see the movie has some potential (too much riff off) but it was an Asian action flick, so I won’t go serious on it. At least I feel the story has something more than trying to bring back the statue head to the village (Talk about Ong Bak). Zen was trying to get her money back to look after her sick mother.

Anyway the real action seems nice but much slower than men so it looks kind of odd and set up for each frame of shot. But it still work, cause if the series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer can make it big, this will put girls into an awe. Jeeja is so cute!!! A fight scenes seem a bit too long.

The acting was so-so as expected, Thai actors are never was good, even years in the business; they are still as horrible as they first day on the job. Why this movie will work more than anything else was the casting of a female protagonist: Jeeja. A girl that kick ass; girls always love that. And she is so cute!!!! Did I say that already???

The direction and editing was so-so but at least there are no repetition of each stunt from different angles shot which he did in Ong Bak, which I must say dated and lame!! So that is good news. The used of cartoon like in Kill Bill add some coloration to the movie. The score was alright. And the set was very set up.

One thing that is definitely Thai is that, it is always darn hard to get your many back once you loan it out.

Last Words: Don’t take it too serious; don’t make Fight Club out of Rambo. The movie is pretty alright for what it is.

Recommendation: Yes, why not, it was fun.

Reason To Watch: Fight, female protagonist, Jeeja!!!!!

Reason Not To: Close minded, Riff-off, Can’t stand girls beating up men.

Rating: 7/10 (Grade: C+).

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