Chocolate (2008)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

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
Su-jeong Lim	...	Boxer's Henchwoman #1
Abalhaja Soumia	...	Boxer's Henchwoman #2

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

Company:

Baa-Ram-Ewe

Trivia:

The film that young Zen and Mangmoom watch is Ong-bak (2003). Zen also watches Tom yum goong (2005). Both films star Tony Jaa and were also directed by Prachya Pinkaew.

Movie Connections:

Features Tom yum goong (2005)

a cute little girl with a score to settle and outstanding martial arts skills takes revenge on her mother's wrong doers

what we have here are 2 major outlines on opposite poles of each other that best describe the movie. more like the angel on the left shoulder and the devil on the right if you will. the "dark" side of the movie portrayed as the "devil" brings about a negative sort of touch to the movie in terms of the script which is outrageosuly bad or in milder terms, too simple. the "angel" side of the movie shines in terms of choreography which is one of the best i've seen mostly because it is not repetitious and most of all, the heart of this movie reflects in the choreography's REALISTIC touch in the truest way possible. if you own the DVD version watch the end credits and you will know what i mean. the story is all common...one man army (in this case one-girl army...yes, people you've read correctly not one-woman, but ONE-GIRL ARMY)which sets about to bring justice with a personal touch to the one she loves most...her mother, but the incredible action/fighting scenes are even more complicated given the fact the girl is autistic, and as much as they're complicated they're gratious and extremely well executed especially with the slow-motion camera. after the 30-minute mark, gradually we are introduced in the world of martial arts at its finest, with a gradual build-up of simple moves which later enchant the eyes as they transform in spectacular acrobatics. the last half hour of the movie (besides the main character), is the crown jewel of this flick, as the viewer is treated to a whopping!!!! 20 minutes of non-stop!!!! action sequences and fine acrobatics. all-in-all the summary looks something like this: poorly written script with a story that excels in action/acrobatics...in other words choreography at its finest. the latter makes up big time in terms of what the script is lacking but given these circumstances i think a truly martial arts fan can easily overlook the only big minus of this movie...the script. if the script would've been more complex, this could easily have passed for the perfect movie of its gender, but you cant have them all, can you ? still it is a good one to watch, totally entertaining. and on one last note, the plot says "an autistic woman...." the character is a girl not a woman, there is a major difference between the two. peace all and enjoy this bruce-lee stylized flick.