Chocolate (2008)

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

Director:

Prachya Pinkaew

Writers:

Napalee (screenplay), Chookiat Sakveerakul (screenplay)

Stars:

JeeJa Yanin, Hiroshi Abe, Pongpat Wachirabunjong

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
JeeJa Yanin	...	Zen (as Yanin Vismitananda)
Hiroshi Abe	...	Masashi
Pongpat Wachirabunjong	...	No.8
Taphon Phopwandee	...	Mangmoon
Ammara Siripong	...	Zin (as Ammara Siriphong)
Dechawut Chuntakaro	...	Priscilla
Hiro Sano	...	Ryo (as Hirokazu Sano)
Aroon Wanatsabadeewong	...	Ice Factory Owner-Ice Man (as Aroon Wanasbodeewong)
Anusuk Jangajit	...	Candy Shop Owner
Nattakit Teachachevapong	...	Pork Man
Sirimongkhon Iamthuam	...	Boxer No.8 Henchman
Kittitat Kowahagul	...	Epileptic Boxer
Thanyathon Seekhiaw	...	Fur
Pirom Ruangkitjakan	...	Petch
Soumia Abalhaya	...	Boxer's Henchman

Storyline

When Zin, former girlfriend of a Thai mob boss, falls for Masashi, a Japanese gangster in Thailand, the boss banishes them: Masashi to Japan, and Zin, with her small daughter Zen, to live next to a martial arts school. Zen is autistic, with uncanny swift reflexes. She watches the students next door and Muay Thai movies, absorbing every technique. She's now a teen, and her mother needs chemotherapy. Zin has taken in a chubby kid, Moom, who watches over Zen. Moom finds a ledger listing business men who owe Zin money; he goes to them one at a time to collect in order to pay for Zin's treatment. Zen, with her martial skills, becomes his enforcer. A showdown with the boss is inevitable.

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Plot Keywords:

watching tv | pay phone | strong female lead | strong female character | tough woman | 

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Taglines:

She's sweet but deadly.

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence throughout, and brief sexuality/nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film originally included Zen watching scenes from Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies (in addition to Tony Jaa), but these scenes were eventually cut due to licensing problems. These licensing problems also caused other scenes to be removed from the original movie. The ice factory scene was originally shot as a split screen of Zen imitating the exact same moves she had seen Bruce Lee do in a fight scene from the movie The Big Boss (1971). It showed a clip of Bruce Lee doing his fight moves at the same time as Zen was mimicking Bruce Lee's moves. The warehouse scene was shot in a similar fashion, but this time it showed a split screen of Zen imitating Jackie Chan, wherein she would do her interpretation of a Jackie Chan fight routine. Eventually not only were the split screen scenes removed, but any scenes that involved Zen performing moves that too closely resembled fight sequences from Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan movies were all cut as well. The original full version that included these scenes has not been released anywhere in Thailand.

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Goofs

When the mob boss is informed that Zin and Masashi still have a relationship, a record can be seen being played on the record player. However, no music can be heard.

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Connections

Referenced in Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy (2018)

User Reviews

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+).

Please Rate Y/N After Read.

Details

Official Sites:

Vidio [Indonesia]

Country:

Thailand

Language:

Thai Japanese English

Release Date:

6 February 2008 (Thailand)

Also Known As:

Chocolate

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,180, 8 February 2009

Gross USA:

$14,845

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,179,014

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sahamongkol Film International, Baa-Ram-Ewe

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 90 min 90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1