May
17
2008
Chocolate
Posted by luna6
Movies: Chocolate
Release Date: February 6, 2008
Country: Thailand
Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Starring: Yanin Vismitananda, Ammara Siripong, Hirsohi Abe
Runtime: 110 Min
Editor Rating: 7.5
Users Rating: 8 
(24 votes)
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Autistic kung-fu fighting girl, Thai gangs vs the Japanese Yakuza, gun toting transvestites, and a cancer stricken mom all come together in Prachya Pinkaew’s lastest film “Chocolate.” If you have watched prior Prachya Pinkaew films like “Ong-bak” or “Tom yum goong” you know the man can create serious action. The kind of stuff where your jaw hits the floor and you scratch your head in amazement. Prachya’s latest film, “Chocolate,” follows the path of his earlier films, laying down scene after scene of well choreographed mayhem. “Chocolate” even stands out a bit more than his past films, because of the casting of Yanin Vismistananda as the memorable young heroine Zen.
In “Chocolate” Yakuza member Masashi falls in love with Thai gang member Zin. To avoid an all out gang war, Masashi returns to his native Japan. He leaves behind Zin who, unbeknown to Masashi, is pregnant with their lovechild.
Zin than attempts to live a quite life while raising her daughter Zen. Doctors then inform Zin that her daughter suffers from a form of mental disability. It seems Zen is autistic, with enhanced sensory abilities and a knack for the martial arts.
Fast forward several years later and Zen is now a young teenager. Her mom is now stricken with cancer and unable to pay for needed hospital care. Zen and her childhood friend Mooma, must now use any means necessary to retrieve old debts owed to her mother by associates from her Thai gang days.
Yanin Vismistananda, as the autistic Zen, literally and figuratively kicks major ass in “Chocolate”. Having the appearance reminiscent of a young Chizuru Ikewaki and some of the spunk of Du-na Bae, Yanin dominates the screen with equal parts charm and deadly fighting skills. If you’re wondering about those scenes, Yanin Vismistananda first started Taekwondo lessons at the age of 11, became a black belt, and trained in Muy Thai for 4 years prior to filming “Chocolate.” Hiroshi Abe also makes a striking supporting role appearance as Masashi (his sword wasn’t as long as it was in “The Sword of Alexander” but he did seem to use it well).
Yes its easy to pick faults with “Chocolate.” The script at times feels like nothing more than a promising outline, the action sequences feel a bit repetitious (only 1 or 2 scenes with Zen & Mooma collecting mom’s debt would have been enough), and most of the ancillary characters were simple caricatures of good and evil. Yet, with all those faults, “Chocolate” was still able to amaze. Similar to “Carved:A Slit Mouthed Woman” with its many faults, but still able to mesmerize with its insanely creepy main character, “Chocolate” is able to rise above its many faults and mesmerize with its insanely charismatic main character. “Hiii-yyyaahhhhhh!!!”
Cast:
JeeJa Yanin
Yanin Vismitananda - Zen
Ammara Siripong - Zin
Hiroshi Abe - Masashi
Pongpat Wachirabunjong - No. 8
If you like this movie you may enjoy: City of Violence, My Wife is A Gangster, Carved
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2008 Movie Reviews, Movies, Thai Movies |
Comments
7 Comments so far
Anyone know the name of the song they play during the ending credits?
I actually was born and grew up in Thailand for a bit, though I am not Thai myself. I consider this movie really good for a Thai movie, since they lack a lot of resources compared to many of the other Asian countries.
@mwani ummm…this movie does not completely suck. First off muay thai is not an easy fighting technique to aquire and does require a lot of strength. You need strength to train in Muay Thai, so how can she not have a lot of strength. For a girl at her age she is good. I don’t think you see the real skill that she has, because you are to mesmerized by Hollywood action. Me and my brother both train under my father in muay thai and believe me she has skill. Plus, all the actors in Thai production usually have to do there own stunts, well b/c of production costs and in asia “you just do your own stunts.” Thats more than better compared to American actors who have other ppl do their stunts for them. I’m not in the movie business but fighters know other fighters.
Your right she is no Tony Jaa, but come on give the girls some credit.
In Thailand she is claimed to be the female Tony Jaa and i think in the future she will be.
This movie sucks! She does like one hot move in the whole movie, i mean.. she has good potential but she is obviously just a kid. so its easy to see that most of the moves she is doing have no power, yet somehow the bad guys act like she is realllly powerful. They tried to portay her as tony jaa when it’s better for her to portray herself. In other words dont try and make me think think this kid has jaa-like power moves, instead play to her strengths more.
i love martial movies and i think the fighting scenes in this one are just amazing. the girl is amazing too and so pretty!! she does look like Chizuru Ikewaki and at times a bit like Yuu Aoi!!
Actually this is one of the few martial arts movies that has a bit of a storyline.
Watched it, and I thought there were too many mini-action scenes. Would have been better if they combined some of the earlier ones. Anyways, I just wish they had a decent storyline.
Thailand now is the country to watch with First Tony jaa en now JeeJaa !
Lets hope in the next movie they will start together !
PS The outtakes at the end were awesome also, like watching a jackie chan movie…