"Chocolate" DVD Review - Written by Anthony Thurber

Chocolate
Year: 2009
Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Studio: Magnet Releasing
Stars: Yanin Mitanada, Hiroshi Abe, Pongpat Wachirabunjong
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 92 Mins.
Language: Thai with English Subtitles

“Chocolate” is an import from Thailand. The film is about a young girl with a disability, who learns to fight, from watching TV and a martial arts training facility, near her house. Things in her life take a turn for the worst, when her mother becomes sick and can’t afford care. She would find in her mothers possessions, a diary that contains a list of debtors that her mother never collected on. The woman then begins on a violent quest to find those people, who owe her mother money. That quest will lead her to the father that she never knew and a member of the Yakuza that wants her mother dead.

Film Review:

Chocolate is fast paced action film that succeeds, in the both the action and dramatic departments. Prachya Pinkaew direction was very fast paced on the action, while letting the film’s story develop that you’re emotionally invested with the main character. The action here was very good. The reason for that, Pinkaew goes a great making sure that choreographed action is fast paced and intense. That’s one of the main factors, for a martial arts film, with the other being the story, which I talk about in a minute. He also does a good job using various stop motion techniques for the action scenes and animation for a dream sequence, to grab your attention and make it different, from other films of this genre. Pinkaew also does a very good job with the acting. One of the main things that made this film good, I was able to feel a connection, with the lead character and her mother. Those roles were played were very well, as he wants you feel a certain connection, between those two. That helps make the dramatic parts of film, become very dramatic.

Another thing that makes a marital arts film good, the fact that you need a good story. This film has it here. Screenwriters, Chukiat Sakveerakul and Nepalee Sakveerakul creates a story that’s action packed, while adding dramatic elements that to make you emotionally invested. I liked how the screenwriters don’t make this an all out action fest. They do that, by creating a plot, where the main character is mentally disabled and has a special connection with her mother. It helps give a dramatic aspect that make you interest, in this relationship. It also helps that the screenwriters spends time going into the main characters childhood. That was done, to explain why she has this condition and how the people in her life have helped her live through this. I liked how, they also don’t exploit it to the point, where it’s disgusting and irreprehensible, which it could have easily gone. They develop the character fully, from her relationship with her best friend to her mother that she loves, so much. It makes the character, very likeable and makes you want to root her on, as this is martial arts version of “ Rain Man”.

DVD Extras:

If there was one that was lacking with this entire film, it was the fact that this disc has a nine minute behind the scenes featurette that spend it’s time just talking about the main star of the film and the training that she had go thought. I would like to have known more about the production, from the other cast members, as it would have provided more information and stories about the film’s production.

Rounding out this lackluster disc is trailers for “Let the Right One In”, “TimeCrimes” and “Special”.

Chocolate is an action packed film that has focus on action, while developing an entertaining dramatic story.

Review Rating: Four Stars.
DVD Extras: One Star.