Chocolate (2008)

Simply A Masterpiece

Better Late Then Never

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

This movie that exceeded my expectations. Not only did it have better action than your average martial arts movie, but it also had a good story with great drama.It was a mix between exciting and exceptionally-executed action and emotionally resonant yet really sad drama. The action scenes were shot and done well, even with a budget of only about 4M USD. The drama was surprising for a martial arts movie. While not that complicated, it managed to be really sad and interesting in the way that it made you feel for the characters.When compared to all those other martial arts movies out there, it's hard to believe this didn't become a worldwide sensation.Don't miss this movie. The action is great. The drama is better than even your average drama movie.+ Great action+ Drama is sad and engaging+ Better story than most martial arts moviesUnrealisticScript could be a little betterScore: 10. Great action and great drama.

Read a couple reviews here ranting about how great it was, but I really don't see it.The plot is really poor, the acting below average and not even the fighting was impressive.The first 15 minutes were also rather confusing where I found myself not knowing what was going on, after that I did get the hang of it though but yeah I really didn't like it at all and found myself bored a lot, which is pretty impressive for a action-movie that only is about 82 minutes long without the credits.If you want to watch a entertaining martial arts flick that you might not have heard about instead why not go with 'Legendary Assassin' AKA 'Long Na' from 2008. It doesn't have that much food for thought either but at least it entertains and got some wicked buttkicking.

CAUTION, THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!! As far as martial arts films go, this film rates about a 7 or 8. However, Jeeja Yanin in the staring role was, in my opinion, a brilliant move by the director. Her portrayal of an Autistic Child was spot on (having cared for a few, some severe, some less so, and some considered "functional). I was VERY impressed by her ability to portray autism as realistically as she did. Not to mention her very real skills as a martial artist puts the rating up to a 10 IMHO. The fight scenes in the movie were, I feel, very well done, and her final fight scene (WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!!!) against a boy with Turrettes Syndrome was, I believe, not only well done, but realistically done as well. I was very glad to obtain this movie and watch it on a fairly regular basis.For those reviewers who felt the acting was poor, script poor, or the storyline "stilted"... that, of course is their opinion and they are entitled to that opinion. I, however, found no fault with any of the parts of the film, save one: it might have been longer. I would have loved to see more action and possibly a more in depth explanation of the early relation between Zin and her Yakuza lover.

The narrative of this film follows much of the usual conventions of most heartbreak stories, forbidden love, gangsters and money. However the focus of the film then completely shifts to the story of the daughter of this forbidden love, with the introduction of its main character Zen. At birth we see her diagnosed with a brain deficiency that causes her to learn slower than other children, despite this seemingly life altering condition she becomes fueled at the thought of learning martial arts. While watching others practice around her and obsessively watching martial arts movies and learning as much as she can, she becomes ever more the fighting machine. When hard times befall her mother, who is seeking treatment for cancer, Zen and a friend try and get back money they find out she has been owed. Setting out against crooked businessmen she confronts hers fears and spares no punches to get the money to save her mother. This film brilliantly delivers a mix of story and action while at the same time managing to keep the feel of the action authentic, hard hitting, realistic and nothing over the top, as can sometimes be the case with even the best martial arts films. Demonstrating just how painful the stunts are in this film becomes especially obvious toward the end, where a montage of a few of the films more dangerous moments highlights the risks people will go to deliver a great action sequence. As someone who has always been a great fan of martial arts films this one has high praise from me for its uncompromising start from the beginning until the end.