Chocolate poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Yanin Vismitananda, Hiroshi Abe, Ammara Siripong, Taphon Phopwandee, Pongpat Wachirabunjong ... see more see more... , Sirimongkol Iamthuam , Dechawut Chuntakaro , Hirokazu Sano , Aroon Wannasbodeewong , Anusuk Jangajit , Nattakit Teachachevapong , Kittitat Kowahagul , Thanyathon Seekhiaw , Pirom Ruangkitjakan

A kickboxing hero with a difference arises in this action saga from Thailand. Japanese mobster Masashi (Hiroshi Abe) and his Thai partner and girlfriend, Zin (Ammara Siripong), narrowly escape death a... read more read more...t the hands of underworld boss Number 8 (Pongpat Wachirabunjong) and his bodyguard Priscilla (Sirimongkol Iamthuam), but the scuffle has unexpected consequences -- Masashi's superiors order him to return to Japan, and Zin finds she's pregnant with his child. Zin raises their daughter, Zen (Yanin Vismitananda), on her own and discovers she's autistic; one of the few things that helps bring Zen out of her inner world is chocolate, and in time the girl develops a remarkable skill in the martial arts. When Zin is diagnosed with cancer, the family cannot afford the chemotherapy that could save her life until her friend Moom (Taphon Phopwandee) comes up with a plan -- plenty of people still owe Zin money from her days as an outlaw, and with Zen as a candy-fueled enforcer, he might be able to get them to pay up and raise the funds for Zin's medical bills. Chokgohlaet (aka Chocolate) was directed by Prachya Pinkaew, who previously made several pictures starring Thai martial arts master Tony Jaa. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

73% liked it

11,443 ratings

Critics

73% liked it

33 critics

R, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Prachya Pinkaew

Release Date: February 6, 2008

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: February 10, 2009

Stats: 1,132 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Chocolate official film still Blu-ray box art official film still official film still DVD box art official film still official film still Chocolate official film still Chocolate
Upload a Photo | View All Chocolate Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (1,132)

  • lewiskendell
    December 25, 2010
    lewiskendell
    Imagine Ong-Bak or The Protector with better production values and a young girl as the main character instead of Tony Jaa. That's Chocolate, in a nut shell.

    As a martial arts movie, it's not bad. Zen is an autistic girl who has the amazing ability to perfectly copy the fighting ... read moremoves that she sees, be they on television or from watching students practice across the street from her house. And she uses them to great effect to help her mother get the money she needs for her expensive medicine, as well as to fight off various thugs and bad guys from her mother's past. The fight scenes are pretty good, even though really the only thing separating them from the fight scenes in the movies I mentioned earlier is that the impressive attacks and acrobatics are being done by JeeJa Yanin instead of Tony Jaa. She clearly is quite talented at fight choreography and acrobatics, and she's not a bad actress, either. Playing a person with a disorder with as many variations as autism can be a tricky thing, but I think she did pretty well.

    My main issue with Chocolate is that it's a less brutal movie than Ong Bak, and because of that, the novelty of the unique situation of the main character is really the only thing that sets it apart from the many other decent martial arts flicks that are available. It's solid fun the first time around, but there's not enough here to warrant additional viewings.
  • garyX
    October 12, 2010
    garyX
    An autistic young girl with a natural aptitude for martial arts uses her skills to recoup money owed to her cancer stricken mother, unaware that they were all members of the criminal underworld. The Karate Kid meets Rain Man in a film from the producers of Ong Bak, famous for the... read more remarkable physical performance of its star that relied on pure skill rather than SFX and wire work. The fight scenes of Chocolate are similarly bone crunching and the brutal reality of the violence on show is underlined by the out-takes reel; it's painful to even watch! The major difference between the two films is the fact that the protagonist is a sweet natured girl which does away with all the usual posturing, macho bullshit that usually accompanies this kind of thing; it's a lot more fun watching a young girl matter of factly flattening bad guys than the usual testosterone soaked meat head. It also lacks the rather distasteful xenophobia of Ong Bak making it a film that's a lot easier to like. The story is daft as hell of course, but let's face it, no-one watches martial arts films for the sophisticated plot. The fight scenes are frenetic and fun, the characters likable enough for you want to root for them and it's executed with style and enough of a leash on the more saccharine soaked elements to the story to avoid nausea. Plus I'd pay good money to see Ammara Siripong pummel Steven Seagal's smug, fat face in.
  • EightThirty
    March 8, 2010
    EightThirty
    03/03/2010 (DVD)

    WHO DOESN'T LIKE CHOCOLATE?!!

    STUNNING! This is a film for those who have a sweet tooth for ACTION! A movie that both girls and boys will enjoy.

    It starts off as a delicate drama about a girl who is disabled, but... it then blends into this 'WOW' thing. It j... read moreust blows you away and you find yourself excited as she finds her autistic gift which is unfortunately a curse to those who cross her path.

    It has heart wrenches filled with fist clenching moments and it leaves your face in screws when you see what she can do to her enemies.

    --This is "ONG BAK" meets "THE OTHER SISTER".,. Brilliant!!
  • deano
    January 17, 2010
    deano
    I loved Chocolate in all its glory. Look out for the amazing fight-scene with the Adidas Capocira kid. Thai actress JeeJa Yanin is an amazing female martial artist and stuntwoman since Tony Jaa in Ong Bak as what I thought she's following Jaa's steps. And she is so ... read morecute!!!
    An autistic girl (played by Yanin) with the powerful martial arts skill attempts to collect on the debts of her sick mother. This movie is not well written, and requires some patience from the viewer to slug through the early moments. Once the 30 minute mark arrives, however, the viewer is treated to one of the most amazing displays of asskicking by a female protagonist in the history of action cinema.
    There are a few homages that last a few minutes at most (a few Bruce Lee references, a locker scene reminiscent of Jackie Chan, and some footage from Tony Jaa's movies).
  • ScoopOnline
    December 15, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    She's sweet but deadly.
  • rezpatriot
    December 12, 2009
    rezpatriot
    Its a kung fu movie, with a good idea behind it. The leading woman is an autistic girl with a knack for beating down everyone who owes her mum money. Original and highly recommended.
  • kiriyamakazou
    July 5, 2009
    kiriyamakazou
    Ong-Bak meets Rain Man in a martial arts action film about a young autistic girl. Chocolate is a film most will watch for the action, and it doesn't disappoint. Plenty of furious and frantic set pieces choreographed and executed in ways Hollywood could only dream of. The end cred... read moreits show just how dangerous it is for these stunt artists. The fight scenes also range in their emotional impact. Some are funny with a bit of slapstick thrown in. Some are endearing and warm you to the protagonist, and some are all out serious. With an autistic girl and a dying mother in a forbidden relationship it would have been easy to overplay the melodrama. Luckily the relationships simply make it easier to be more involved with the fights. The final fight involving a narrow alleyway and sign jumping is wonderfully brought to life. It's a great experience even if the Ong-Bak plugs become fairly groan worthy.
  • DrZeek
    May 5, 2009
    DrZeek
    Trailer: She's a special needs girl...with a special need...to kick some ass.

    From the creators of the entertaining Tony Jaa films, Ong-Bak and The Protector, comes a martial arts flick that focuses on a young autistic girl who literally learns how to fight using those previousl... read morey mentioned films. Despite a lengthy first act, once this film gets going, it works at delivering some action.

    The plot involving this girl involves rival gang members, an affair, and the resulting child. Years later, money is owed, the daughter discovers ability to fight, gets money back the hard way. That's about it, yet the movie tries hard to make the plot work.

    The action is what matters and its a lot of fun to watch. I enjoyed Zen, the lead girl quite a bit as well.

    Zen: Mom's Money! Mom is in hospital!
  • Beefy
    February 13, 2009
    Beefy
    Surprising film from the Ong Bak crew about mentally handicapped girl that learns how to fight and decides to use it to help her mother. While it is ultimately a silly fight film, the emotion and compassion for humanity between the mom and daughter ran true for me. Not somethin... read moreg you normally see in a film like this.
  • skactopus
    October 2, 2008
    skactopus
    First comes Ong Bak. Then there is Tom Yum Goong. Now here is Chocolate. Director, Prachya Pinkaew, still isn't an award winning director in my book, but his films keep getting more entertaining.

    The marketing for this flick revolves around the action an

    ... read mored that is what this film delivers. Now, there is some story here and it all happens in the first 30 minutes. Instead of diving into the action and opening with a bang, Chocolate is a slow burn for the first half an hour. It all focuses on growing up with the main character of Zen. Throughout this part you see her watching Tony Jaa and Bruce Lee movies and you are just dying to see her fight. They hint at it a few times, but nothing explosive ever happens. That's OK, because that just makes the last 50 minutes that much sweeter, like chocolate. No pun intended.

    During the final 50 minutes the story gradually deteriorates and the action takes over. There is TONS of it and with each fight they add something new. The dojo scene is fantastic and the fight on the side of the building is a stunt man's dream. It really is something else. In fact, all the fights are really something. It truly is great to see a female kick some ass.

    JeeJa Yanin has huge potential at martial arts and she does a good job at playing an autistic woman. Hiroshi Abe also lifts up the acting. Everyone else is pretty much forgettable.

    In the end, there isn't much to the story, but this is all about the action. If you like martial arts, you owe it to yourself to give this a try. I'm going to go get some chocolate now.

View All Chocolate Reviews

Critic Reviews

Wesley Morris
March 12, 2009
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

It's called Chocolate, but Cheese would have been just as good. Soaked with tears, full of schmaltz, and yet strewn with bodies, Prachya Pinkaew's new kick-'em-up is extreme action, extreme melodrama,... Full Review

Mark Olsen
February 6, 2009
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times

It boils down to this: Thai girl fighting. Is that enough of a movie for you? Full Review

Nathan Lee
February 6, 2009
Nathan Lee, New York Times

Chocolate is risibly sentimental even for a genre not known for its emotional sophistication. Full Review

Jim Ridley
February 3, 2009
Jim Ridley, Village Voice

The world may not have needed a Thai-language martial-arts hybrid of Kill Bill and Rain Man, but by God, it's got one now. Full Review

Russell Edwards
October 18, 2008
Russell Edwards, Variety

A less tasty martial-arts actioner featuring an autistic kickboxing queen energized by confectionery. Full Review

Don Willmott
May 3, 2009
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com

Ultimately there isn't much of a movie here, just a series of great-looking and expertly filmed showdowns that are worth the price of a rental Full Review

Jeffrey Chen
April 8, 2009
Jeffrey Chen, Window to the Movies

Anyone knows we all come here just to see the girl kick serious behind. At least she does just that, and after a while Chocolate mainly and plainly feels like the exhibition that it is. Full Review

Cynthia Fuchs
March 8, 2009
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters

Chocolate (Chokgohlaet) offers sensational martial arts set pieces -- beautifully choreographed, exquisitely colored, and acrobatically shot. Full Review

Michael Dequina
February 26, 2009
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

Vimistananda is nothing less than an awe-inspiring force of nature. Full Review

Mark Pollard
February 18, 2009
Mark Pollard, Kung Fu Cinema

A sweet treat for martial arts movie buffs despite lightly bitter flaws. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • El Bulli: Cooking In Progress
    El Bulli: Cooking In Progress (100%)
  • Clash
    Clash (100%)
  • Raging Phoenix (Deu suay doo)
    Raging Phoenix (Deu suay doo) (100%)
  • So Close
    So Close (100%)

More Movies like Chocolate

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Chocolate : Watch Free on TV

Chocolate Trivia

  • Which child from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory turns into a giant blueberry?   Answer »
  • Which child from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory gets sucked up a pipe after falling into the chocolate river?   Answer »
  • How many kids win a trip into Willy Wonka's factory in the 2005 movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?  Answer »
  • Who does Charlie take with him to the factory in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory?   Answer »
More Chocolate Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Chocolate. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Chocolate Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Chocolate to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View Chocolate News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?