Chocolate by Prachya Pinkaew (2008)
23 June 2008Pinkaew’s latest Thai actioner, and his first since his much publicized break with Tony Jaa is still good clean fun. Reminds me of the height of 1990’s Hong Kong action focusing on a girl this time. And even though Jeeja Yanin (Yanin Vismitandana) cannot come close to Tony Jaa in martial arts skills, it is still fun as hell to see a girl kicking this much ass. Sure once again the story is barely believable, but really we are here to see the action, and this is action if good clean fun. Thailand has really taken over the action crown from Hong Kong, and I am perfectly happy with that occurrence if they are going to make fun films like this.
A Japanese Yakuza in Thailand named Masahi (Hiroshi Abe) falls for a high level Thai gangster named Zin (Ammara Sirpong). The Thai boss No. 8 (Pongpat Wachirabunjong) doesn’t like it though and forces the couple to break up, with Masahi returning to Japan and Zin retiring and raising their child on her own. She learns that their child Zen is autistic, and will require special care. Zen is emotionally and mentally stunted, but physically she is a genius, able to memorize complex physical maneuvers, and martial arts, and having lighting fast reflexes, so she memorizes the martial arts she watches, like those of Tony Jaa (and obviously Bruce Lee since she makes his sounds when she fights). Zen grows (Yanin Vismitiandana) and her childhood friend Moom (Taphon Phopwandee) realizes it, and uses her skills as a street performer to make money, though it gets them in trouble when roughians come after them and Zen must fight. Zin meanwhile is very sick, having cancer, and they need money to pay for her hospital bills. Moom finds a book which shows people that owe money to Zin and he goes with Zen to go and collect the money, thinking it is from friends and not from gangsters.
REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS…
Of course the gangsters get rough, and at first they lave, but Zen returns at night and kicks some ass and gets the money, and the friends continue to go collect the money, but their acts get No 8 pissed off, and he sends out his transvestite right hand Priscilla (Sirmongkol Iamthuam)) to kidnap Zin and Moom. This draws Mishima back from Japan. And huge fights ensue.
It ends up that Zin is killed, but Zen manages to take out the bad guys, and ends up leaving with her father who will take care of her now.
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The story is simple enough, but the film is about the action, and the action is absolutely top notch, with long set pieces including one on the side of a club, with people being knocked from high up and falling to the ground. And Yanin “Jeeja” Vismitananda is cute as can be, and a bad ass little Taekwondo phenomenon, which makes her incredibly cute tow watch. Any Michelle Yeoh fans will be quite pleased. Sure her acting needs to come up a notch, but then playing an autistic doesn’t lend to too much intense acting, so hopefully she will improve as she goes on, but her action is fantastic, and as fun as can be.
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