Autistic Martial Arts Muay Thai Ass Kicking Movie – Chocolate

Peter Gibbons: …Do you ever watch ‘Kung Fu’?
Joanna: I love ‘Kung Fu’.
Peter Gibbons: Channel 39.
Joanna: Totally.

You probably recognize these lines from the classic cult hit “Office Space”. If you don’t recognize it please just play along.

For those of you who do remember this scene you also probably remember that instant connection, the spark, the magic in Joanne’s (Jennifer Aniston) eyes the moment Peter’s character uttured those fateful words “Kung Fu”. The reaction was so great the scene could have been filmed in slow motion with “Kuuuuung Fuuuuu” and her eyes fluttering open with joyous rapture.  Hey, to some this genre is just too dang fun and we have no qualms saying it.

Well WAHOO!!!  Head to the theater and get ready for a fast paced, well thought out, creative, thrill ride Muay Thai Fighting style.

If you are a fan of Martial Arts and Kung Fu and have been waiting for something worth seeing after years of blight, your wishes have been granted with thisThai Martial Arts Film “Chocolate“.  The film is in the Alternative film lineup within the Starz Denver Film Festival. Last night’s screening was the true test of how good the film was.  The audience cheered the start of the film following an enthusiastic intro describing briefly what we were about it see… the story of an autistic girl with a special talent for learning how to deliver martial arts smackdown.  And hold onto your seats, the premise and plot were great and the martial arts were incredible.  The actress, Yanin “Jeeja” Wismitanant is the real deal with years of Muay Thai training (5 years we were told) just in preparation for this role.  It showed, and the film was done with the old school and sometimes painful method of no wires and no cgi.

The best endorsement for the movie was what I heard around me (and coming from me) during the flick.  With some of the best action punches/kicks/hits the audience reacted with their “Oooohs” and their “Ahhhhs”, their flinches and winces, their enthusiastic roars and their hearty laughter as Jeeja’s character develops, seeks her justice, and we actually care.

I love Film Festivals for just this reason.  I love to be introduced to non mainstream films in sometimes obscure genres that just never make the big screen…. but are so so good.

Chocolate is directed by Prachya Pinkaew, who also was behind Ong-Bak, Born to Fight and Tom Yum Goong.

Grade:  A-  and A+ if you love Kung Fu Movies