Review: Chocolate

Chocolate is the latest in a run of bargain bin finds from my local Salvation Army charity shop (they've reduced all of their DVDs to 4 for £1).  It didn't augur well, as it was clear no-one had opened or watched the DVD before...

But the description looked interesting and I figured it was a long time since I'd watched an asian martial arts movie so in it went.

The story takes a while to get going, and is full of stylised non-verbal shots showing the lead's childhood development which reveals her to be autistic, but also something of a savant when it comes to reaction speed, and later martial arts. But once it gets going, we're treated to lengthy and creatively choreographed fight scenes as she collects on her mother's bad debts.

Vismitananda is a real find as she's both a credible actor as well as fighter.  Without her providing a solid emotional core to the film, it would become dull and repetitive very quickly.  By the end, this risk is in danger of becoming reality as fight after fight begin to merge into one.   But the closing credits montage reveals that the stunts were real and without wire work making them look extremely dangerous and at times painful.

Verdict: Enjoyable fighting fun with a twist.