Chocolate

Chocolate (2008)
[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1183252/]

The Gist:
Did you know that autistic Thai people can become devastating martial arts instruments of death just by watching Tony Jaa on the television? No? Neither did I, but as implausible as that narrative set up may be it is the framework for a pretty badass kung fu film. However, watching the opening of this film I just had to wonder, what the fuck is up with this movie? It's not like it takes its thin premise to quickly set up what will eventually be an increasing climax of gratuitous action that has little connection with character or plot. If so, it would have to have been pretty fascinating kung fu to make me forget my principles (ie that action without a connection to character or setting or plot is by its nature weak filmmaking and less effective due to a lack of connection to "person and place" and thereby a lack of the audience's sense of vulnerability and concern for harm that can make action films so exhilarating in the first place)... Anyway, that's not exactly the case for Chocalate because it actually has a pretty lengthy set up. But while I was watching it I wondered, really? You're going to take all this time and this is what you set up? There's a lot of weak story telling here, lingering too long on moments that can be condensed and not taking that extra time to extend the story further, etc. However, because the film takes its time you do get a connection to the weird story here, and I personally developed a sort of fascination with the oddities of some stray details. Anyway, once the story is set up the action is slow to get going but once it gets a full head of steam is as good as anything out there. In particular, the ending fight on the side of the building was inspired. Also a Thai chick kicking ass is just hot. I don't know why.