Awesome! That’s the word I tend to use from time to time when I see something that’s just way cool. It’s even cooler to find that that’s the exact word popularized by the character Po the Panda in this movie. Dreamworks animated movies may not be in the same competitive level as Pixar flicks, which… always seem to be Oscar front runners, but just like Over the Hedge, Bee Movie, and Shrek the Third, KUNG FU PANDA is entertaining, lots of fun, and super awesome! The animation is not the greatest, but the slick martial art choreography makes up for it.
Po is the laziest Panda in the valley. He’s been a big fan of The Furious Five as long as he could remember but his dad wants him to continue the noodles business. When the day comes to choose the Dragon Warrior. He finds himself being chosen to be the one. Master Wishu who’s not happy about the decision is determined to make the Panda quit. Meanwhile, the evil Tai Lung breaks out of the prison is headed to the Valley to take the Dragon Scroll by force and fight his greatest battle.
What’s amazing is that you can totally imagine the voice stars as the animal character they represent. It’s as if we’re watching animated animal versions of Dustin Hoffman, David Cross, and Angelina Jolie.
You see a lot of them in the roles they play. Especially Jack Black.
Po the Panda was created with him in mind.
The story is not all that. Yes, it’s about believing in oneself, it’s about being somebody you want to be instead of what people think you should be.
I’m sure those who’ve never seen better movies with similar underlining themes would be easily inspired by this movie.
Like I said, the animation is okay, it relies mostly on close up and slo mo effects and how fast it could zoom out.
Props to Hans Zimmer for the original score that tries to stay close to the true spirit of Asia and Martial Art. Good effort.
The best part are the humor and the fights scenes. I gotta tell you the truth, I saw this movie twice before it got released in the theaters, and the fight scenes, especially the ones on the old rope bridge is still just as exciting as watching it for the first time.
The whole laughing at the expense of Panda being fat is hilarious. He falls down the steps and keeps bouncing. Him fighting the bad guy Tai Lung with one single hit with the belly. Skadoosh!
Jack Black is funny. Giving Jack Black funny lines to say makes the experience even more uproarious!
Overall, I think it’s a clean, fun, family movie that can be enjoyed by younger audiences and those of us who want to feel some awesomeness again.
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