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''Then I guess my body doesn't know I'm the Dragon Warrior yet. It's gonna take a lot more than dew, and, uh, universe juice.''
Po the Panda is the laziest animals in all of the Valley of Peace, but unwittingly becomes the chosen one when enemies threaten their way of life.
Jack Black: Po (voice)
Kung Fu Panda unsurprisingly was birthed by the wondrous Dreamwork people, for a start the animation and story are untouchable in quality executed to the highest standard.
In recent years Dreamworks animation has been a sort of hit and miss production company. Some of their films have been nearly as good as the Pixar films (Shreks, Over the Hedge), but others have been close to complete crap (Shark Tale, Madagascar, Bee Movie). With Kung Fu Panda Dreamworks strikes gold.
The film is great because of how simple it is. Simple story, simple morals, simple comedy, and simplistic style. The movie is just good to watch. You could go and see it with your family, or your girlfriend, its a gloriously animated sort of film.
We are told the story of a slightly overweight Panda whom has duties with his father in a Noodle restaurant. Panda dreams of becoming a great Kung Fu master while at the same time trying to please his father by saying his dream is comprised of taking over the Noodle heritage of his father. Yes you may have noticed ''his'' father per say, lacks resemblance or species to Panda funnily enough. When a choosing of the Dragon Master comes about. Panda rushes to see this tournament. What transpires next is him unwittingly getting chosen by Oogway, the Old Turtle Master.
Kung Fu Panda has such effortlessly smooth paced animation that fluidly speeds along at all times we the audience, scarcely get to notice the amount of work thats gone into every frame. Especially the action scenes which seem to thunder along in a dazzling array of splendor.
I think Kung Fu Panda perfectly gets together several important Chinese cultural elements: traditional Chinese Kung Fu Tactics, traditional Chinese fighting story, traditional Chinese jokes, traditional Chinese scenes, traditional Chinese music, even traditional Chinese legends! I also like the ending song.
''There are no accidents.
The voices are incredibly done and some I didn't even recognise. Notably Dustin Hoffman voicing Shifu, was superb, his voice instantly recognizable.
Jack Black as Panda excellent providing laughs, charm and charisma throughout as the main star of the film.
Other iconic voices are from a dazzling selection of actors and actresses such as Angelina Jolie voicing Tigress, Ian McShane as Tai Lung, Jackie Chan as Monkey, Seth Rogen as Mantis, Lucy Liu as Viper and even Michael Clarke Duncan as Commander Vachir pops up.
James Hong voicing Mr. Ping was instantly recognisable by ear, the actor from Golden Child & Big Trouble In Little China. Amusing how they made that of the bird character he plays to match a certain element of him from real life in the animation.
The characters fit so well with their voices, especially my all time favorite character Master Shifu voiced by Dustin Hoffman. True, Jackie Chan and the furious five didn't have too many lines, but this does not stop the upbeat trhill and flow of the movie. The battle scenes are superb. The storyline is very original, and bright, but within all the humour there is a soul, and other emotions,such as sadness. One of my favorite scenes is the one in which the Brave Master Shifu battles with his former pupil, the vicious Tai Lung.
Speaking of animation, the cinematography, character design and backgrounds are all done very, very well. Whether it's flying through the air alongside a leaping character, the painting-like backgrounds, or the wonderful opening sequence (reminiscent of Samurai Jack), they're all beautiful. Snap zooms, slow-motion, and flying cameras are also used with great skill to further the experience.
Even the music and sound is outstanding. Asian drums rumble in the background of intense fights... stones shatter and crumble away... fight sequences rise and fall with each of the music cues, or is that the other way around? Beautiful.
Loved how Kung Fu Panda begins with the drawing styled animation, then all the way through I was amazed how detailed Panda is on the whole capturing action, suspense and excitement mixed with comical fun and laughs galore.
What it lacks in originality, it makes up for in style and humour. Relatively new directors, Mark Osborne and John Stevenson have created a multi-hued ancient China that moves with stealth precision between enchantment and explosive energy. Its inhabitants are geese and rabbits that live their lives in the shadow of lore. As long as all is peaceful, then they can blissfully enjoy their noodle soups in the town square and if anything should happen to collapse that peace, then they have the kung fu specialized Furious Five, a tiger, a monkey, a crane, a snake and oddly enough, a mantis, to protect them from whatever evil lurks. No one member of the community has more faith in these five than Po. His idolatry of these heroes extends to numerous posters on his walls and action figures by his bed. Black plays Po as the hardcore geek that hides his enthusiasm and secret desire to be a part of it all in fear of being ridiculed for wanting the impossible. Po is that unfortunate fat kid from school that wants to hang with all the cool kids, hates that he's stuck working at the local fast food establishment after school and knows that there's nothing he can do about it.
Kung Fu Panda is great wisdom wrapped in even greater fun and often breathtaking animation. Sometimes the simplest of lessons are the ones that are hardest to learn.
Perhaps the subtlest lesson the film passes on is to relinquish your control over the destiny of your own life. Po never thought he would find himself surrounded by his heroes, getting the chance to realize his life long dream of becoming a kung fu master but here he is suddenly. Master Shifu never thought he would be training such a useless lump but here his is as well. It is only when each character let go of their egos and expectations that they saw how to make their situation work. Shedding your own expectation for Kung Fu Panda to be something more than what it really is will allow for the good times intended to be had and an unexpected tranquility to seep into your mind.
Along with the masterpiece that is Pixar's WALL-E, this offering from Dreamworks Kung Fu Panda shows that Pixar aren't the only ones with talent. A story with heart, of wonderment and of humour, Kung Fu Panda comes recommended to any lover of animated films.
''Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.''
9/10
