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Review #649 of 365
Movie Review of Kung Fu Panda (2008) [PG] 92 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $14.00
Where Viewed: United Artists Denver Pavilions Stadium 15, Denver, CO
When Seen: 6 June 2008
Time: 12:25 pm
DVD Release Date: 11 November 2008 (click date to purchase or pre-order)
After the Credits: There is a very short scene after the credits, no animated gag reel though which is a shame since this film was ripe for them, and there are also some little nuggets throughout the credits themselves.
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
Soundtrack: Download now from 
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Directed by: Mark Osborne ("SpongeBob SquarePants") and John Stevenson ("Father of the Pride")
Screenplay by: Jonathan Aibel ("King of the Hill") • Glenn Berger ("King of the Hill") with story by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Jack Black (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) • Dustin Hoffman (Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium) • Angelina Jolie (Beowulf) • Ian McShane (The Golden Compass) • Jackie Chan (The Forbidden Kingdom) • Seth Rogen (Horton Hears a Who! ) • Lucy Liu (Code Name: The Cleaner) • David Cross (Alvin and the Chipmunks) • Randall Duk Kim (Memoirs of a Geisha) • James Hong (Balls of Fury) • Dan Fogler (Balls of Fury) • Michael Clarke Duncan (Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins)
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Note: Disclaimer for Parents and Guardians: Kung Fu Panda has received a PG rating by the MPAA for "Rated PG for sequences of martial arts action". It's unclear if "martial arts action" automatically warrants a PG rating or not, but (a) of all the fighting action ever filmed or animated, Kung Fu fighting is by far the least brutal and these animators seem to have taken great care in the fight scenes to make them far more about the action and less about the fighting, (b) on an average episode of "The Roadrunner", "Tom & Jerry", or just about any modern cartoon show on the Cartoon Network (unsolicited plug), kids will see more 'violence' than in this movie. Even the villainous Tai Long (which is a grey snow leopard or other big cat of some sort) has been made to be many shades less scary than the horrifying buzzard in the recent animated version of
Horton Hears a Who!). Given that the MPAA won't slap an NC-17 rating on a movie these days, it's odd they rated this film PG. Most children over 4 will probably love this movie, and Parents and Guardians can take them without much worry other than, perhaps, the typical mimicry of some of the behavior. Unlike so many animated films seasoned with adult inside jokes etc., Kung Fu Panda steers clear of this, and really relies on the cool story and characters to entertain people of all ages.
With the anticipation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics building every day, there could be no more befitting release time than the present for Dreamworks Kung Fu Panda set in ancient China and featuring the voice talents of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Randall Duk Kim, James Hong, Dan Fogler, and Michael Clarke Duncan.
Young and old will find this film readily appealing and learn a great deal from the subtle morals of this wonderful journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.
The story, about an unlikely hero—a chubby panda named Po (Black) with a passion for eating food far more than preparing it as his father Mr. Ping (Hong) would like—coming to the aid of his peaceful valley at a time of grave need, may sound a bit unoriginal on the surface it packs a powerful punch beneath. Po is an unusual Panda in that his second great passion is Kung Fu. While he's never mastered the martial art, he's studied its history, and the lives of its greatest masters: Oogway (Kim) and Shifu (Hoffman). Oogway the tortoise is considered the foremost master in the realm and Shifu his student and now master of five special students: Tigress (Jolie), Monkey (Chan), Viper (Liu), Crane (Cross), and Mantis (Rogen). Po has spent many a day following their battles and collecting their action figures. One day, when Oogway has a vision that Shifu's now imprisoned arch enemy, Tai Lung (McShane) will be returning to destroy the valley and steal for himself the scroll of the Dragon Warrior which holds the key to unlimited power, Shifu realizes the time has come for Oogway to select the student who will become the Dragon Warrior and fabled protector of the valley. News of the selection ceremony to be held at the Jade Palace spread quickly, and Po wanted nothing more than to attend. Unfortunately, Mr. Ping had great plans for his son to sell noodles at the event. In his usual way, Po, however, wished to forge his own destiny and lands himself literally at the feet of Oogway who seemingly accidentally then selects Po to be the Dragon Warrior. Shifu and his five students are aghast at the selection of the untrained, unfit Panda, but Oogway claims, "There are no accidents." Eventually, Po must overcome the doubts of the others as well as his own that he can emerge as the Dragon Warrior and be worthy of the power of the Dragon Scroll.
The rise of an unlikely hero, of course, is neither novel nor particularly illuminating these days. Yet, the combination of the talented voice cast and the brilliant animation of their characters create the most spectacularly vibrant and fun animated films since Disney • Pixar's Cars and, by far, the best Dreamworks animated film ever—far, far better, dare it be said, than the entire Shrek-ilogy added together. Their personalities literally leap off the screen.
..far better, dare it be said, than the entire Shrek-ilogy added together.
The animation and rendering of the scenery is astonishing, especially in theatres equipped with the latest digital projection systems where the film is displayed in crystal clear perfection. While not a 3D film, the computer artistry has created a richly detailed world of fantastic color and stunning, almost liquid beauty with the smallest of details rendered to perfection. Anyone worried that computer animation would eliminate jobs in the animation world need only stick around through the credits to see no apparent decrease in the number of people needed to make a movie of this caliber. The secret to the story, too, is a very potent life lesson of value to all who see the film.
Wall-E comes out soon, however the bar for 2008's race for the Academy Award for Best Animated film has already been set high by Kung Fu Panda. This is the first time when this Disney • Pixar fan has had any concern that the Disney • Pixar entry wasn't a shoe-in for the award. Young or old, it's difficult not to fall for the story and the humble characterization of Po.
Jack Black does a tremendous job voicing Po and providing the animators with the visualizations of his facial expressions which so lend themselves to that of being this loveable, always hungry, spirited and kind Panda with big dreams and a huge heart.
Jack Black does a tremendous job voicing Po and providing the animators with the visualizations of his facial expressions which so lend themselves to that of being this loveable, always hungry, spirited and kind Panda with big dreams and a huge heart. Directors Mark Osborne and John Stevenson have delivered an outstand film of the highest quality and artistry with a story that should appeal to almost anyone whose ever had dreams weighed down by self-doubts but who finds someone who believes in and coaches them to be their own best self. Congratulations, too, to the writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger for presenting a story filled with great meaning and purpose, that strays from typical body part humor and stereotypes that often rear their ugly heads in animated films for children.
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Cast Members
Jack Black • Dustin Hoffman • Angelina Jolie
Ian McShane • Jackie Chan • Seth Rogen
Lucy Liu • David Cross • Randall Duk Kim
James Hong • Michael Clarke Duncan
Director
Mark Osborne and John Stevenson
Writers
Jonathan Aibel • Glenn BergerCD Soundtrack
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Review-lite
Kung Fu Panda (2008) [max of 150 words]
Dreamworks Animation, famous for the Shrek films, has far outdone itself and its history with this spectacular and breathtakingly beautiful story of a chubby panda names Po who loves to eat more than he likes to cook noodles in his father's noodle shop and dreams of becoming a kung fu hero. He gets the chance of a lifetime, somewhat accidentally, were it not for the fact that "there are no accidents" when he falls as the foot of the Kung Fu master who proclaims him the fabled Dragon Warrior and savior of his peaceful valley from the the evil reign of Tai Lung. Young and old will find this film readily appealing and learn a great deal from the subtle morals of this wonderful journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.
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