Kung Fu + Panda = Awesomeness
This summer an unlikely hero must defy the odds in order to defeat an evil foe and save the land from certain destruction. That hero is large. He’s portly. He has an appetite for destruction, and any other food you might have lying around.
He’s a panda bear. Oh yes — a panda bear. Prepare for awesomeness.
In the animated “Kung Fu Panda,” martial arts maniac Po (voiced by Jack Black) spends his days working in his father’s noodle shop, and his nights dreaming of being a great kung fu warrior. He idolizes the Furious Five – Crane, Mantis, Monkey, Tigress and Viper – the greatest kung fu warriors the world has ever seen.
It turns out the talents of the Furious Five will be needed soon in Po’s valley, as there is trouble brewing. It has been foretold that an imprisoned warrior with sinister intentions will escape from prison. With such a threat looming, the day comes when it’s time to select the great Dragon Warrior, a day 1,000 years in the making, a day where a worthy hero will be appointed to oppose the corrupt and powerful Tai Lung. Being the fan that he is, Po certainly can’t miss this show. And he doesn’t miss it. In fact, he becomes it. As chance would have it, Po is chosen to be the Dragon Warrior.
Despite his rounded figure and overly large appetite, Po manages to convince the very skeptical members of the Five, and their master, Shifu, that he’s up to task. But like his ascent of the temple steps, it’s a slow, slow process. Shifu trains Po – using food as a motivator, no less – and in time it’s clear Po has what it takes.
Besides Black providing the voice for our rotund hero, there’s a veritable who’s who of the Hollywood elite lined up behind the microphones in “Kung Fu Panda.” The group includes Lucy Liu (Viper), Angelina Jolie (Tigress), Dustin Hoffman (Shifu), David Cross (Crane), Seth Rogan (Mantis) and Jackie Chan (Monkey).
Directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson, “Kung Fu Panda” is a splendidly pleasing film on the visual front. The opening sequence features such sharp animation and freshly depicted action that you may find yourself wishing the whole film was presented that way. Well, it’s not, but that’s not a bad thing either. This latest effort from Dreamworks Animation is gorgeous, featuring vibrant colors and spectacularly choreographed fight sequences that speed up and slow down as the blows land.
Each character has been carefully crafted, from the tufts of fur on Po’s head to the vivid eyes of Tigress and Tai Lung. Every one of the Furious Five moves exactly as you might expect them to when in battle, and Po the panda, well, he’s a mouthful both in and out of combat. You can even see a little of Jack Black in his mannerisms now and then, which is a nice touch.
At the core of “Kung Fu Panda” is a simple story that’s been done many times over: The ordinary must become extraordinary in order to save X. While there are no surprises in the way of plot, this movie is an action-packed summer blast with laughs the whole family can enjoy. It carries with it a healthy message, and a bit of a risk. You could go blind from overexposure to Po’s pure awesomeness. You’ve been warned.
Source: 2theadvocate
