Kung Fu Panda (2008)

 

The idea surrounding this movie should not work, but it does. With 2008's “Kung Fu Panda” from DreamWorks, we get a very well executed animated feature, with some outstanding action. The film excels in providing some great animation, wonderful characters, and marvelous set pieces that make for a brilliant viewing experience. While there are only a couple of problems with the movie, they do not contrast the amazing factor that this product gives us. “Kung Fu Panda” is a marvelous production that should at least fail, but it doesn't as it works in its charm within its 90 minute run time.

The story centers around a panda named Po (Jack Black), who works at his father's noodle shop, and is a big fan of kung fu. So much so, that Po has dedicated a section in his room to the masters of kung fu: the Furious Five. Great masters of the ancient art who include Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), and Crane (David Cross). Everything changes when the villainous Tai Lung (Ian McShane) has broken from prison, and is out to take down the dragon warrior who is set to be the ultimate learner of kung fu. That unfortunately belongs to Po, who does not know a thing or two about the art. Now, under the tutelage of Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), Po must learn the ways of kung fu in order to stop Tai Lung once and for all.

“Kung Fu Panda” is one of those movies that actually exceeds expectations.

What makes the movie really stand out above the rest, is the animation. Everything about this movie looks great. The backgrounds give off this wall/mural art that could be appreciated anywhere. Plus, when looking at this art, it's really impressive to witness that this had never been done before in animation. Top that with the lighting, along with everything else being made on computers, is just beautiful to look at. It truly is a technological feat. The character design is also amazing as they focus on a lot of animals found in eastern Asia. From pandas, rabbits, pigs, and even the Furious Five being modeled after their respective kung fu styles, everyone has a distinctive personality; they even throw in a red panda for Shifu into the mix.

Plus, there are some segments of the feature where hand drawn animation is included. Which is really nice, considering the fact that the entire production is done in CGI, it's a nice change of pace to see something that is a bit more traditional.

Another memorable aspect of “Kung Fu Panda” are all the technical achievements being made.

All of the sounds that this film provides are perfect, and are edited toperfection. Every hit and swish from the movie being heard, is implemented greatly, and it should not be taken for granted.

The effects are also a major plus provided here. From the fireworks to the explosions, all of the effects work brilliantly within the confines of the animation.

And then there is the editing of the film itself. From all of the action sequences, to where the characters interact with each other, the editing done by Clare Knight makes “Kung Fu Panda” a watchable experience.

The music by both Hans Zimmer and John Powell creates a perfect tone of compositions that pay homage to both action/kung fu films of the past, as well as Chinese music in general. There are no pop songs inc1uded onto the soundtrack, except for one song which is included in the end credits, and that makes the soundtrack even more amazing to listen to.

The performances are also great. Black is having a blast as Po, and enjoying every single minute of it, by creating a very noteworthy character in the process. Hoffman and the actors who portray the Furious Five, from Jolie to Chan, are all surprising in their respective roles. They are amazing and can be hard to miss, specifically on first viewing of this film. McShane also delivers a great performance as the villain, and has a good backstory to his character to boot. Even the supporting cast does a great job; everyone is perfect here.

Now, onto the problems that this movie offers.

First of all, while all of the characters are great and unique in their own way, some of the supporting cast members are not on screen for that long. Especially, the Furious Five. Most of the time they are on screen, it is short, and almost feels like they are doing a cameo performance. If they expanded their screen time by just a bit, then they would have been a bit more fleshed out.

Another minor issue is with the story. While the story itself is quite good, and balances the comedy and drama perfectly, the beginning is a bit rushed, and quick to try and set up the story. If the writing had slowed down, then the beginning portion of the film would have been just fine. But as it is, the story is easy to follow, as well as easy to understand.

In conclusion, “Kung Fu Panda” may not be absolutely perfect by all means, but it is truly an awesome experience you have to se to believe.