KUNG FU PANDA (2008)

Directed By: Mark Osborne & John Stevenson
Story By: Ethan Rieff & Cyrus Voris
Written By: Jonathan Abel & Glenn Berger
Cinematography By: Yong Duk Jhun
Editor: Claire Knight

Cast: (With the Voices of) Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane, David Cross, James Hong, Randall Duk Kim, Dan Folger, Wayne Knight, Michael Clarke Duncan, Laura Kighlinger

It's the story about a lazy, irreverent slacker panda, named Po, who is the biggest fan of Kung Fu around...which doesn't exactly come in handy while working every day in his family's noodle shop. Unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Po's dreams become reality when he joins the world of Kung Fu and studies alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five -- Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey -- under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu. But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung is headed their way, and it's up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. Can he turn his dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master into reality? Po puts his heart - and his girth - into the task, and the unlikely hero ultimately finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths

I enjoyed this more than I thought would. When I first saw the preview. I was turned off by it. I had zero interest in seeing the film, but by word of mouth I was persuaded to check it out. I’m glad I did. It was cute and funny as usual with animated films. This one has a charm to it also.

The individual fighting styles of the Furious Five members (Crane, Mantis, Tiger, Monkey and Viper) are actual martial art styles modeled after the particular animals.

This film is pretty good, Definitely ok for the whole family. One spectacular scene that is a must see and is of note. Is when the villain escapes from his jail. That is when you are thankful for animation because even the best director and stuntmen could not make a action sequence so beautiful, exciting and exhilarating. The same goes for the bridge battle.

My only real qualm is that I know big name celebrities help to bring in big box-office, but for animated films is this really true? This movie has A-List stars doing most of the voices, Where as most of the successful animated films had more common actors attached. MONSTERS INC, FINDING NEMO, and THE INCREDIBLES. So is it really needed ? I mean all of the actors here do good work. Though Jackie Chan’s character barely talk and I don’t really feel Angelina Jolie’s voice was really needed. You can cast whoever you want even if it just keeps the film budget down, bt hey if you can get her in your film. Why not? She is a name and brings a certain knowingness from her fame and the roles she usually plays. My point is big name actors aren’t always what is needed as far as animated films go all the time. Seth Rogen’s wasn’t needed either.

I doubt they put many more butts in seats then the film would have normally or that their names are so well known by the intended audience of children. It seems like a decision that brings the film a added joy for the parents and maybe animation aficionados.

One character that needed revisions was Tai Lung, who continually seemed too sympathetic as the villain of the story. As a result, the producers included the sequence that illustrates the story Tigress told about Tai Lung's betrayal of his father's principles and his rampage after being refused the Dragon Scroll to make him sufficiently despicable to the audience. By contrast, Po was refined by Jack Black and the writers from an unpleasant obsessed fan who unsettled his heroes to an affable martial arts lore devotee painfully self-aware of his inadequacies.

I like animated films because they always carry a useful message .This one’s is always believe in yourself and confidence will always overcome to help you win.

The scene where Po enters the Jade palace, where he is amazed by all the relics, is based on the director's first experience entering the Skywalker Ranch of George Lucas, where all the props from the Star Wars movies can be found.

It’s very Rare that I don’t like or give an animated film a bad grade. This one is good and worth checking out. Don’t let the premise dissuade you. It is very good and entertaining.

GRADE: A-