We saw Kung Fu Panda last weekend and loved it. I am a Pixar partisan when it comes to animation, but I must admit this film is the closest yet to reaching the standards of the Disney animation unit. It is the story of a clumsy and food-loving panda who works in his father's noodle shop but dreams of being a Kung Fu warrior. One day he is "accidentally" chosen as the Dragon Warrior; the only one who can defeat the evil Tai Lung.
I am a sucker for Kung Fu movies, so when I saw the trailer and learned that it was a family friendly PG rating, I knew I'd see it, along with my wife and young son. There are so many great things about this movie. I'll try to summarize quickly.
First, I like how it paid homage to the genre. It had all your classic elements of Kung Fu (the neophyte training with an old master, legendary weapons and stories, ancient locations, etc.) but also some interesting twists to keep it from being predictable. When Master Shifu says he doesn't know how to train Po (the panda) to be a Kung Fu fighter, let alone the dragon warrior, I felt the same way! The dumpling duel was the highlight of the movie for me. I also love how all the characters are animals with matching Kung Fu styles (Tigress's aggressiveness, Crane's fluid and graceful movements, Tai Lung (Leopard)'s power from massive upper body strength, etc).
The movie was also happily free of pop culture references. That is my biggest pet peeve with animated movies that one commonly finds with non-Pixar animation studios. I guess these companies think they need to put in such references for fear that kids won't get into the story. That is why I am not a fan of the Shrek movies. If the story is good, like this one, you don't need such devices.
Lastly, the movie has a good message while not being preachy. While it obviously hints at Eastern religion, it is dealt more as a mythical story than one of pushing a certain world view or agenda. Teachers will see this as a treatise on differentiated learning (I learned that term from my wife, who has a master's degree in education). Go see this movie (and the website). You won't be disappointed!
My rankings of CGI movies from Dreamworks Animation:
I am a sucker for Kung Fu movies, so when I saw the trailer and learned that it was a family friendly PG rating, I knew I'd see it, along with my wife and young son. There are so many great things about this movie. I'll try to summarize quickly.
First, I like how it paid homage to the genre. It had all your classic elements of Kung Fu (the neophyte training with an old master, legendary weapons and stories, ancient locations, etc.) but also some interesting twists to keep it from being predictable. When Master Shifu says he doesn't know how to train Po (the panda) to be a Kung Fu fighter, let alone the dragon warrior, I felt the same way! The dumpling duel was the highlight of the movie for me. I also love how all the characters are animals with matching Kung Fu styles (Tigress's aggressiveness, Crane's fluid and graceful movements, Tai Lung (Leopard)'s power from massive upper body strength, etc).
The movie was also happily free of pop culture references. That is my biggest pet peeve with animated movies that one commonly finds with non-Pixar animation studios. I guess these companies think they need to put in such references for fear that kids won't get into the story. That is why I am not a fan of the Shrek movies. If the story is good, like this one, you don't need such devices.
Lastly, the movie has a good message while not being preachy. While it obviously hints at Eastern religion, it is dealt more as a mythical story than one of pushing a certain world view or agenda. Teachers will see this as a treatise on differentiated learning (I learned that term from my wife, who has a master's degree in education). Go see this movie (and the website). You won't be disappointed!
My rankings of CGI movies from Dreamworks Animation:
- Kung Fu Panda
- Flushed Away
- Over the Hedge
- Madagascar
- Shrek 2
- Shrek the Third
The following ones I don't want to ever see again - Shrek
- Bee Movie
- Shark Tale
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