Kung Fu Panda
Po under the training of Master Shifu
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Wednesday, 09, Jul 2008 08:34
Directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson, out now in cinemas, starring Jack Black (Po), Dustin Hoffman (Master Shifu) and Angelina Jolie (Tigress), running time 92 mins.
In a nutshell...
Fat panda learns martial arts
What's it all about?
Po the panda works by day in the family noodle restaurant, but by night dreams of kung fu and the 'Furious Five'. When old enemy Tai Lung returns to threaten their lives, the Dragon Master must be chosen to protect them all.
Old master Oogway (voiced by Randall Duk Kim) chooses Po over the skilful kung fu masters, and it is up to Master Shifu to prepare the panda for his destiny.
Who's in it?
Jack Black voices Po and, despite using the word 'awesome' a little too often for a decade too late, does superbly. Po is a lovable creation and Black's unfathomable energy imbues him with a steaming dollop of charisma.
Master Shifu is voiced by Dustin Hoffman, and he lends his wise tones to the tiny kung fu master with aplomb. If you never believed Mr. Hoffman could make being a red-panda-martial-arts-expert believable, think again.
The 'Furious Five' are made up of Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Crane (David Cross), Snake (Lucy Lui) and Monkey (Jackie Chan), and they all do as well as they can.
Ian McShane shines as Tai Lung and uses his gloriously wicked voice to perfection.
As an example...
Tigress: "It is said that the Dragon Warrior can go for months without eating, surviving on the dew of a single ginko leaf and the energy of the universe."
Po: "Then I guess my body doesn't know I'm the Dragon Warrior yet. It's gonna take a lot more than dew, and, uh, universe juice."
Likelihood of a trip to the Oscars
The best achievement in animation Oscar has in recent years largely been found firmly in the cupboard at Pixar Studios, and it is highly unlikely that Kung Fu Panda would be successful at wrenching it away from them. The animation is an impressive step-up for DreamWorks but, up against the upcoming WALL.E, who would wish to fight their corner?
What the others say
"Of course, it's all leading to a standard 'be yourself' message, but while the kidlings are digesting that tidbit of profundity, you can wallow in action that well and truly socks it to your chops. Hard." - Empire
"Particularly heartening, given the dietary habits of the central character, is the fact that there is not a single fart joke in the whole movie." - Times
So is it any good?
DreamWorks Animation has achieved some notable box office hits of late, but they have always been placed a firm second behind the magicians at Pixar. Shrek is highly enjoyable but relies heavily on pop-culture references (particularly during the sequels), while other hits such as Over the Hedge or Shark's Tale seem overly plastic and commercial, with little of the genuine warmth and charisma that Pixar simply glows with.
Kung Fu Panda marks a definite improvement for DreamWorks. The animation is stunning: beautiful backgrounds, jaw-dropping action sequences and hair/fur wafting flawlessly in the breeze. The score seamlessly blends with the animation.
Jack Black imbues Po the panda with all of his frenetic energy and fan enthusiasm - usually you can imagine the actor voicing the character in a studio booth, but Black embodies Po in a way few voices could. At last DreamWorks uses a star name because they suit the character best!
Dustin Hoffman and Ian McShane are also fabulous at bringing their characters to life. But unfortunately it falls down with the 'Furious Five'. With so many star names included it was always going to be difficult to do them justice, but lines are few and far between. They are at best peripheral, at worst non-existent. Jackie Chan, as Monkey, in particular is felt to be criminally under-used - freed from his aging body, this could have been his most dynamic recent role.
The action sequences set Kung Fu Panda apart. A rope bridge fight involving the 'Furious Five' and Tai Lung's escape from prison are jaw-dropping, using moves that martial arts experts can only crave. The pace and tension of the action are incredible and somehow the battles just remain within the confines of gravity and reality.
Importantly however, Kung Fu Panda is funny. Perhaps not frequently enough laugh-out-loud belly-aching funny, but certainly enough to amuse kids and adults alike. Most pleasing is that it doesn't rely on the staple pop-culture references or standard slapstick for the laughs, instead using humour gathered from real joke-writing and the warmth hidden underneath.
For although Panda has the usual 'be yourself' message, it manages actual warmth and feeling throughout and garners affection for the characters.
It's not Pixar (what else is?) but it's still pretty awesome.
7/10
Melanie Green