Aug 10, 2008

"Kung Fu Panda"


You know it's a good movie when you start forgetting about the socio-cultural implications and start believing what the characters are trying to involve you in. Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan star in such an animated picture from Dreamworks, their dream-big, do-big blockbuster of the year, Kung Fu Panda.

Po is the Panda son of a restaurant-owning duck, in a Chinese valley where his ultimate dream is to become the 'awesome' Kung Fu 'dragon warrior'. But don't we all know that flabby bellies and cookie-love don't produce warriors that can move faster than light and swing sharper than a sword. Destiny however has great things in store for this dumpling-seeking ball of fur that breaks all previous records of heroic stereotypes.

Ogres, pandas, I'm really looking forward to what Dreamworks designs next as their unlikely hero. Now that I can safely say that I very much enjoyed this animated adventure, I am pleased to see audiences giving warm receptions to this redefining old schemas and images of what a hero should or should not be.

A definite thumbs up and mustn't forget a big-fat-Panda kudos to Jack Black for the relatable, believable Po.

11 comments:

Mampi said...

Yeah, I was thinking of going with family to watch it. Now, I guess I would, sooner than I thought I would.

Majaz said...

Definitely do!! LOVELY family movie!

Anonymous said...

Awww, looks so cutie :)

Majaz said...

Do watch it!

Anonymous said...

I saw it twice - and the second time around found more detail and subtext to fall in love with.

Now am waiting for Wall.e to be released.

Majaz said...

The subtexts indeed are amazing and I admire the intelligence that goes behind in incorporating valued themes in movies of the universal-audiences genre. I'm really anticipating Wall E too! These people are geniuses.

Blogging Muslimah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Blogging Muslimah said...

Watched Kung Fu Panda in the cinema in England and just saw it again at home. Thought the movie was brilliant (don't know who was laughing more; me or my kids). However, still don't understand why they made Po's father a different species - wouldn't it have made it simpler for his dad to be a panda. And secondly, didn't get why Jackie Chan had such a small amount of dialogue in the movie.

ps. Saw WALL-E too. Is ok - not as good as Kung Fu Panda. Much more hype than it deserves IMO.

Majaz said...

Hey yeah, I wondered about the Chan part too. I can even remember the total number of his dialogues. Apart from the grunts, he had a grand total of three!

Anonymous said...

i've gotta wait for Kung Fu panda to come out on DVD at this point... Jack Black is classic for sure, he'll be forever famous for his work in School of Rock

Majaz said...

School of Rock was hilarious. Jack Black should spread out more.

And I don't mean literally!