Kung Fu Panda

Anime Review.

Kung Fu Panda. I've seen this movie now... what? Four? Five? Six times? Once in the cinema, couple of times on DVD and NetFlix.

And I keep laughing every time.


Homage

This movie is not just a kid's fest, it is sort of a homage to the old-style Kung Fu movies. Loads of characters to love, such as a villain who is, simply, a villain, and a hero who simply is not. When talking with my family about the movie I noticed how everyone is associating themselves with one of the characters... I'm tempted to either chose  Po or Shifu as my role model... (Pysically that would be Po, yes. Stop mentioning that, dear daughters!)

Then there's slapstick, lines and scenes stolen straight out of various old style Kung Fu flicks, and lots of humoristic Kung Fu style fighting. It's just... great.

In fact, I'm here publicly stating Kung Fu Panda may be one of the best animation movies ever, as well as being one of the best Kung Fu movies ever.

Even the voice casting is brilliant. Jack Black does Po okay (though a bit on automatic) but you just gotta' love the voices of Jackie Chen as Monkey, Angelina Jolie as Tigress, and Lucy Liu as Viper. But best of all is Dustin Hoffman doing the voice of Shifu... Sifu. Whatever.

The Dutch language version is not that good, but still acceptable. I just wished they would be trying to get some more voice actors in, as too many times you'll hear the same voices over and over again in different shows and movies.

If there would be one animation movie I'd be forced to bring with me on my next trip to some tropical holiday resort, I'd probably bring this one. (Though it's a close call between Kung Fu Panda and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole.)


Sequels

The second movie is fine, the third just a mere okay. Unfortunately they don't reach the level of the very first one. Oh well.


Spin-off

The television series is brainless semi-funny Saturday afternoon material, aimed at (little) kids. It doesn't get even close. I'd skip it.


The Verdict

If you haven't seen the first movie yet, stop reading this. Start Netflix or buy the disc, and go watch it. It's worth it.


Dapper / TellTales! 49