From the very beginning I was struck by the stunning visuals, then quickly won over by the characters. Jack Black embodies the lovable Po, a wannabe kung fu master and emotional eater. The film's highly predictable storyline would have dragged on were it not for some great scripting of Black's natural irreverence.
Dustin Hoffman also brings depth and his particular brand of wry warmth (think Stranger Than Fiction) to the tiny stature of Shifu. Similarly, Ian McShane is well cast as the evil Tai Lung - any Deadwood fans will recognise the gravelly voice of Swearengen. I did feel, however, that the remaining cast members were a little underused. True, this is a kung fu film and should be more about the fighting than the talking, but still, when you've got Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan and Seth Rogan to hand, it seems a waste not to make the most of them.
I can now also appreciate Kate's disappointment at the lack of resolution for Tigress. It certainly felt like there could have been room to expand more on the back stories of all the members of the Furious Five, however I can see how the Shifu/Tai Lung/Tigress story came to a certain resolution with Shifu finally finding peace. One imagines his acceptance of Po and his restored sense of peace would see Shifu open his heart once more, freeing Tigress to embrace her own destiny. Again, I feel this is indicative of a simplistic storyline that misses some great opportunities with its supporting characters.
However a lot of notes are hit just right. I love a good training sequence, and Po and Shifu don't disappoint. The requisite Rocky homage is comically dispensed with in the opening ceremony, leaving the training montage to stand alone as a spectacularly shot and wonderfully entertaining scene. The Pom is still chuckling at the line: Panda, we do not wash our pits in the Pool of Sacred Tears.
So while I didn't quite go blind from exposure to pure awesomeness, I did really enjoy this beautifully cinematic film. It's certainly worth watching on the big screen, as the animators have gone to town on the CinemaScope, just as Jack Black has with the eager and endearing Po.
Skadoosh!
3 comments:
Ahh awesomeness.
I also saw Forgotten Kingdom during the week, and while Jackie Chan and Jet Li know a *fair* bit of martial arts, the plot and cuteness didn't come close to KF Panda.
Skidoosh!
Ohh what was Forgotten Kingdom like? The Pom wants to see it, but I'm with you...cartoon is the way I now take my kung fu! :)
There were some great fight scenes between Jet and Jackie (swoon!) but overall quite average. Interesting production design (great witch with white hair!) but not a film I'd write home about/or on a blog about :)
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