Kung Fu Panda

Urban's Take: I saw Kung Fu Panda right after it came out with my younger sister and instantly loved it. (I even saw it again last week with my fiancé, who had yet to see it and equally enjoyed it.) Sure, the animation and story aren't Pixar quality- but, for the first time in a Dreamworks animated film, I didn't feel like I was being condescended to. I feel like the other Dreamworks animated movies (Shrek, Shark Tale, etc.) just throw BLAND celebrity voices in your face, make a couple of pop culture references, and expect everyone to rave about it. Their films usually lack substance and heart- something that "Kung Fu Panda" has in spades, as Po the Panda tries to become a kung fu master in order to save his village.

It definitely wasn't short on the celebrity voices, but they were well utilized AND used sparingly. I found myself forgetting that Jack Black was voicing Po the Panda or that Jackie Chan was Monkey (I honestly couldn't even tell on that one... how much did he get paid?). The biggest props go to Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu and David Cross as Crane. They hit every joke just right and pretty much nailed their characters. The weakest link in the cast, surprisingly, is Angelina Jolie as Tigress. She seemed even less interesting than her character in Shark Tale, if that's possible.

At times, the movie felt like Mulan with Animals, but my favorite moments were when it felt like it had the comedy chops of The Emperor's New Groove, the funniest and most often underrated Disney 2D animated film. The jokes are really goofy and irreverent- and sometimes you have to be quick to catch them all through your laughter. My favorite parts were Po trying to enter the palace, the character of Master Shifu in general, Po noting that Mantis is the same size as his action figure, and the entire opening sequence- which, for me, has made a personal catchphrase of "There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness."

Urban's Rating: Sooo good

Rucker's Take: I'm not gonna lie: I waited to see this movie until there was a situation where I could see it and not have to pay for it. (Legally, of course). That time finally came this week when my school had a free showing for students. Score. I got to see the movie everyone's been talking about, and I didn't have to put anymore money into Dreamworks's pockets in the process.

And I have to agree with the majority of people that reviewed Kung Fu Panda when it came out many months ago: it was really good! I was legitimately entertained and there were several occasions where I laughed out loud (that's "LOL" for you web talkers). Overall the story was pretty basic and the moral very straight-forward, but the movie itself was hilarious.

I personally am not a huge fan of Jack Black, but I think he did a good job of voicing Po the panda. I did feel, however, that unlike most Disney movies (which must be mentioned because they created this genre), I wasn't really pulling for the main character. I mean, sure, he was really funny, but a majority of the laughs he provided were from their exploitation of his fatness. It was actually kinda sad looking back. There just wasn't as close of an emotional connection to Po in this film as you feel to other main characters from other movies such as Dori, Marlin and Nemo in Finding Nemo, Wall-E in.. Wall-E, or Buzz and Woody in Toy Story (all Disney-Pixar films, just in case you didn't know). I completely agree with you though Urban; Dreamworks really toned down their overtly celebrityness in this movie and focused on actually having a story. *COUGH* Shark Tale.

I should add though, Dreamworks's actual animation can't hold a candle to Pixar's. There's just no comparison between the two. Pixar takes a much more realistic approach with their animation whereas Dreamworks animation is much more cartoony. Which, there's nothing wrong with that; it just is what it is.

My favorite parts of the film were these:

• Oogway, the old kung fu master turtle beginning to slowly blow out all those candles one-by-one.. Hilarious.
• Po making that crazy face in reaction to his acupuncture, right after Angelina Jolie's character says "And he's stuck with you, a big, fat panda who treats it like a joke."
• And of course, the opening 2D-animated dream sequence was amazing-- though it was done by James Baxter Animation, and not Dreamworks themselves. (JBA was also the studio that did the opening animation for Disney's Enchanted).

Overall though, I loved it. And I'll probably buy it on DVD.

Oh, and Sam: we should have an Emperor's New Groove watching party cuz I love that movie. And A Goofy Movie. We could call it
"A Goofy New Groove Party."

Rucker's Rating: Soo Good.

Opening Credit Sequence We Loved:

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