The family is down with flu and cough. My husband decided to come home early from work to take care of all of us. He dropped by the DVD store and bought Kungfu Panda before coming home. We spent the entire afternoon laughing and thoroughly enjoying the movie. Here’s why I love Kungfu Panda.
Synopsis (Spoiler Alert!)
Kungfu Panda is set in the Valley of Peace in China. It’s about Po, a giant panda who dreams to be a Kungfu Warrior like the legendary Furious Five – Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey – who are under the tutelage of Master Shifu.
In reality, he has no kungfu training and serves noodles at a restaurant owned by his goose father who hopes Po would take over the noodle business with the family’s secret noodle recipe. In the meantime, the tortoise Master OOgway had a premonition that a former student of Master Shifu, Tai Lung will escape from prison and create pandemonium at the Valley of Peace. He then decided to select the Dragon Warrior in a competition. Everyone went to the ceremony, but Po was asked to sell noodles there instead. When he finally climbed the stairs towards the temple, the door was closed and desperate, he tried various means to enter. Finally he set a chair on fireworks and skyrocketed into the air. He landed right in front of Master OOgway who was about to announce the Dragon Warrior. Thus Po was appointed the Dragon Warrior to the chagrin of the Furious Five and Master Shifu.
No one believe in Po, except Master Oogway. Master Shifu even attempted to make Po quit and leave the temple. But Master Oogway has advised Po not to quit. Later on, Master Oogway made Master Shifu promise to train Po to be a Dragon Warrior and prepare him for the imminent battle between Tai Lung and Po, before vanishing into the heavens.
Master Shifu used food to train Po but when he heard that Tai Lung was coming to attack, Po got scared. He could not believe that he would be able to defeat the vicious Tai Lung. Master Shifu presented Po with the Dragon Scroll which was said to hold all the secrets to kungfu. When Po opened it, there was nothing, just a reflective surface. The Furious Five were already moving the villagers away from the Valley of Peace at the prospect of Tai Lung’s arrival. Po went along and met his father who revealed that there is no secret recipe. The noodles are special is you believe they are. He suddenly realised that there is no secret formula to be the Dragon Warrior and defeat Tai Lung, so he went back to the temple to face his opponent.
Initially, Tai Lung scorned at the fact that the Dragon Warrior was a big, fat giant panda. He fought Po in an attempt to get hold of the Dragon Scroll which was denied him many years ago. When he found that the scroll was empty, he got angry and lunged at Po. Tai Lung’s nerve attacks on Po failed due to his fats. But Po managed to defeat Tai Lung using the Wuxi Finger Hold. Everyone celebrated this victory and acknowledged Po as the rightful Dragon Warrior.
Review
There are a few animated films that strike my interest and this is one of them. I was laughing throughout watching the movie. The dialogues were cleverly-written, and together with the apt visual animation, it made Kungfu Panda one of the hilarious animated movie I have ever seen. But you’ve got to listen carefully to the dialogues or you’d miss the comedy.
The movie has a very simple plot and a very simple message – to believe in yourself. Having an uncomplicated storyline made the whole movie experience more enjoyable. Many people who buys tickets to watch animated films do not want to think too much or care for twists and turns in a story. Kungfu Panda is apt for an entertaining afternoon family fun. I watched it mainly with my husband, because Felicity is too young to understand the story yet.
On the whole, Kungfu Panda is a visual treat for everyone, including the young ones who would be more fascinated with the kungfu moves than anything else. For the adults, you will find the animated film very enjoyable and funny. I love Kungfu Panda!