Genres

Visitors Review

Emily Wright 2012-05-25 14:26:17

Pretty freakin' awesome!

Last week I saw Kung Fu Panda with a few of my mates, who'd been dyingfor its release. I must say, we were definitely satisfied with what wesaw, i'd even say... Extremely impressed! From the previews, i thoughtit was just going to be another dreamworks animated film that failed toimpress me (eg. Shark Tale, Shrek the Third, Bee Movie etc.), but KungFu Panda was full of "Awesomeness".Jack Black plays a fat panda, who wants to be a kung fu champion, likehis idols... He plays the role fantastically! Big names such asAngelina Jolie and Jacki Chan also play characters, and although thefilm would have been fine with some no-name actors, they definitelybring some 'zing' to the film.The animation is certainly above average in the scheme of recentanimated films, and the entertainment level is incredible. One of myonly complaints is that it should maybe go for a bit longer. There wasdefinitely room for a few more laughs, and my popcorn bag wasn't yetempty. I was a bit like.. ohhh, it's over? Apart from it's prematureconclusion, i thoroughly enjoyed watching Kung Fu Panda. It's a funfilm (one of the best animated films in the last 5 years or so) andwill surely entertain the whole family.

frozen_dolly 2012-05-25 05:03:28

awesome!!

this movie is by far one of the best animated movies i've ever seen!from the start you're given a story that has so much to give, you'reentertained, and you can totally feel for Po (the panda), also Shifu'sbackground story is nicely told and you can be easily touched by it ,and although the ending is a little predictable, you'll still wanna seeit! at times you will laugh, and you will sympathize, the animationwere amazing and the moves were so cute, this movie is for all ages andtotally rocks , dreamworks really did a gr8 job. Jack Black wasamazing, he was the cutest panda ever , Dustin Hoffman was perfect, igive this a 10 out of 10 because it really made my day

James Rocchi 2012-05-23 13:07:28

Kung Fu Panda may be on the higher edge of the middle rank of computer-animated films, but it'll still provide your kids with a fairly respectable mix of action, amazement and amusement.

Eric D. Snider 2012-05-23 04:24:43

It's slick, energetic, and entertaining enough to separate it from most of the in-it-for-the-cash animated products that the studios have been cranking out the last few years.

Sanou_san 2012-05-21 10:41:54

A Funny, Hearty Christmas treat I've seen…

This is another proof Dreamworks made the best of their "Dream-Works"creations. Like Up I saw another hearty treat from them when I loungedmyself for a marathon last 2009 Christmas. Kung Fu Panda got all thewits, talents, comedy, excitement and a bit of drama materialized into3d entertainment. (I loved Martial Arts movies), and from the longyears I saw them in real action pace I wondered how exhilarating wouldit be in 3D (I saw enough in 2D). Unthinkably and funnily itmaterialized through Dreamworks. Their sincerity and wit mixed in thestory made it a modern-classic novelty success. I must say the cast arealso brilliant (especially Jack Black). Jack Black's humor got wellinto the character of Po. The rest are humorously awesome. You'll evenforget their playing the one! I mean, I didn't realize for a momentthat Monkey was Jackie Chan, and Viper was Lucy Liu. Even DustinHoffman's voice as far as I remember (well, most recently I was fond ofa lot of his old films!) is unrecognizable. One may think the storyexcites only kids but it caters anyone who finds entertainment open intheir heart. I remember watching "A Bug's Life". I've seen it in VHSfor almost five times and still didn't get tired of its simple butenticing story. Although it may seem thinly inviting in cover, I assureyou its action and play is superbly enough.

TwentyCalls 2012-05-20 23:36:22

Quit, don't quit...Noodles, don't noodles

It's a movie that my family can watch over and over again. There isjust so much comedy, action and values to be taken from this show. Theoverall standard of this movie is comparable to that of "TheIncredibles". The character to look out for is Oogway (a direct Chinesephonic translation of 'turtle'). He did a few meaningful quotes fromthe movie - "You are too concerned with what's was and what will be.There is a saying 'Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, buttoday is a gift. That is why it's called the present.'" That's thePower of Now!Another one - "...there is just news. There is no good or bad...That isbad news if you do not believe that the Dragon Warrior can stop him."That's the Power of Believe!

2012-05-16 21:50:06

A sequel that manages to be better than the first movie

When it comes to sequels, it's rare enough that one manages to measure up to the first film. More often than not they end up being disappointing to one degree or another. Particularly when you're talking about animated films (the Shrek and Toy Story films being more the exception than the rule). But Kung Fu Panda 2 is that rarity among sequels in that, in my opinion, it is actually an improvement on the first film in quite a number of ways, which I'll get to later.In this film, Po (the kung-fu panda of the title) and the Furious Five (Tigress, Mantis, Monkey, Viper & Crane) are called on to face a new threat: the return of the exiled Prince Shen (a peacock), who has come back armed with a powerful new weapon and determined to take over the kingdom. Complicating matters though are the fact that Prince Shen apparently had something to do with how Po, a panda, came to be raised by a goose, Mister Ping, his loving if noodle-obsessed father. In order to find the 'inner peace' he needs to defeat Shen, Po must first find the secret of his past, a past that he only sees in flashes of haunting memory that Shen's appearance has awakened in him. Beyond the plot though, almost everything in Kung Fu Panda 2 is better than the first film, which was already pretty respectable to begin with. One thing is that KFP2 steeps itself even deeper in Chinese culture and it shows in both the sumptuously colored and detailed art of the backgrounds, in the traditions subtly brought out in the story, and even in the musical score wrought by John Powell and Hans Zimmer. And there is more depth, both philosophically and artistically, to the kung-fu; a particular key sequence by Master Shifu early on is a slow and beautiful thing to watch. The voice actors are all excellent, with all of the original actors reprising their roles: Po (Jack Black), Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), Crane (David Cross) and of course Mister Ping (the inimitable veteran James Hong). New additions include a sooth-saying ram (beautifully done by Michelle Yeoh), and kung-fu masters Ox (Jean-Claude Vam Damme) and Croc (Dennis Haysbert). And a notable cameo for film buffs is the voice of the Musician Bunny (director Paul Mazursky).I have to give particular praise though to how well Prince Shen was done. At first thought, the idea of a villainous peacock sounds, well, ridiculous. But Prince Shen, as conceived and dazzlingly executed by the animators of KFP2, and as masterfully voiced by Gary Oldman, radiates arrogant menace and threat, in attitude and physically, in a fashion that is both artful and deadly. Director Jennifer Yuh said that "Shen proved to be a great challenge to animate, so much that the complexity of the character was like that of doing six characters all at once." IMHO, KFP2 is worth seeing just for Shen alone.And, for what it's worth, this is one of the few 3D movies I've seen that was actually worth seeing in 3D.My only quibble with the film is that it really didn't develop the Furious Five much as characters, which I would like to have seen. There are hints of things given about Tigress, but they're never really developed, and the rest of the Five are relegated to the same hero-support roles they had in the original.Highly recommended for anyone who likes a good story and especially for anyone who liked the first film. This one definitely takes it up a notch.

Peter Bradshaw 2012-05-16 08:34:14

This Panda delivers a cuddle more than a thump.

Tweekums 2012-05-16 13:32:39

Fun animation from DreamWorks

I hadn't got around to watching this film but as I'd heard good thingsabout it I thought I'd check it out when it was on television.Initially I wasn't sure I'd enjoy it as I'm not really into 'talkinganimal' films; soon I was ignoring that and enjoying the humour and thestory. The story itself is hardly new but tat didn't stop it beingentertaining. Po is a panda who dreams of becoming a kung fu warriorfighting alongside the greatest warriors in China; unfortunately forhim however he seems destined to become a noodle chef! One day thelocal kung fu master Oogway prophesied that a dangerous former studentis going to escape from prison and return to seek his vengeance andsteal the scroll that will make him the legendary Dragon Warrior.Oogway decides that he must find a new Dragon Warrior first; to thisend he gathers everybody together to appoint the new warrior. Po isdesperate to see the ceremony and in his efforts to see finds himselfat the centre of the ceremony and being selected himself. Notsurprisingly the five greatest warriors and their trainer are notimpressed that a fat panda has been selected over them. When theirenemy does indeed escape they head off to meet him while master Shifuattempts to train him. As is the way with such films Po finds that hehas hidden depths and learns kung fu, the only question is will helearn the secret of the scroll and defeat the dangerous Tai Lung.While the two films are very different I couldn't help thinking aboutStar Wars due to the relationships between the main characters; Shifuwas like Obi Wan as his best student turns bad, Oogway was similar toYoda. I'm not sure if this was a deliberate reference, it didn't matterif it was though as they never really laboured the point; in fact thefilm was refreshingly free from obvious pop culture references which Isuspect will lead to it having a greater longevity than some otherDream Works animations. The animation looked pretty good in a way thatmade the characters believable even though they are talking, kung-fufighting animals! The voice actors did a decent job; they avoidedgiving their characters 'cartoony' voices that can be a problem withanimation at times. Over all I'd recommend this as it is a good familyfilm with nothing too offensive for children or too childish foradults; it might not be as good as Pixar's best but then what is?

pvd007 2012-05-15 18:08:46

One of the five best CGI animated films ever!

After the disappointing SHREK 3 and the only "cute" OVER THE HEDGE,DreamWorks Animation finally delivers another highlight to the CGIanimated universe.I got used to the rather simple story of MADAGASCAR after watching itagain, I really liked SHREK and even more SHREK 2 (am I the only one?).I never liked the cultural references they built in, because I thinkthey only work in their time (but in their time they worked great!). Sofor me KUNG FU PANDA is the first great "classic" DWA film. Go see it,it also works for adults. If you have seen some of the classic martialarts film (Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee etc) you will even more enjoy it. Thevoice talent of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman and Ian McShane is perfectlyused. The other voices are OK.It will be a big hit for DWA, north of 200 millions domestic,eventually even 300 mil.That said, my favorite CGI's are 1. THE INCREDIBLES, 2. RATATOUILLE and3. FINDING NEMO and closely followed by KUNG FU PANDA. Looking forwardto seeing KFP an second time and then maybe it will become my new Nr.3.

Carina Chocano 2012-05-15 04:58:10

The message -- believe in yourself even when all evidence suggests you shouldn't -- is annoyingly familiar and frankly overdue for a serious debunking, but it's not about to happen here.

2012-05-14 19:16:01

The Fur-Ball Rules!

Warning: This film reveals the secret of the Dragon Warrior, a mysteryso awesome you may not wish to expose yourself to it without years ofpreparation.I am stunned beyond measure to report that "Kung Fu Panda" may be thefinest kung fu movie ever offered to a wide and adoring public. Oddthat it's a cartoon. Of course, DreamWorks did glorious, fullyconvincing animation with lustrous backgrounds and art directionadapted from Chinese sources. My film crowd and I returned to watch itagain, just to appreciate the splendor.The makers truly understand the traditions of the genre. They workcharming variations on familiar set pieces. Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman,and the talented vocal actors convincingly give the figures tongue,while the animators invest the visual character images with authenticpersonalities.I'd still call "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" the best martial artsmotion picture I've viewed. That I saw four times on first run. As forpure fury-fisted kung fu…the furry-fisted panda bear does the job. Thetrailer certainly did not suggest anything like the physical beauty andthe wise humor that dominate the production.

2012-05-12 15:39:20

Awesome

Great movie, i dont think that anybody could not like this movie, I cant get enough of it. i highly reccomend for any family looking for a good movie to watch

Frank Swietek 2012-05-12 11:40:56

Another misfit-makes-good movie with nifty visuals but a sodden script.

2012-05-11 17:58:50

Great!

This review is from: Kung Fu Panda 2 / Secrets of the Masters (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) (Blu-ray) This movie is great. I have 2 young girls and they love to watch it along with my husband. I would definately buy it again.

Chris Hewitt (UK) 2012-05-11 11:57:59

This is the finest DreamWorks Animation effort since the first Shrek

2012-05-07 06:39:02

A sequel with real kick

I guess I will have to make a confession that will get the Dreamworks crowd all worked up: while I enjoyed Kung Fu Panda, I'm not one of the many who hold it up on as high a pedestal as the superior Monsters Vs. Aliens or the movie that may be the epitome of all things cute, How to Train Your Dragon. So nail me to the cross if you want. I also have, in recent times, developed a distaste for sequels. This year we had Pixar's first terrible movie (Cars 2), the disastrously messy Pirates 4, and the carbon copy Hangover 2 (though Deathly Hallows Part 2 is my pick for top movie of 2011) So while I, as I stated, enjoyed KFP1, I initially had low expectations for it's sequel in place. And with that in mind, I can say I enjoyed Kung Fu Panda 2. Although it's not perfect, it managed to be very entertaining, and a worthy follow up. The sequel takes place some time after the first movie. Po has continued training to be a true Kung Fu master, but there's one thing he hasn't yet truly mastered: inner peace. Of course, to a panda like Po, Kung Fu is all about kicking butt, but he soon learns that the only way to be a true Kung Fu master is to be at peace with himself. However, a new gang, sent in by a Peacock who seems a ghost of Po's past, has terrorized the village, sending Po and the gang on an adventure to stop him.Kung Fu Panda 2 works... for the most part. The good news is, it overall provides for an entertaining ride that the whole family can enjoy. The script is filled with tons of funny lines that are bound to have the kids repeating them for hours on end. As well as the voice cast is just as charming this time around; Jack Black still manages to charm as Po, Angelina Jolie still manages to put her street tough kick to good use. However, Gary Oldman, as usual, steals the show. He makes a great villain andit shows.The animation also manages to dazzle. I can safely say that the animation quality has come a long way since Shrek. I didn't see this in 3D, but I guarantee I would have loved to. There are a lot of moments in the animation where I wanted to reach out and run my fingers through Po's fur, or move my hand along the cannon near the end, and had I seen this movie in 3D, I probably would have reached out and tried to feel them! It reminded me of when I saw Sanctum in 3D earlier this year, where I felt like I was actually underwater.However there are a few flaws that prevent me from calling it a perfect film, let alone near perfect. For starters, it took me a while to be able to connect with the movie, as the pacing unfortunately is rushed to the point where it moves at a machine gun pace. Thepacing does slighty slow down in the middle but even then, the film still feels like the filmmakers were trying to cram too much in. Also, the story seemed convoluted. There was a story but it was rushed, to the point where I had myself questioning halfway through the film what the movie was about. Overall, Kung Fu Panda 2 is a very enjoyable film that is not without it's flaws. I would say go into it with an open mind, and don't expect Pixar level entertainment. Oh, and even if you don't go to movies for the actors, it's still worth seeing for Gary Oldman alone.Overall: 7/10Pros: The film provides good action, humour, laughs, alongside a stellar voice cast, a terrific Hans Zimmer score and beautiful animation that would convince even 3D skeptics to buy a ticket.Cons: The film's pacing is rushed, to the near point of being disorienting, as well as the story could have been more fleshed out as well as the villain.

Ken Hanke 2012-05-06 18:08:57

The near genius of the film -- big-name stars doing voices to one side -- is that it almost completely eschews the snarky postmodern, pop-culture-referencing sensibility.

voldemort_iz_kewl 2012-05-05 21:56:09

Floppy panda is accidentally chosen to be a kung fu warrior, will he succeed in his pursuit to fulfill his destiny and defeat the villainous Tai Lung?

Kung Fu Panda is an excellent movie filled with fun, action, and goodlessons to learn along the way. This movie also has many of ourfavorite stars including Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, LucyLiu, and of course the great Dustin Hoffman. The movie gets a littleserious at times but balances it out with humor and the animalcharacters are guaranteed to delight.The movie conveys the invaluable message of the utter importance ofbeing yourself and believing in yourself and others even if the oddsare against you. I love this movie and could watch it a million timesand never get sick of it. In my opinion Kung Fu Panda is the bestanimated film ever made. Definitely ten-star worthy. A must see for anyform of living organism; which means you!

Karen 2012-05-05 13:24:23

Great, entertaining, simple family movie!

Finally, a true "family" movie - no worries about too much action/violence, dark or hard-to-follow story lines, or even inuendos. Just a good, well-done, funny, entertaining-for-everyone FAMILY movie. Yea!