Kung Fu Panda
For the second time this year, I have seen a 3D animated film that has pushed its way into my Top 10. Dreamworks' "Kung Fu Panda," isn't just a great Dreamworks animated film, it rivals that of any other studio currently out there. The acting, writing, and visuals are all top-notch, and there is something to see for people of all ages.
I made the concious decision not to see "WALL-E" this weekend, despite being a massive Pixar nut. I decided that I should see "Kung Fu Panda" first, since I had yet to get a chance, and figured that the bonus would be a theater that wasn't jammed to the brim with people waiting to see the latest Pixar creation.
To my surprise, the KFP theater was very near full, despite the film being out over three weeks now, and "WALL-E" showing on 20 screens in the same theater. However I found a seat and settled in, popcorn in hand, waiting for the 2D intro I had heard so much about. The intro, as well as the entire movie, lived up to the hype.
I think the thing I loved so much about KFP, outside of the amazing visuals, was a combination of the writing style and the acting choices pulled off by the animation team. For whatever reason, "Bee Movie," totally lacked these performances, and so I was a bit concerned with how the acting would be handled in KFP. However within moments of the first scene in which Po is talking with his "dad" about noodles, it became obvious that the acting was not going to be a problem at all. The subtle shifts of weight, the characters actually putting thought into what they're about to say, the shifty eyebrows of Po, all was really well done.
For the record, I could not stop giggling at the candle scene between Oogway and Shifu, to the point where others in the theater began looking at me. I felt like such an idiot.
As mentioned, the visuals were top notch. The backgrounds felt like paintings, the colors popped against each other, and the textures of the various creatures and buildings were all done with great attention to detail. I found myself at one point just staring at the scales on Oogway's skin as they shook and swayed on his loose old turtle neck.
The prison escape scene is also a feast for the eyes, from an animation standpoint and a visual standpoint in general. You know exactly what the end result of the scene is going to be, and yet you can't stop wondering exactly how it's going to happen.
That being said, if there was one knock against KFP, in my opinion, it was that they sort of "overdid" the whole slow motion thing. I didn't actually count, but I'd say there are at least a dozen times in the film where the film slips into slow motion to show something cool or a funny facial expression. It worked for the most part, but once you've seen the effect for the 10th time, it starts to get sort of old.
There were lots of kids in the theater at my viewing of "Kung Fu Panda," and all seemed to be having a blast. I enjoyed the heck out of it too, and am really glad that I took it in on the bigscreen. This will be a movie that I instantly add to my collection the day it releases, and as I mentioned is a wonderful animated film when compared along side all of the current "classics" in computer animation.
If you want to know just how much I loved it, take a look at how my new "Top 10 Animated Films of All Time" list breaks down:
10. Toy Story 1&2
09. Aladdin
08. The Emporer's New Groove
07. Surf's Up!
06. The Iron Giant
05. Horton Hears A Who
04. Monsters, Inc.
03. Kung Fu Panda
02. Finding Nemo
01. The Incredibles
I imagine "WALL-E" will also wind up in that list somewhere, possibly bumping "Toy Story 1&2" out of my Top 10, but it won't change the fact that "Kung Fu Panda" is an amazing film and one that everyone involved at Dreamworks should be very proud of.
I made the concious decision not to see "WALL-E" this weekend, despite being a massive Pixar nut. I decided that I should see "Kung Fu Panda" first, since I had yet to get a chance, and figured that the bonus would be a theater that wasn't jammed to the brim with people waiting to see the latest Pixar creation.
To my surprise, the KFP theater was very near full, despite the film being out over three weeks now, and "WALL-E" showing on 20 screens in the same theater. However I found a seat and settled in, popcorn in hand, waiting for the 2D intro I had heard so much about. The intro, as well as the entire movie, lived up to the hype.
I think the thing I loved so much about KFP, outside of the amazing visuals, was a combination of the writing style and the acting choices pulled off by the animation team. For whatever reason, "Bee Movie," totally lacked these performances, and so I was a bit concerned with how the acting would be handled in KFP. However within moments of the first scene in which Po is talking with his "dad" about noodles, it became obvious that the acting was not going to be a problem at all. The subtle shifts of weight, the characters actually putting thought into what they're about to say, the shifty eyebrows of Po, all was really well done.
For the record, I could not stop giggling at the candle scene between Oogway and Shifu, to the point where others in the theater began looking at me. I felt like such an idiot.
As mentioned, the visuals were top notch. The backgrounds felt like paintings, the colors popped against each other, and the textures of the various creatures and buildings were all done with great attention to detail. I found myself at one point just staring at the scales on Oogway's skin as they shook and swayed on his loose old turtle neck.
The prison escape scene is also a feast for the eyes, from an animation standpoint and a visual standpoint in general. You know exactly what the end result of the scene is going to be, and yet you can't stop wondering exactly how it's going to happen.
That being said, if there was one knock against KFP, in my opinion, it was that they sort of "overdid" the whole slow motion thing. I didn't actually count, but I'd say there are at least a dozen times in the film where the film slips into slow motion to show something cool or a funny facial expression. It worked for the most part, but once you've seen the effect for the 10th time, it starts to get sort of old.
There were lots of kids in the theater at my viewing of "Kung Fu Panda," and all seemed to be having a blast. I enjoyed the heck out of it too, and am really glad that I took it in on the bigscreen. This will be a movie that I instantly add to my collection the day it releases, and as I mentioned is a wonderful animated film when compared along side all of the current "classics" in computer animation.
If you want to know just how much I loved it, take a look at how my new "Top 10 Animated Films of All Time" list breaks down:
10. Toy Story 1&2
09. Aladdin
08. The Emporer's New Groove
07. Surf's Up!
06. The Iron Giant
05. Horton Hears A Who
04. Monsters, Inc.
03. Kung Fu Panda
02. Finding Nemo
01. The Incredibles
I imagine "WALL-E" will also wind up in that list somewhere, possibly bumping "Toy Story 1&2" out of my Top 10, but it won't change the fact that "Kung Fu Panda" is an amazing film and one that everyone involved at Dreamworks should be very proud of.
Labels: Dreamworks, Kung Fu Panda, Movie Review
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posted by Dave Johnson at
9:49 AM
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