Saturday, June 28, 2008

10 Things I love about Kung Fu Panda (spoilerific!) Go watch it!!!

Kung Fu Panda... the best non-Pixar CGI film since... well... The Best Non-Pixar CGI film ever! Possibly the most satisfying Kung Fu film I've seen in a long time. 

10. The glorious cel animation at the beginning of the film. Beautiful and perfect.

9. The magnificent cgi animation throughout the film. 

8. The copious use of slow-mo, capturing those kung fu moments in all its glory.

7. That despite the all star name cast, everybody was in character. No one stood out as "hey it's so and so."

6. The running joke of walking up the thousands of steps up to the temple. Po being breathless every time he walks up. I giggle.

5. Po being a complete fanboy, his unabashed enthusiasm and love for Kung Fu.

4. The way Po defeats Tai Lung at the end. So well set up you slap your head and go "ooohhh!!!" and still giggle like a school girl.

3. The fabulous character animation. The way characters such as a mantis, snake and turtle can all do Kung Fu believably in this crazy cartoon world.

2. Tai Lung's escape from the prison. Right up there with Magneto's escape in X-Men 2. Crazy yet it all makes sense.

1. The story of Shi Fu and Tai Lung. Surprisingly dramatic and meaty and gave this story it's gravitas and emotional weight and momentum all at once. THIS is the story that the Star Wars prequels should have told. This story is surprisingly heartbreaking and suddenly the villain's rage makes sense. Doesn't excuse him for the suffering he caused but you understand what drove him. And holy crap, I'm droning on and on about the fictional father/son dynamic between a squirrel and a snow lion who fight each other with kung fu! But it all makes sense! 

Go see it and have a good time!

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