Another american take for martial arts is here called "Kung Fu Panda". Unlike other films, this one fairly holds up on its own and did not kill the asian flavor to it.
Now the story evolves around Po the Panda (voiced by Jack Black), a lowly son of a noodle house owner who grew up with mean skills of making noodles. He likes Kung Fu and is a fan of the Furious Five composed of Master Tigress, Master Mantis, Master Monkey, Master Viper and Master Crane. He like Kung Fu yet did not study in it. On the day of the selection for the Dragon Warrior, Po would like to attend the event but his Father asked him to sell noodles on the event itself. With cart in hand, he had trouble climbing the stairs to the temple on top of a mountain. He was late arriving was closed off from the event. He tried getting in until he finally did. He fell into the courtyard between Master Tigress and Master Ooogway. The latter was about to point to Master Tigress when Po came in between them, thereby announcing Po to the Dragon Warrior to everyone's surprise.
Now its up to Master Shifu to train the new Dragon Warrior who was prophesied to beat Tai Lung, the greatest Kung Fu artists turned rogued. Master Shifu was skeptical about Po so he decided to make his life hard so that Po will eventually quit. He regarded Po's selection as an accident. As per Master Oogway, "there are no accidents". Eventually Master Shifu trusts his master and proceeds to understand Po and of how to teach him Kung Fu in such short of time so he could beat Tai Lung.
In the end, Po was able to defeat Tai Lung using his Panda style of Kung Fu.
Now to dissect the film, the story line was obviously been thought of from start to end. Details were there, character build up was great, Po made us want to follow his journey, and there were a lot of side stories at intertwine nicely with the plot, extending the film and entertaining us as well.
Po and his father had their moments, of how a father being so protective, of how Master Ooogway was full of trust in Po from the very beginning. The treatment of the Furious Five upon Po, the transformation of it was endearing. The change in Master Shifu's perception of Po's skills was a great turning point in the film. Tai Lung as the bad guy from start to finish was there, and of how he transformed from being groomed to be the next Dragon Warrior to a bad guy. Imagine all these happened in a well thought of story line of a movie.
Good thing this wasn't made by Disney or else they would toned down some of the jokes, and they will not hire Jack Black to voice Po. The jokes and the situations make this film entertaining and fun. Nicely crafted and nicely directed as well.
It's your typical good triumphs over kind of thing but nicely told using a cute panda (who you won't think of doing action stunts) in the process.
Jokes are aimed at the adults although they are not that raunchy so that kids can't watch this film. Both age groups will love these altogether, which makes the film watchable.
