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2008
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KUNG
FU-PANDA
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STARRING:(VOICES
OF) JACK BLACK,DUSTIN HOFFMAN,ANGELINA JOLIE,IAM MCSHANE,JACKIE
CHAN,SETH ROGEN,LUCY LIU,DAVID CROSS,RANDALL DUK KIM,JAMES HONG,MICHAEL
CLARKE DUNCAN
STORY
BY ETHAN REIFF & CYRUS VORIS
SCREENPLAY
BY JONATHAN AIBEL & GLENN BERGER
PRODUCED
BY MELISSA COBB
DIRECTED
BY MARK OSBORNE & JOHN STEVENSON
GENRE:COMEDY/FAMILY/MARTIAL
ARTS
RATED:AUSTRALIA:PG/UK:PG/USA:PG
RUNNING
TIME:92 MIN
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The
animation bar has been raised once again with Kung Fu Panda,
an expertly crafted and hilarious film by Dreamworks, who are sure
to give Pixar a run for their money if they continue to churn out
films of this calibre.
Jack Black - who has found the perfect medium for his hyper personality
- stars as Po, a lazy and over weight Panda whose dreams of becoming
a kung-fu warrior are brought down to Earth after he is burdened with
his fathers (James Hong) noodle restaurant.
Po aspires to become apart of the Furious Five, a band of martial
arts warriors which feature Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie
Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), and Crane (David Cross).
They have all been trained by Shifu (Dustin Hoffman, who exudes wisdom
as the kung fu master).
After the notorious martial arts villain Tai Lung (voiced by Deadwood
actor Ian McShane, whose successfully portrays his character as the
snarling embodiment of evil) escapes from prison, a Dragon Warrior
must be chosen to wield limitless power and take on Tai Lung. To everyone's
surprise Po turns out to be the chosen one, and now the most unlikely
of heroes must prove his worth.
There is so much fun and laughter to be had with this film. A sharp
sense of humour - which thankfully does not resort to pop culture
gags - is ever present from the word go, as Loony Toons slapstick
madness combines with martial arts spectacle to give way to some wonderfully
funny scenes, among them a chopstick standoff between Po and Shifu
over a dumpling, and several other fight scenes which transcend its
animation bubble.
For a family film the script is rather deep with its Asian philosophical
leanings and talk of destiny; the films oriental flavour is enhanced
by John Powell's and Hans Zimmer's Eastern tinged score; and the animation
is brimming with a dazzling display of colour and 3D graphics.
Kung-Fu Panda is exceptionally solid entertainment sure to
entertain adults and well as children, and gives the animation genre
a new challenge in terms of bettering itself. |
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