Kung Fu Panda

KUNG FU PANDA

PopcornScale Rating: Buttered Popcorn

First off all, just the name of this movie left me with really low expectations. I'm not really interested in martial arts or bears, and frankly, the movie sounded like one of those obnoxiously loud, unfunny 3rd-grade level comedies which hardly entertain. But when my mom announced that she, my sister and I, along her two friends and their children, were going to see this movie after a lunch at this Vegan Asian restaurant, I couldn't complain, because no matter how bad it is, it is always fun to see a movie, for me at least.

After a satisfying, if not thrilling lunch, we headed to the theater in the nick of time. I found, as the movie started, that at least visually, it was stunning, the animation and "cinematography" was brilliantly done, the colors and movements really enchanting. As we were introduced to our main character, Po the Panda, I was strangely charmed. Po has dreams of being a Kung Fu "master", but instead works at the noodle shop that his dad (who is a duck, which is never explained) runs. In a rather predictable, overly used formula, he doesn't pursue his dream because he doesn't want to disappoint his father, but also because he isn't very good at Kung Fu.

But somehow, in a twist of events, he finds himself thrust under the coveted title of "Dragon Warrior", and now faces a dangerous escaped prisoner. The storylines that follow involve a wise, angelic turtle, a fox-like animal who is forced to train Po, and several other figures. Somewhere three-quarters into the movie, I find myself enjoying the movie, as there are several plot possibilities introduced, and I find myself waiting for things to be answered.

And they never are. I almost forgot this was a kids' movie, it was silly of me to expect a metaphysical answer to why a certain kung fu move has disastrous consequences, or to expect the Panda to have some innate, unique ability. The theme explored "there is no secret ingredient" is really interesting, but they didn't develop or implement it in the story enough. The movie ends in an awkward place, but all-in-all, this is a worthy movie if you want some lighthearted fun. Though there are some small issues with rushing the end, the amazing cinematography and engaging beginning and middle parts more than make up for it.