Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda is a must see for Kung Fu fans. The film was reportedly inspired by the film Kung Fu Hustle and DreamWorks directors travelled to China to get a feel for the settings and culture. The film stars the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, David Cross, and Jackie Chan.

The film was a box office hit in no small part to the spectacular CGI which is the most complicated from DreamWorks yet; reportedly the animators had a six hour Kung Fu lesson before starting the project. The character development is exceptional and you are immediately invested in the amiable yet incompetent Po, as with the strict but heartbroken Shifu Kung Fu Master. Kung Fu Panda was also well-received in China.

Po is a bumbling helper at his father’s noodle restaurant who dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master when he is accidentally chosen as the fabled Dragon Warrior. He meets his Kung Fu heroes the Furious Five who eventually see the good in him and befriend the hapless Panda. Under the tutelage of Master Shifu, Po learns to like himself and this gives him the strength to resist the most evil Kung Fu warrior of all time, but can he save the peaceful valley?

Cinema release 2008

Certificate PG

Available on DVD and Blue Ray