Kung Fu Panda

I've been waiting for this film to come out for what seems years! At last, it opened this weekend, so we toddled off to our local Odeon cinema this afternoon to check it out. I'm happy to report that it was marvellous flick! This latest CGI feature from Dreamworks features some clever action sequences, stunning animation and is very very funny. I would agree with many critics who suggest it's the studio's best animated feature since the original "Shrek".

The plot follows a rather rotund and frustrated Panda named 'Po' (voiced by Jack Black) who by day works in his father's noodle bar, but at night dreams of the glory of being a Kung Fu master, fighting evil warlords and demons alongside 'The Furious Five' - a group of animal kung fu warriors (Tigeress! Monkey! Mantis! Viper! Crane!) who reside in a nearby mountain top citadel. They are trained by Shifu (voiced by Dustin Hoffman), their small Yoda like master. After a hilarious sequence where our likeable panda hero tries to gain access to the citadel, the temple master Oogway predicts that Po is the fabled Dragon Warrior, a kung fu master who will defend the Valley of Peace against the threat of Shifu's evil ex pupil, Tai Ling. Po begins to train in the ways kung fu, and not a moment to soon as Tai Ling escapes from prison and returns to reap revenge on his former master....

All in all, "Kung Fu Panda" a very funny film with an appealing central character. I loved the theme of 'belief in yourself'. Thankfully, the film doesn't skimp on the action sequences and they are quite exciting, in fact they are as good as the CGI action in last year's excellent "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". Features tip-top animation that looks beautiful on the big screen. Worth a viewing and a DVD purchase in a few months (and maybe an action figure and poster!)

The trailer is here at the official site. :)