Really Surprised by this Film

Rating: 8/10 (30 June 2008)

Kung Fu Panda is one of the better animated films of the year. Of course that's not saying much because most animated films are all about humor that is constantly in your face and is on the verge of being annoying. I went to see this on the recommendation of a friend which surprised me since he HATES kids movies like these nowadays. Walking out of this I can say that my friend was right as this really does deliver for a movie called "Kung Fu Panda."
Now the plot is basically pretty generic. A panda who dreams of becoming a kung fu master, when he just sells noodles. One day he is chosen by the wise old turtle as the one who will stop a evil snow leopard. Then he basically goes through training for most of the movie. The plot is not the glowing part of the movie except their is some charm in seeing this buffoon, for lack of a better term, grow into a kung fu master.
No, what makes Kung Fu Panda shine is the action in the movie. And not only the action but the characters as well. I'm talking of course about the villain and the master. The villain in this movie may have seemed pretty generic, but he's the first villain in a long time that actually scared me. And also the old master is pretty well done too. But the action in the movie is spot-on. Some of the action scenes are really intense.
The humor in this movie was nice to because it was a departure from that piece of garbage that was Shrek the Third where humor was just out their in the open because it needed to be. None of this humor felt forced, and the opening sequence was just laugh out loud funny.
In short, see this movie and go in with an open mind. I'm guessing that you will be pleasantly surprised.