It's a fun watch for one occasion

Rating: 5/10 (10 July 2008)

I see, that most of the people who have seen this film rate is sky-high, I just can't understand why. Sure, it's not a bad movie, but far from great. In a time when not many truly re-watchable cartoons come out - max. one every year - it's not hard to be number one. Others have written down the story, so I won't do so, I someone would not know, one can read it from there. First of all I don't get it why is it a must to use big-time Hollywood actors as voices for characters? Voice acting is acting too, I know, but surely others could of been used as well. I just don't believe in a movie promotion campaign where the strategy is based on the voice-actors, not on the movie itself. Onwards, why do the animated figures have to look like the people giving voices to them? Couldn't the snake be less-lu-like and the opossum less-Hoffman-like? This going to all the characters. Further more, I don't get why were there five big kung fu masters (appart from the trivial reason, that there - as it seems - are five styles named after them)? There just is no reason for it in the movie, no characters are drawn, all are totally dissed. It would of been enough to make two others and the movie would of worked just fine. In this case the two others would of gotten more character and charisma; a bit of more personality. Currently the ape, the insect and the legless-lizard are totally unnecessary.
Even I don't like the way the panda wins in the end, I see it's the only child-friendly-Hollywood-way, so be it. The movie is watchable once, with a few funny moments, a decent story and a touch of drama; even some sort of a moral message for the youth. For this the movie gets points. However - in my opinion - some more character work the picture would score higher. The only figures I am satisfied are the turtle and the opossum (the semi-master). Even the panda would need more. The animation and the drawing is a work of the pros... but hey, we are talking about a major Hollywood studio, so it's what they do, and they are quite good at it.