Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Rating: 9/10 (15 November 2008)

For the first half hour the film is more or less typical of what I would expect from a Dreamworks, or any non-Pixar, animated film, which includes a few too many conventional "Dreamworks moments" and some safe comedy....
... and then it became beautiful! I am thoroughly impressed with this animated feature! I was not expecting it to be full of such quietly respectful Eastern sentimentality, or as artistically rich in detail as it was. I'll have to go back for a second viewing because there were so many little details I know I missed. The entire last hour of the film, for me, was near perfect. Tai-Lung's escape from prison, the last words of Oogway, the Five's battle with Tai-Lung, Po's training, the final confrontation between Shifu and Tai-Lung, and especially the fight between Po and Shifu for the dumpling, was outstanding and beautifully done. This film evoked the kind of feelings that a film based on such a significant part of Eastern culture should evoke in me. It is easily the second best film of the year so far for me, and by far Dreamworks greatest achievement yet.
9/10