Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda (2008)

 Hello, friends!

I've found it to be a common theme that when I was little I would enjoy a movie, but then I got to a phase where I just thought it was silly or inane. Eventually I grew out of that and once again saw many of the films for how brilliant they are. Kind of like that C. S. Lewis quote, "One day you will be old enough to read fairytales again."

Today, I'm talking about one of those movies! I remember just missing Kung Fu Panda when it came out in theaters in 2008, but I've seen it countless times since. Since my years of shunning it I now claim this to be one of the most humorous films I've ever seen. It always cheers me up to watch it, and likewise to talk about it, so let's get down to business (wrong movie) let's get to kung fu fighting.

The following is me talking about why I enjoy the movie and the messages therein but not what actually happens in it, so this article is spoiler-free. Enjoy!

Kung Fu Panda (2008):

Premise: Po eats, sleeps, and dreams thinking about kung fu. Due to an accident, Po gets chosen to be the new "Dragon Warrior" and disgruntled by this, Master Shifu is determined to make him quit. The Furious Five are disappointed at not being chosen but they aren't the only ones as word reaches Tai Lung, an exiled former student of Shifu. Tai Lung will stop at nothing to get the Dragon Scroll given to the Dragon Warrior and the way to defend is through kung fu...that is if a panda can learn how to master this ancient martial art.

Genres: Comedy, Family, Action/Adventure, Animated films.

"There is now a level zero."

Length: approx. 92 minutes.

Age Range: This is rated PG, for some mild violence (the titular action of kung fu is part of it!). Some tiny kids might be scared of Tai Lung, but all in all this works for any age.

Crew: Directed by: John Stevenson and Mark Osborne. Produced by: Melissa Cobb. Written by: Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger based on the story by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris. Animation by: DreamWorks studios. Music by: Hans Zimmer.

Kung Fu...red panda?

Starring the voices of: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Jackie Chan, Randall Duk Kim, and James Hong.

General thoughts:

How I look when I'm acting out what happens in this movie.

Me watching this movie is like Po being tickled: I'm just in stitches the whole time through. There's one scene where Po is in a hall of ancient kung fu weapons that my sister and I can't reenact without giggling. It is marvelously quotable, so much so that I couldn't even begin to tell you how many times I've said lines from it over the years. It is a movie that is as satisfying as the dew from a ginkgo leaf.

While the majority of the movie is in 3D animation, the beginning and credits have a 2D animation style that links back to other Chinese art forms. The score by the brilliant Hans Zimmer is mystical and magical, and I love the song "Kung Fu Fighting" performed by Jack Black and CeeLo Green.

"One often meets his destiny on the road to avoid it."

As for the story itself, Po is quite a relatable and sympathetic character. He goes through real struggles of trying to achieve things while everyone doubts him while staying cheery himself. This movie deals with real moments in small ways, such as having to communicate to family member that what you love is different than what they love. Po's dad runs a noodle shop and wants Po to take over, but Po wants to do "kung fuuuuuuuuuu!"

The rest of the characters are so lovable, from wise Oogway to impatient Shifu to the strengths of the Furious Five, each character has their own goals and sense of humor.

This film was so successful that it has since received three sequels. I've only seen the first of them (Kung Fu Panda 2) and think it's one of the most solid sequels I've seen. It is missing one aspect that is quite prominent in this film: food.

Food in the film:

"Well done, students...if you were trying to disappoint me."

When I was younger I was told that I was a stress eater. This was not in an official diagnosis, just observation from others, and it immediately confused me. First of all, I was never all that stressed, and second, I just liked to eat. It seemed like something that was wrong with me, but I took comfort in the character of Po, because he eats when he's upset. College since taught me that I'm not a stress eater; I eat when I'm bored. When I'm stressed, I just don't eat. Which also isn't a healthy thing to do. Po learns that what he wants to be (a kung fu master) and who he is (a panda) can be possible when he does it the way a panda would. It's not going to be the same for a snake, a bird, or a tortise. 

"I guess my body doesn't know it's the dragon warrior yet." 

Through this lens, I think this movie subtly looks at abelism. It starts because Po cannot get up the stairs. He's called "just a fat panda" many times but learns to take ownership of it and who he is actually becomes an asset. Already there are many different animals that are the kung fu experts as within the Furious Five you have Tigress, Monkey, Crane, Mantis, and Viper. The characters in this movie already understand that one can be small and mighty, but this looks at the other end. What that would like to have a panda as a kung fu master? It would be wrong for a panda to not be cute and cuddly, but Po shows other possibilities of what to do. He is made how he's supposed to be and he just needs the right training.

"Oh, careful! That soup is...sharp."

Which involves food. 

Once Shifu figures out the lengths Po will go to get a snack, he uses food as a way to train this panda. Thus commences one of my favorite training sequences in film. I've always loved this approach of maybe you're not doing it wrong, maybe the teacher just hasn't found what works for you. In Po's case it is through food and once Shifu realizes this, he becomes a better teacher himself.

From Po's dad running a noodle shop to Po making food for his friends to the idea of "secret ingredient soup," food is a medium for the characters to learn and grow.

Mmmmmm, delicious.

Why am I talking about food so much? This is my submission to Sally's Food and Film Blogathon! 

Thanks for hosting, Sally!

For my readers, what motivates you to achieve the impossible? For me it would probably be food. Or getting to watch a movie or read a book. Do you have a favorite movie in the Kung Fu Panda series? What would ideal kung fu training look like for you?

I guess all my talking here would be what Shifu would consider "flapping" so by response to his request of "Would whoever is making that flapping sound please quiet down?" I'll take my leave.

Chloe the MovieCritic

Movie Review: Chicken Run (2000)

Hello, everyone!!

This is my 100th movie review! Well, movie review post because I am going off of my label Movie Reviews. This is not exact because in several posts I've had more than one movie that I reviewed, and I am also not counting reviews of TV shows or mini series', which I have a lot of posts devoted too.

Don't worry, the ratio of this isn't 1:3 for movie reviews on this movie review blog, I just have other things, too.

For this special occasion I was trying to find a movie to be the 100th that I have reviewed. I was reading through an old writing prompt book of mine and found a prompt that was "Write a movie review". This was before I started this blog (so, a long time ago) and I thought that it was hilarious and worth showing. For this sake I am putting it exactly as it is and not adding anything or taking it out. The only thing is I will be putting my mom's corrections in red.

Mild spoilers, but nothing really important. Enjoy!


Chicken Run ☆☆☆☆(4) / ☆☆☆☆☆ (5)
It was fairly good. To me it is just so amazing all the work they put into it. It's clay animation, so every minute has (?) about three thousand photos! My favorite part was either when they were escaping the machine, or all the parts when they were putting the plane together. There were a few problems, like such as chickens don't kiss, but that can be over-looked (one word). I would watch it again, and recommend it to others.


I never use stars for my reviews so it was funny that I did that. Look at me go, trying to be all professional. I'm also glad that I did so much research. NOT. I'm a bit of a literalist, I guess, with the "chickens don't kiss". Where did I come up with "three thousand photos per minute"? For some actual research, according to Wikipedia and BBC, it is the "highest-grossing stop motion animated film in history".

Now for some details in case any of you are interested:

When Mrs. Tweedy decides to make a company of making and selling chicken pot pies, Ginger knows that they have to escape. An American rooster named Rocky arrives just in time, and although he is hurt the chickens convince him to teach them how to fly. Will they learn in time?

Genre: Adventrue, Family.
Length: approx. 84 minutes.
Script: 9, I don't recall any bad words, a few rude comments, though.
Crew:
Directed by: Peter Lord & Nick Park.
Written by: Karey Kirkpatrick, Peter Lord, & Nick Park.
Starring the voices of:
Julia Sawalha as Ginger.

Mel Gibson as Rocky.
Miranda Richardson as Mrs. Tweedy.

Tony Haygarth as Mr. Tweedy.
Benjamin Whitrow as Fowler.
Timothy Spall as Nick.

Phil Daniels as Fetcher.
Jane Horrocks as Babs.
Imelda Staunton as Bunty.
Lynn Ferguson as Mac.
Animation: 10, as I said above, so much work goes into it!
Animation by: Dave Alex Riddett, Tristan Oliver & Frank Passingham.

Music: 7, I honestly have no recollection of it.
Music by: John Powell & Harry Gregson-Williams.
Quotes: 8. "I don't like gravy."
Content: 7, there is some crude humor, dangerous situations (I believe the official term is "mild peril"), and some kissing.
Originality: 9, it's a fun idea of chickens trying to run away from being eaten.
Age Range: I really liked this when I was little, so I think most kids would enjoy it too.
Overall Score: 8.


Thanks for reading! I hope you like my thoughts from when I was younger! What do you think of this movie?

MovieCritic

Movie Review: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)

Hello, everyone!

Each day we are getting closer to autumn, and fall is the perfect time to watch movies! For me, that usually means watching some of my old favorites. Today I will be reviewing one of my older sister's and my favorite movies when we were younger, which we always just called "The horse movie".

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002):

Also known as Spirit.

"The story that I want to tell you, you cannot find in a book."
Through the thoughts of the mustang "Spirit", we follow his story of leading his herd, being captured, finding love, and watching his freedom disappear. People are taking over the land with their big steel machines, but are all humans truly bad, or can some be friends?

Genre: Adventure, Animated, Family.

Length: approx. 83 minutes.
Costumes: 7, it is animated, and there aren't a lot of people, but there is someone who isn't wearing a shirt.

Script: 10, there aren't any bad words, but for that matter there aren't really any words. We get to hear Spirit's thoughts, and the people say a few things, but mostly we just figure things out visually.

Crew:

Directed by: Kelly Asbury & Lorna Cook.

Written by: John Fusco.

Starring the voices of:
Matt Damon as Spirit. "...as wild and reckless as the wind over the land."

Daniel Studi as Little Creek.

James Cromwell as The Colonel (who's character is somewhat inspired by George A. Custer).

Those are pretty much the only voices. Every once in awhile a different character will laugh or say something short like, "Easy, now".

Animation: 10! It is beautiful! I love it. There is so much work that went into it and it paid off. Some parts are based off of Glacier, Teton, Yellowstone, and Yosemite National Parks.

Music: 9! Eeep! Another thing that I love about this! The sound track, and the songs that play are both great. When I'm having a hard time with something I'll sing to myself, "I won't give up, no I won't give in, you can't break me, I'm free!"

Music by: Hans Zimmer (score) & Bryan Adams (songs).

Quotes: 8, and I'm giving it this score because as I said, it doesn't have a lot. But, it certainly doesn't need it!
"My heart galloped through the skies that night."

Storyline: 8, there is some smoking, and abuse of animals, but that's it!

Good For: Any horse lover!

Age Range: As I said, my sister and I loved this when we were little. Any age could watch it and enjoy it!

Overall Score: 9!

Bonus thoughts:

This is a super sweet story, and it is a fun way to spend an hour and a half! I think that we can all relate to feeling trapped, but it shows that we can pull through.


Thanks for reading! Have any of you seen this movie?

MovieCritic