Rating of
3/4
"There is no charge for awesomeness."
Arbogast1960 - wrote on 06/07/08
Like every sensible filmgoer, I hear the words "Dreamworks Animation" and cringe a bit. Pixar has consistently turned out A+ products, while Dreamworks often shells out tripe that appears better suited for straight-to-video release--not just in terms of lackluster characters and stories, but (even more sadly) in terms of its animation. Dreamworks' films have been visually flat, unimaginative, and amateurish. It is hard to say that one could ever be "disappointed" by a Dreamworks Animation release, because the studio has set the bar at basement level.
And then there came Kung Fu Panda. The movie works on all levels. It is funny, often wildly so. It has heart (the story, admittedly, has been done before, but rarely with such panache). Most impressively, the film is a visual wonder. From the astonishing opening sequence onward, it is consistently vibrant, deploying great visual depth and rich color. Jack Black is wonderful as the title character (I am convinced he should spend his time offscreen from now on). And the film (despite its PG rating from your friendly idiots at the MPAA) is more than suitable for all ages. This is much more than just a big fat panda. Feel the thunder!
