Reviewed: Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

PG - 90mins - Animation/Action/Adventure - 10th June 2011

Po (Jack Black) returns in another kung fu animation adventure which sees our ever hungry panda face up to a new and devastating threat in the form of angry albino peacock (Gary Oldman) Lord Shen. Having been cast out by his parents years before for his atrocities, Shen has been biding his time returning with a new technology that threatens to enable him to conquer China.

Po is joined once again with the Furious Five as well as a few new characters to try and save not only the local people but also the very fabric of kung fu and all that it stands for. Aside all of this, we also learn about the childhood of Po and how he came to be at the doorstep of Mr. Ping (James Hong) and his noodle restaurant.

This film definitely takes on a darker feel when compared to the first and will surely give the younger kids in the audience something to keep them awake at night. It also has more packed into its story with extra depth and variety than the first did not necessarily have ie. lineage and upbringing and the effect that has on us as adults.

The animation is fantastic and despite not hitting the heights of a Pixar movie is up there with some of the best that I have seen to date. My favourite scenes are the fighting scenes in particular one where they are assaulting Shen's stronghold. The combination of action with the impressive visuals drags you right into the fight alongside the characters.

Po can get a bit annoying/repetitive at some points as the Jack Black from within is released and a torrent of 'awesome' and similar such catchphrases are rattled off one after the other but this did seem to be toned down slightly from his usual self so I began to think of Po as Po rather than Black in a panda costume.

I think this is a case of the sequel running the original very close and I would be hard pushed to say which one I preferred. Whereas the first was original and purely a kids flick this builds strongly on the first opening it to a wider audience with more of a slapstick feel to it which has me just siding with this one as the better of the two. Why don't you make up your own minds as it's definitely worth a watch on the big screen.

Rating: 7.2/10

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Kung Fu Panda Vs REAL Martial Arts

Kung Fu Panda is a movie about a lazy panda, named Po, who is the biggest Kung Fu fan around. However, this does not really come in handy whilst working in his family's noodle shop. Po's dreams become reality when he is chosen to fulfill and ancient prophecy and join the world of Kung Fu and study alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five (Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey) under the leadership of their guru, master Shifu. However, the vengeful snow leopard Tai Lung is heading their way, and it is up to Po to defend everyone in the Valley of Peace from the oncoming threat. Po puts his heart and soul into the task and the unlikely hero finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths.

Martial arts techniques are not magical, as some movies may lead you to believe. It is believed by many beginners that black belts can in fact jump over four cars whilst taking out three attackers along the way before they hit the ground. However, in reality these 360 degree kicks etc that are seen in films like Kung Fu Panda are fun to watch on the big screen, but are very often not the most effective self-defense techniques in reality based combat.

General Martial Arts Techniques include:

* Blocks

Blocks are undertaken in order to stop an opponent from striking, usually with the arm. However, it is possible to use other limbs when blocking.

* Footwork and Stances

Martial artists work on their footwork and stances to a great extent. Stances are imperative to both sport and traditional martial arts. One example of a stance that is used in more traditional martial arts styles such as Kung Fu and Karate is the Horse Stance.

* Strikes

Striking in martial arts typically refers to the stand up offensive game. In other words, punches, kicks, elbows, headbutts, knees, and the like. Of course, it is also possible to use strikes in ground fighting.

* Submissions

Joint locks and choke locks are referred to as submissions. There are generally done on the ground, even though it is possible to execute submission whilst standing. Of course the idea is to get your opponent to submit, and if they do not submit when a hold is employed, serious damage can be caused to them.

* Takedowns

This refers to taking your opponent to the ground. This can be done using wrestling moves such as a single and double leg takedown or throw.

* Throws

Throws are a specific type of takedown which is more defensive in nature. These are typically defined as martial arts maneuvers or techniques whereby a practitioner locks up with someone and uses their strength to take them to the ground.

In the movie Kung Fu Panda, The Five battle Tai Lung, but they are eventually defeated. All except Crane are paralyzed by a special nerve-striking technique. There are no secret magical combinations of touch that can in fact cause a person to become completely immobilized. However, after saying that, there are places on the human body where nerve crosses bone and artery crosses muscle that can cause intense pain or unconsciousness when the correct amount of pressure is applied.

During the movie, Po attempts to explain the wisdom of the scroll to a frustrated Tai Lung. However, Tai Lung uses his nerve attack on Po and fails due to Po's amply-padded stomach. Emboldened, Po counter-attacks, and uses the Wuxi Finger Hold, which is a technique whereby Po flexes his pinkies and lets out a golden shockwave that radiates over the entire village and destroys Tai Lung. Of course, there is no such technique in martial arts.

In Mandarin, the giant panda is called "Da Xiong Mao", and even though there are many different styles of animal martial arts that have evolved over the past 1500 years, there is no panda style, until now!

Andy Janis

Creator of http://www.complete-martialarts.com

Film Review of Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Spinning panda bonzaa death kick coming your way...Yeah, this movie does sound ridiculous - imagine karate kid but with an endangered species as the protagonist, and you're half-way there.

Belief seems to be a common theme amongst animated moves; we have seen the green monster who learns to love and the rabbit who teaches himself to slam dunk, but a fighting panda has, until now, been left alone.

Here we have your average everyday panda (aptly named Po), slightly podgy around the edges but loveable all the same. Jack Black does the voiceover for the movie and whilst perfectly executing a few quotes that will be reeled off in kid's playgrounds up and down the country, he doesn't really take full advantage of his wild side that we have seen in his previous appearances.

Po is a noodler (is that a word? He works in his father's noodle shop, anyway!) and when he isn't slaving behind a hot stove, he dreams of becoming a rather 'scaled-up' Bruce Lee Kung Fu hero! Unfortunately for Po, his kung fu moves leave a lot to be desired; imagine a cross between a black and white dancing elephant and bambi in a head band. An unfortunate occurrence results in Po being entered into the toughest Kung Fu competition in the world, where he will be fighting against the most feared contenders known to Pandas and other species alike: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Crane (David Cross), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Viper (Lucy Liu), and the most feared of them all, the Mantis (Seth Rogen); just the sound of them strikes me with fear.

So Po heads up into the mountains to be transformed into a lean mean fighting machine by kung fu guru, master Shifu.

This is a good family movie, although probably a cut under the cream of the crop (films such as Finding Nemo still hold that accolade in my opinion) and teaches kids a great lesson about believing in yourself even when the odds are stacked against you. As you would expect, there is ample punching, kicking and other moves that have never been attempted before but it is all very mild, as is the language content, so parents you should have no worries about letting your kids watch this film from about the age of 5.

I'm pretty far outside of the target audience, being 23, and this film still kept me entertained and chuckling here and there. I almost get the impression that every now and then an 'adult' line is purposely chucked in for our entertainment, flying miles high above the heads of our juniors.

SpittinFlicks.com is a new Film Forum and Film Reviews (http://www.spittinflicks.com/filmreviews) site that is trying to bring together a community of film lovers.

Kung Fu Panda 2 Party Ideas

With the new Kung Fu Panda 2 movie being released on May 26, 2011, this will be a popular theme for a party planned for this summer or fall. It will be the perfect theme for a birthday party for a girl, boy, or even a toddler. Invite a few friends to attend the movie with your child and have a party after the movie... maybe even a sleepover! Below are a few ideas for your party decorations, activities, food, and dessert.

Party Decorating Ideas:

Use paper Kung Fu Panda 2 party plates to make your clean up easy! Using themed tableware makes decorating easy. Another way to add extra decorations is to use any Kung Fu Panda toys your child has and set them around the room. Frame a couple of movie posters for decoration, and your child will love them in their room later!

Party Activities There are several options for party activities, depending on the age of your child:

1. A younger child might enjoy dressing in a panda costume, pretend playing, and simple games or story time.

2. An older child might like dressing in a karate uniform, practicing their "Kung Fu moves", watching a Kung Fu Panda movie, and playing party games.

Party Food Ideas: There are several options for food ideas, depending on the age of your child:

1. For a younger child, the party food could consist of small size fruit pieces and cheese cubes, sandwiches cut with a bear shaped cookie cutter, jello cubes, animal crackers, and fortune cookies.

2. For the older child, make the party food easy by ordering Chinese Take Out! Or, make your own Chinese food. Have the kids help prepare the food. Serve with chop sticks to make it interesting! Don't forget the fortune cookies!

What's for Dessert?

Dessert for any age: Homemade Panda Bear cupcakes would be fun, or themed birthday cake. Make your own cake or order from your local grocery store or bakery.

The Kung Fu Panda 2 movie is sure to be a hit with the kids, and inspire a party for any occasion. Birthday Party, End-of-School, Summer Fun Night, Movie Night, Sleepover Party, Costume Party, or any time you just want to party! All ages love the Kung Fu Panda, so everyone can enjoy this theme party!

There are many party ideas for a fun party. Use your imagination or ask your child.

Faye Rutledge, also known as the Party Buzz Bee, buzzes around her website, www.partypantry.com, with lots of party ideas and party supplies for all occasions, including Kung Fu Panda 2 Party Supplies. Be sure to visit for all your party needs.

Kung Fu Panda Teaches Self Confidence

Kung Fu Panda makes some great common sense points about self confidence. Po the Panda, is a martial arts geek. He wants to be a Kung Fu legend, but he is too roly poly and uncoordinated. Then he accidentally becomes anointed as the famous Dragon Warrior. This turn of events helps him learn that warriors believe in, and take responsibility for themselves.

When he is first given the coveted dragon scroll, he is dismayed to realize that it has no writing, only a reflective surface. It takes Po a while, but then he gets it. All he has is himself. Armed with this insight, and the confidence gained from training with the master Shifu, Po battles the evil Tai Lung and triumphs. If the story line sounds like an entertaining, animated kid's movie, that's because it is - albeit one with a moral.

Po's story of failure to triumph highlights all three characteristics of self confident people. Po, the Kung Fu Panda, learns to be optimistic and to believe in himself and his abilities. He also faces his personal fears, and triumphs over them, allowing him to triumph over Tai Lung. Finally, he surrounds himself with positive people - the furious five: Tigress, Viper, Monkey, Crane and Mantis; along with enlisting the Shifu as a mentor.

Isn't it amazing how one animated children's movie, can send such a strong message to our younger generation. The importance of self confidence to success shines through the movie brilliantly.

The common sense point here is simple, and timeless. You have to believe in yourself, and take responsibility for yourself if you want to succeed in your career and life. Kung Fu Panda makes this point in a very entertaining manner.

Susan Denny has been happily married for 38 years, has 4 adult children (all married) and 6 grandchildren. She has many years experience with families and relationships and has been involved in the Self Development industry for nearly 20 years, starting with one-on- one training with Bob Proctor in 1990. She has since attended many seminars hosted by world renowned Gurus in the Self Development and Internet Marketing areas.

Go to: http://allaboutselfconfidence.com to check out her site.

How to Download "Kung Fu Panda" Full Movie Safely Online

Downloading a movie like "Kung Fu Panda" can be dangerous. There are a multitude of "free" download sites out there that are nothing more than scams and virus breeding grounds. In order to remain safe, it is key that you know what factors to consider when choosing a safe and reliable movie download site.

Download speed is a very important factor. Movies like "Kung Fu Panda" are considerable in size so you will need a site that offer unlimited bandwidth. Also check that there are no content, search or time limitations.

Picture quality is also very important. Watching poor quality movies is far from enjoyable so you should make sure the site offers DVD quality movie downloads. Anything less than DVD quality should be avoided as it's a waste of time and money.

Movie selection is another important factor to consider. All the bandwidth in the world is useless without a large selection of movies to choose from. The top movie download sites grant access to over 80 million files. These files contain movie, television shows, sporting events, music and more!

The most important thing is to avoid self-proclaimed "free" download sites. These sites are almost always a scam and will only serve to cause harm to yourself or your computer. It is a much better idea to invest in a movie download site that charges a small one time membership fee. Within a few downloads you will be saving money over going to your local theater, especially with the current state of gas prices.

With that said, there is really nothing else to do except enjoy a few movies.

You can read more on how to download Kung Fu Panda here

The DAO of Kung Fu Panda

A commentary on the wisdom of various quotes from the movie Kung Fu Panda.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today? Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present.

A great quote and probably the most well-known saying in Kung Fu Panda (and catchy too!). Tomorrow is over and finished with. Whatever happened, happened. Whatever didn't happen, didn't happen. Spending time and energy in the present fretting over things that are now history is a waste of your resources.

Tomorrow is a mystery. We don't know what tomorrow will bring. Your life could change dramatically in the next 24 hours...or perhaps tomorrow will be much the same as today. Whatever plans you may make, the future is out of your direct control.

But today? Today is a gift. It is yours to have here and now. Right now you have control over your thoughts and your feelings. It may not always seem that way, but it's true. You do. That was the great 'secret' discovered by Viktor Frankl in the hell of Auschwitz. You, and only you, have the power to assign meaning to your present circumstances and condition. And therein lies the chance for change and an opportunity for growth. Decide today what meaning you want to attach to events in your life. Do not allow yourself to be subjugated to alien meanings imposed on your from those around you. This is your present for yourself.

There are no accidents

Master Wugui (Oogway) is the fountain of wisdom in Kung Fu Panda and this is a great quote from him that hints at the underlying oneness of existence. There are no accidents...only events. What we see before us is the mind-bogglingly complex, but nevertheless real, interactions between particles that are invisible to all but the most powerful microscopes. These particles may cause apparent accidents to happen, but that is an illusion, as Master Wugui points out. It is us, our ego-driven selves, branding an event an accident that obscures the greater truth of unity from our perception. The Universe knows what it is doing. It is in control; perfect and beautiful in its harmony.

There are no secret ingredients

This is my favorite quote from Kung Fu Panda.

There are no secret ingredients. You don't need any 'secrets'. The 'secret', if that is what it is, is to harmonize with your true nature and maintain that harmony throughout your life. You are enough; you have everything that you need to live your life. You just need to be very sure that it is indeed your life that you are living and not someone else's. Another one of my favorite quotes comes from Jung:

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens."

Where are you looking for your truth: inside or outside?

The people around you are living their lives and following their truth. "My truth is not your truth", as Bruce Lee said. Don't confuse the truth of other people with your own truth. Exert yourself in finding your own path and follow it with your heart. There are no secret ingredients. Everything you need to be you - to 'make' you - is inside you already.

One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it

A lot of the first half of the movie is about the characters - including Po, the Kung Fu Panda himself - accepting that the overweight bear is indeed the Dragon Warrior. It is his destiny but only Master Wugui can see that.

You are who you are. Discover who you are and love yourself for who you are. Respect yourself for who you are. Banish influences that will ask you to do anything other than fulfill your own unique destiny. Taking your life off on a tangent may bring achievement, success, accomplishment and so on but how do you feel five minutes later? If reaching those goals has been contrary to your nature you will know it straight away. Despite the successes you will be left with an empty, hollow feeling, wondering why everyone was making such a fuss about this latest thing you have done. Now, you can see right through it and see it for what it is: an illusion. Sooner or later, you will be forced to take a long, hard look at yourself once again and consider the direction your life is heading in. Take a moment now and consider if your heart is telling you that your current path is your destiny. If not, you will save yourself a lot of time and effort to recalibrate your guidance system and head back in the direction you know deep inside you should be going in.

This is a central teaching in Kung Fu Panda

Let go of the illusion of control

Another great one from Master Wugui.

This refers to both internal and external control. Externally, Master Wugui is talking about overcoming the idea that you can control things outside yourself. In one of the great moments of Kung Fu Panda Master Wugui stresses that the seed from a peach will grow into a peach tree. It is its nature. It can't fight it and it doesn't try. You may not want a peach tree; you may prefer apples. But you won't get an apple tree from a peach seed. An attempt to control the nature of peach seed is delusion.

Internally, the quote again reminds us that we can't ultimately control our true nature. Trying to do so is a temporary illusion, but one that can potentially cause tremendous damage to yourself if you are not careful. Do not reign in your true nature. Find it and harmonize with it. It is your friend, not your enemy.

Vincent Cooper is a researcher and writer in the field of martial arts, as well as a dedicated practitioner. You can read his latest work at www.martial-arts-insight.com

The Design of Setting in the Film "Kung Fu Panda"

From the content of this film, we can also see that it possesses a lot of Chinese elements and culture. Therefore, when this film is popular with the world, it makes the meaningful Chinese elements and culture step into the world.

The setting in "Kung Fu Panda" is rich in Chinese brush drawing style. The scenery is fresh feeling. All of the hills and waters, and buildings are typical Chinese style. The most important shots "Jade Palace" and "Peace Valley" are the two typical scenery of Chinese style. The design of Jade Palace, with red walls and green tiles, recovers the traditional classic style. The Peace Valley, with green hills and clear waters, is similar to Wu dang Mount, where a group of Kung Fu masters are living. The design of setting has also taken the Li Jiang Valley and Guilin landscape tops into consideration, traditionally and elegantly.

The pictures in this film not only show the elegant mountains and rivers but also the life of the ordinary people in ancient times.

The various tools in daily life which possess Chinese elements can be seen everywhere in this film. The passed-down noodle shop, the wheelbarrows which are often seen in Northern part of China, the sedan chair which is lifted by four people, the Chinese family properties, such as, chopsticks, blue glazed china wares, bamboo hats, scrolls, rolling pins, pastry boards, Chinese traditional cloth, firecrackers and fireworks, and the acupuncture treatment which the mantis uses to cure Po.

There are also the typical Chinese foods, for example, the dumplings, Bao zi and steamed bread and so on. Those details give a vivid picture of Chinese culture. From this aspect we can see that the directors have made great efforts to research Chinese culture so that they can express Chinese elements and culture in this film and also make the audience enjoy it.

In a word, the success of Kung Fu Panda makes every one of us should have a second thought of how should we transmit our culture to the foreign countries, and Chinese unique culture should be promoted and strengthened not only by the foreigners but also by ourselves.

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Self Cultivation in "Kung Fu Panda"

"Kung Fu panda" shows that foreign countries have realized the self-cultivation is one most important part of Chinese culture, and they even have a black belt in Chinese culture that Chinese culture is reserved which is completely different from that of other culture.

There is a shot that Wu Gui master predicted that Tai Lang would come back, he would destroy the Peace Valley and took away the dragon scroll to become the dragon warrior, when he told this news to Shi fu, Shi fu became very nervous, Wu gui master asked him to calm down and let Shi fu to come with him to the pool where is in the center of Jade Palace. He gave the words to Shi fu: "Your mind is like this water, my friend, when it is agitated, it becomes difficult to see, but if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear."

Another shot, Shi fu traces the inner peace when he is at the study of self-cultivation. Sometimes, we will care too much about the results and the views others see us, here comes the impressive lines of Wu gui master: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it's called the present (the gift). "

The last shot, when Po opened the dragon scroll, and found it was blank, he didn't know why. Later on, his father tells him that: "The secret ingredient of my secret ingredient soup is nothing. To make something special, you just have to believe it's special." From his father's words, Po realized what the dragon scroll wants to express is that the dragon warrior should trust himself. And at the end of the story, Po defeats Tai Lang and saves the citizens in the Peace Valley.

The examples above can show that foreigners have a deep understanding of self-cultivation and express them in a Chinese reserve way.

They also have come to know Zen Awaking which is a key part of Chinese culture. From the opinion of Zen Buddhism, Zen is to see the hope from all kinds of affairs. It is to realize the meaning of life, get rid of trouble, see the future of one's career, be positive and find freedom in spirituality.

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Kung Fu Panda 2 - More Black Than White

Perhaps the most important aspect of Kung Fu Panda 2 (and I never thought I would type this) is that the series is aging with its fans; so much so that I could expect Panda 3 to be the most adult of the series. They've already started exploring more personal themes than the last entry, which mostly took the themes of following your heart and believing in yourself and employed them. Here, the story deepens more than you might expect, dealing with themes of adoption, unrequited love, and acceptance of others. More importantly, the imagination of the film has grown tenfold.

Of course, there's a bit of formula; you can't escape the fact that it's a kid's movie, but it gets further away from the drama-killing formula that impeded the first film. When I sat down in the movie theater in 2008, I knew exactly what I was getting. It was going to be a film about a goofy "man-boy" (bear-cub?) panda who doesn't quite belong, who gets a Jungian call to duty to learn kung fu and save his village. Here, that formula is side-stepped in favor of a generally engrossing and slightly depressing storyline. Po (voiced by Jack Black) finds out that he's adopted and wants to find his biological parents, he's in love with Tigress (voiced by Angelina Jolie), who may or may not share his feelings, and the entire country of China is under attack by a villain who has a cannon that shoots a blast so powerful it wipes out any trace of the kung fu that seems to be the nation's bread-and-butter. So Po and his Furious Five - Tigress, Crane (voiced by David Cross), Mantis (voiced by Seth Rogen), Monkey (voiced by Jackie Chan), and Viper (voiced by Lucy Liu) - go off to defeat it; but how do you use kung fu to stop something that stops kung fu? "By finding inner peace," Po's mentor, Master Shinfu (voiced by Dustin Hoffman), tells him. That's heavy.

Kung Fu Panda 2 is more thoughtful than a film like this should have any right to be. The story is a kick in the gut if you're not expecting it from the start, filled with feelings of being lost and having no idea where you are, who you are, and what you're supposed to do to get back. Imagine someone threatens the thing you love most in the world, and the threat is very real, and you don't know how to defend it. It's a calm film, as well; the frenetic energy of the first one is still here, but spread out enough to not feel as crowded as the last time around. A major complaint I had from the first one: it's funny, it's cool, it's fun, but it's too much sometimes. This one gets the mix right. In fact, while I did enjoy the first one, I'd go so far to say that this is an improvement on it. It's more organized, not so hellbent on the easy laugh, and unafraid to dig deeper into its own theories and personality, something that it encourages its viewers to do as well. Parts of the film could be life lessons.

Po and the Furious Five find themselves deep in the heart of China, fighting an ancient evil in the form of Lord Shen (voiced by Gary Oldman), a psychotic peacock who has devised a weapon that will shatter the dreams of Master Shinfu's students by taking away their kung fu in order to take over China, and then the world. We don't really get his full plan for world domination, but we get the immediacy of it. First he has to take out the animals who can beat him. The character is absolutely nightmarish, not just because Oldman gives it literally all he can, but the animation that accompanies that brilliant performance is the stuff bad dreams are made of, and it's another voice I've never heard Oldman do before; he typically uses a different voice in every film he's in, and he always continues to impress me with his range. Despite the nature of the character, this is one of his finest works in a few years.

Something important to me during the viewing that might, unfortunately, go unnoticed by many is the subtle back-and-forth between computer animation and traditional animation. Flashbacks are a large part of the film, so the opening credits are done in traditional 2D animation, as are most of the memories we see Po recall. However, other characters don't remember in 2D. It's an important disjointedness to note in order to fully understand the character and the point of the film. Once a memory is fully accepted and believed, you aren't disjointed from it anymore, and it becomes a part of you - 2D to 3D, so to speak. Director Jennifer Yuh deserves more credit than she'll likely ever get for this.

Animated films these days have a way of attracting larger casts than they used to. I think this can be traced to Japan's Hayao Miyazaki productions, and the fact that Oscar winners and A-Listers collaborate to give his English-dubbed cartoons the best treatment they can get. Look at the cast list for this film and let me know if you're not impressed by the caliber: Angelina Jolie, David Cross, Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Haysbert, Danny McBride, Michelle Yeoh, and Gary Oldman. It seems to be that voice work is almost required to be a name in Hollywood these days; it used to be a death nail. It's not like anyone is sleepwalking through their work, either; each performance is a true performance, with characters fully drawn, even in bit parts. McBride's character doesn't have many lines, but I remember him clearly. Same for Chan, Van Damme, et al. It's an excellent cast, having fun with a fully realized screenplay, something rare for kid's movies.

Contact the Author: ScottMartin@moviesididntget.com

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The Chinese Culture in the Film "Kung Fu Panda"

In "Kung Fu Panda", the directors show the Chinese traditional ethics in this film. We can see that martial ethics, formed in such Chinese cultural environment, which has become a distinct feature of Kung Fu and is the essential part of the study and understanding of Chinese martial arts.

At first, Panda Po just a lazy guy who loves Kung Fu very much, to become the master of Kung Fu need him to work hard to learn Kung Fu. In the end, a lay guy turns into the dragon warrior; there shouldn't be lack of one's persistence and perseverance. The one who realizes the meanings martial ethics can be a great master.

In this film, the bad guy Tai Lang is brought up by Shi fu who is both father and teacher of him. For Shi fu's lavish too much care on him which makes Tai Lang becomes selfish and jealous. There is another old saying: "To feed without teaching, is the father's fault; to teach without severity, is the teacher's laziness." For Shi fu's too proud on Tai Lang, it makes Tai Lang become blind of his life. Shi fu has too much expects on Tai Lang that makes Tai Lang become a dangerous guy to the Peace Valley.

Shi fu is just like Chinese parents who put all their love on their children without correct guiding which destroy their children' s future in one way. Here comes the last saying: "Sometimes you have to pay for your mistakes." For Shi fu dotes on Tai Lang, it make him becomes the enemy of Peace Valley, Shi fu needs to destroy him all by himself. However, how could a father bear to destroy his child? All of these views have been expressed vividly by the westerners, even we Chinese audience agree with their express of Chinese culture. They express Chinese culture in typical Chinese way.

From the philosophical connotation of "Kung Fu panda", we can draw the conclusion that foreigners know our Chinese philosophy deeper than before, they even use Yin and Yang to show it's the origin of Kung Fu of Chinese culture and expresses it in their film. It is such a great step that foreigners' learning of Chinese culture.

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Kung Fu Panda

After a few days of enjoying the movie Kung Fu Panda, I thought it is the perfect combination of two most famous Chinese elements - Panda and Kung Fu. More than just a box-office hit in China, animated Hollywood comedy "Kung Fu Panda" has led Chinese artists to find fault with their own film industry and call for more freedom on culture and creativity.

The Hollywood film, set in mysterious China, was made by a mostly non-Asian creative team. But it comes as tribute to Chinese Kung Fu and the country's profound culture. The movie, which tells the story of a fat panda who dreams of martial arts glory, was faithful to Chinese culture and laced with good humor, but China itself may have been incapable of producing such a film, a Chinese filmmaker and opera director lamented.

Set in the legendary world of ancient China, the story of Po - an unlikely hero - enters the rigid world of Kung Fu and turns it upside down. Po ultimately becomes a hero by learning that if he believe in himself, he can do anything. As the director says, Be your own hero, which means do not look outside of yourself for the answer. Don't expect someone else to make things right. You are empowered to achieve anything you want as long as you set your mind to it. Be the best that you can be.

The film director applauded "Kung Fu Panda" as a fresh and rich take on Chinese culture, mixing references to martial arts films with classic legends.

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Martial Art Fun With Kung Fu Panda Birthday Party Supplies

Kung Fu movies have been around since the 1970s. Which makes it all the better that the Kung Fu Panda Disney movie has revived the whole style in a new way. Join in the fun by looking into a whole range of Kung Fu Panda birthday party supplies.

It's true that Po isn't a natural Kung Fu fighter. But he can work hard and overcome the odds. Isn't that a great message? Your little Kung Fu Panda will thrill to that journey with the help of these great Kung Fu Panda party supplies...

Get everyone into the mood at once using some Panda tattoos. They're washable so you don't have to worry. They come in three different styles - Po, Master Tigress, and an ultra-cool Chinese dragon design, so every partygoer can become the character he or she desires.

While everyone gets settled, Master Shifu will guard the Kung Fu Panda pinata. All the great toys and goodies will be there until the birthday child pulls the magic string. Then get ready for a shower of delight. You can be sure there will be lots of Kung Fu shouting then!

And aren't these just the best favor boxes? Everyone will get lots of terrific toys to take back home from the party. Watch them don the panda mask and make a move. Beware as they fling the foam rubber ninja star to warn off the bad guy. Rest assured that the glow stick will last the whole time. All that fits inside a stylish pagoda-style box that makes for a great birthday party keepsake.

The kids will enjoy pounding another great keepsake: the Panda Drum. Designed in traditional Chinese celebration style, kids whirl its two round balls. Just roll the 10" stick back and forth between the palms and the spirits will rise to join the party when they hear the rhythm.

By that time the kids are sure to be ready for birthday cake. Keep the Kung Fu spirit alive by using the Panda Deluxe Pack. It comes with plates, napkins, and cups already decorated with the great Disney design of the film.

Then unveil the cake that is already decorated with Kung Fu Panda characters. The Kung Fu Cake Topper features the three main characters from the film. Be prepared for the kids to copy their poses before they settle down, though.

Need some ideas about how to decorate the table? Well, you couldn't do better than to use a Kung Fu Panda centerpiece. It's so cool you'll want to put it on the mantle after the party. But you may find it gone already, whisked off to the bedroom of the birthday boy or girl. Well, maybe you better buy two!

Everyone will cheer when they get a Kung Fu Panda invitation card. So, frame the celebration with a whole set of Kung Fu Panda "Thank You" notes to express your appreciation. That way you won't have a horde of angry ninjas descend on your doorstep that night.

Searching for a wide selection of birthday theme ideas and corresponding kids birthday party supplies? Look no further! Find kung fu panda birthday party supplies and other themed party supplies at kidzbirthdaysupplies.com.

Endangered Panda On And Off Screen

Kung Fu Panda is back in the second film from the well-liked DreamWorks series and once again we get to follow along with the adventures of our favorite bamboo munching hero while he continues his mission to be a dragon warrior and (in this film) to locate his birth parents so he can truly know who he is. While the movie premiere was a considerable hit with stars Angelina Jolie, Jack Black, Dennis Haysbert and Lucy Liu taking their turns on the red carpet, earlier in the week stars turned out to walk a "bamboo" carpet if you will.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, Boss of DreamWorks Animation, was feted Monday evening at the 15th annual Global Conservation International dinner as a Global Conservation Hero. Fittingly, "Kung Fu Panda 2" was the theme for the celebration. Why such an exclusive award for creating a film? Well, DreamWorks' dedication towards the endangered Giant Panda goes beyond the pixels on screen.

In 2008, on the heels of the successful Kung Fu Panda film, DreamWorks made a superb investment in CI's work in Sichuan, China, to help track, monitor and safeguard wild populations of endangered giant pandas. The funding for the Three-Year Panda Survival Plan served the humans in the province as well by supporting the fundamental needs of those following the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Katzenberg received the award from CI Vice-Chairmen Harrison Ford. In accepting the award, he mentioned, "At DreamWorks Animation, we've become environmentally aware because we spend so much of our time trying to emulate nature. We know how many pixels are needed to make fur look realistic because the real thing is at our disposal."

He added, "It will always be a challenge to match the beauty and splendor of our natural planet. Because so many of Conservation International projects, we can be confident that we won't have to glimpse this splendor through emulation."

Pandas aren't only stars on-screen. Considering that they're universally loved and easily recognized, they've become a flagship species. Based on Dr. Lu Zhi, director from the Shanshui Center for Nature & Society and among the world's foremost panda experts, "They [pandas] are iconic, and they've come at represent all threatened species. Saving the panda tests our determination. If we can't protect the panda, then what chance do all the other threatened species have?"

While the panda's own reproductive process is challenging (the feminine ovulates only once a year), the loveable bears also deal with the destruction of the habitats and feeding grounds. And not only does the deforestation affect the giant panda it adds to climate change endangering us humans too. The main focus on consequences of environment destruction to both human and animal population is what makes CI unique - it works to build the connection between both worlds to create a stronger force in protecting Mother Earth.

This focus is apparent in the Three Year Survival Plan for the Giant Pandas. According to their website:

CI's goal is nothing less than to halt the decline of the panda population, protect and revive the forests where they live, create mechanisms for local communities to support and benefit from conservation activities, and promote policy inovations by the Chinese government that provide better regulation of development and incentives for local protection.

Safeguarding the panda takes a comprehensive approach along with a focused strategy for success. The CI plan for pandas requires the following efforts:

1. The Giant Panda Survival Plan - this comprehensive strategy includes short- and long-term goals, reaching out as far as two hundred years. Planned achievements include safeguarding 100 % of known panda habitat, supplying better protection programs towards the reserves, developing a minimum of 12 "conservation corridors" for connecting habitats, and developing a comprehensive panda population monitoring plan.

2. The Panda Alliance - this impressive network of leading conservation groups, academics, government agencies, private corporations, and local communities will work to safeguard habitat, establish a panda guardian program, involve local communities, promote the benefits of panda conservation, and much more.

3. Key Policy Promotion - via a partnership with Peking University, CI will support the launching of a policy center to supply government and business leaders with science-based data to inform their decisions, produce solution-oriented policy research, and facilitate collaboration in conservation.

4. Inspiring panda-lovers worldwide to take action - via efficient working associations with public and private-sector partners for example McDonald's and DreamWorks, we'll inform the general public about the plight of the panda, and the things they can do to help.

While the few pandas left today face a challenging future, a renewed resolve for saving them provides new optimism. With the combined efforts of government, science, companies, and those that care, pandas can survive for future generations to enjoy.

So get your popcorn buttered this weekend and relish the animated adventure and keep in mind that beyond film, saving the giant panda might help save all of us!

Douglas Michaels Jr. writes educational articles for Green Earth News, the authority on everything Bamboo. Read the full article on Giant Panda. Check out Green Earth Bamboo for bamboo sheets, bamboo clothing, duvet covers, bath towels and baby products, all made from the world's most sustainable and renewable resource on the planet.

Kung-Fu Panda's Journey to Inner Peace!

Possibly the most fantastic thing that happened this year. A Panda stole my heart! He's fun, he's cute, he's innocent, he's unassumingly adorable and boy! is he awesome at some serious ass-kicking Kung Fu!

In a quest to save Kung Fu, Po, the 'Dragon Warrior' Panda and the Furious Five make their journey to China but what lies ahead can change Po's life forever. The place not only is the land of Kung Fu Legends, but also holds the mystery to Po's identity. His arch enemy Lord Shen has a connection to Po's past that Po's unaware of. What starts as a mission for Po to save Kung Fu soon turns into a struggle to master Oogway's last lesson of Kung Fu- "Inner Peace".

Jack Black brings alive our favorite Panda with a renewed energy. His voice does for Po what nothing else does- makes him approachable to the audiences' heart. Jolie is fantastic as the Tigress along with Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu, Jackie Chan as Monkey, Seth Rogen as Mantis, Lucy Liu as Wiper, David Cross as Crane and Gary Oldman as Lord Shen.

The movie has some awesome special effects and brilliant animation. There's never a dull moment. And, the best part about the animation is that it brings the element of comic virility alive. There are a lot of scenes of wonderful sequences and unpredictable comic timing in action that leaves the spectator filled with delight. The action sequences are full of awesome Kung fu moves and funny twists.

The scriptwriting is brilliant. There are dialogues that make beautiful sense for the sheer simplicity with which they've been written and used. The movie has a very positive note in that it includes spirituality and fun in a perfect blend of blissful awareness.

In the words of Po, "Let go off the past, because it just doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is what you choose to be now." And, many more such moments of awareness that spring out of delightfully touching scenes. The movie is very moving in certain key moments that leaves the audience spellbound mostly due to the poignancy of the emotion combined with Po's innocence and truthfulness that's reflected in his face. Everyone can relate to the Panda in moments when his eyes shine with each new realization that brings him and with him the audience closer to 'Inner Peace'.

The Dragon Warrior's waiting for you. If you are at all into Kung Fu, animation, spirituality or just plain awesome fun, do watch it! And trust me when you do, you'll be saying in the words of our own very Panda,

"That is Severely Cool!"

Cultural Elements in "Kung Fu Panda"

"Kung Fu Panda" which is made by DreamWorks Animation is filled with Chinese cultures and Chinese elements. Americans just use foreign culture and foreign elements to become successful in the field of film, their ways of success can be useful to our people to transmit our culture.

All the things in this film possess Chinese elements, for example, Kung fu, panda, bamboo, Tai Chi, hills and waters, temple fair, Chinese brush, noodles, acupuncture, chopsticks, traditional Chinese garments, moreover, the five masters: monkey, viper, crane, tigress, mantis, they are the names of Chinese traditional Kung Fu, even some names they are used in this film adopt Chinese pronunciations, such as, Wu Gui master and Shi Fu. Therefore, we can see that "Kung Fu Panda" is a film which is dominated by Chinese elements and culture. The directors' deep understandings of the culture of China contribute to the success of "Kung Fu Panda".

Nowadays, for the communication among the countries becomes more frequent than before, people from different parts of the world can use a lot of means to access to different cultures. In all of these cultures, Chinese culture is extensive and profound, attracting a great number of people to study.

Moreover, many foreign directors who are attracted by Chinese legend absorb these Chinese elements in their films' leading roles and plots. Take "Mu Lan" which is made by Walt Disney Company for example, it adopted the character and the story in Chinese history. Although the film has used some Chinese elements and becomes very successful, however, the theme it shows to us is women's equal right as man not the filial piety virtue and patriotism which Chinese culture wants to express. This film expresses American sprit with the form of Chinese culture.

Compared with "Mu Lan", "Kung Fu Panda" is a huge advance of foreign to use Chinese ways to express Chinese culture. This film uses Chinese national treasure Panda to be his hero which make this film filled with the air of Chinese culture. Meanwhile, so many Chinese elements, such as the background music, the scene of the movie, and the alternate design, all of these are expressed in typical Chinese way. For the deeper culture exchange among the countries, not only we know foreign culture deeper than before, but also foreign become to have a deep understanding of Chinese culture. "Kung Fu Panda" is such an example.

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The Forms and Spirits of Martial Arts in "Kung Fu Panda"

Chinese Kung Fu embodies a profound philosophy and a sense of human life and social values (some people therefore call it "philosophic boxing"). Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, or other Chinese Kung Fu stars they all show our Chinese traditional martial ethics in their movies. The hero Po has also showed his martial ethics in the film "Kung Fu Panda". There is an old saying: "Using ethics not fist to make others respect you." This old saying is the spirit of Chinese Kung Fu art. The purpose of it is not pick on little person but strengthen physical health and prolong one's life.

This film shows the Chinese Kung Fu ethics and spirits. Firstly, it shows the Respect for Human Life. The shot that Panda Po and the five masters, they study Kung Fu not for the purpose to pick on little person, but to protect other people.

Secondly, it expresses the Emphasis on Moral Principles. The hero Po, five masters, Shifu and Wugui master, they are all tracing self cultivation and obey the moral principles of the society. Although Tal Lang is stronger than other masters and have the better Kung Fu skills, his lack of moral cultivation make him can't be respected by others and can't be accepted as the dragon warrior.

Thirdly, it represents the Respect for the Teacher and Care for Each Other. The shot that Shifu didn't like Panda Po at first, in Shifu' mind, Po is just a big fat panda, and he couldn't become the dragon warrior to defeat Tai Lang, so Shifu made a lot of obstacles and let Panda Po quit. Although he disliked by Shi fu, Panda Po gave his respect to Shi fu from the first moment to the last, and Panda Po used his persistence and perseverance to let Shi fu admit that he is the best choice of the dragon warrior. And in the end, for Panda Po's great effort and his care for all the citizens in Peace Valley make him a real hero.

Fourthly, it acts in Modesty and Eagerness. Although having become the dragon warrior, Panda Po never failed to pay his respect to Wu Gui master, Shi fu and the five masters. The true hero should possess the quality that he should be modesty. For Panda Po love Kung Fu so much and pay all his passion in it, this help him to become a master in the end. The last but not least, it shows up in persistence and perseverance.

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"Kung Fu Panda" - The Transmitter of Chinese Culture

"Kung Fu Panda" which is filled with Chinese culture and Chinese elements travels throughout the world and use its Chinese elements to become popular among the world. From another aspect, it performs the role of the transmitter of Chinese culture and elements.

From the analysis above, many people will have such kind of feeling, the Chinese elements expressed in this film are the common things we often meet in our daily lives, the Chinese culture it shows is known to every Chinese people. But, how can these things which are originally ours are labeled with Hollywood brand and spread successfully throughout the world and welcomed received by all the people? "Kung Fu Panda" becomes successful, however, what lessons we can draw from this film?

When enjoying "Kung Fu Panda", I believe that most audience will have the illusion that this animation is made by Chinese directors, for the Chinese elements expressed in this film make Chinese people feel it is close to our daily lives and we even can't find an air of clumsy provincial imitation in this film. From there, we can see the foreigners have prepared a lot in the production of this film. According to understanding, the directors of "Kung Fu Panda" is nuts about the culture of China.

It takes him about ten years to research on the culture of China. Meanwhile, this film takes those five years to finish. During their five years, they come to live in China for a few days, and go to Li Jiang and Guilin these places of interest for a visit. They also have a study on so many Hong Kong made sword-play films in the period of 1970s to 1980s. These prepare and efforts reflect the producers obtain the quality of the rigorous attitude to learn Chinese culture and scientific methods to produce the film.

Comparing with the foreign directors, Chinese directors' speed of directing film seems more "instant" than the foreign directors. The block buster made in China need one or two years to finish. They all hold the view to promote Chinese culture and bring some Chinese traditional plays which is known to everyone for them to direct.

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Cash in From Kung Fu Panda!

Released in July 2008, the DreamWorks movie Kung Fu Panda offers some profits if you know how. Here are 3 methods you can use...

The first way is to set up your own Kung Fu Panda site. You could source it with loads of memorabilia, and arrange deals with the film makers and manufacturers for potential profit. The problem with this method is that you have to invest before you get the profit. It takes a lot of time and money arrange all the deals, and you will have to hold the stock and deal with all the delivery issues and so on.

There is potential there, because film memorabilia is undoubtedly a huge market, and Kung Fu Panda in particular works well in the toy and poster fields. I like the second method which is to use the affiliate model. With this technique you still get to promote all the official products, but you don't have to set up a site or have a stock of the goods.

You send traffic to sites already selling the stuff, and if anyone buys, you get a commission. Yes, the commissions are not as much as if you sold the products yourself, but remember this method is totally no risk. It should also be noted that there is a poster site for example that has affiliates earning 5 figures a month from those commissions!

The third method, and it's the one I prefer, is to provide information. Film fans love information, and Hollywood churns it out to promote the films. If you can write about the film, you can then generate traffic from people that read your articles. Then you can send that traffic to a site which is monetized. Kung Fu Panda has some big name stars - Dustin Hoffman, Jack Black, and in particular Angelina Jolie.

She is a tabloid dream, and with her just giving birth to twins, there is great potential to use this writing model.

So you can see there are several ways of tapping into movie profits, to cash in from Kung Fu Panda.

Gordon Bryan is a writer and movie fan from the UK. He loves the fact that he earns money online by just writing about movies, and can show you how to do *exactly* the same at his site: http://www.gordonbryan.com/movies

Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Kung Fu Panda 2 capitalizes on the same techniques that made its predecessor successful: a goofy lead character struggling desperately to fit in; comical character designs and playful animation; and an all-star cast of voice actors with such recognizable articulation that they breach the visual barrier of their 3D alter egos. Although the first film defined the characters, their relationships, destinies and the setting of ancient Asia, this second outing has the opportunity to utilize each role purely for action, adventure, comic relief and even a bit of pathos. Just when the sappiness ramps up to the point of unbearable, the script has enough sense to thwart eye-rolls (or tears if the manipulation worked) with sharply contrasting humor.

Po (Jack Black) the overweight panda has been proclaimed the almighty "Dragon Warrior," and oversees the safety of China with his band of capable sidekicks, the Furious Five: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross) and Viper (Lucy Liu). As he speaks with his patient master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) about finding inner peace, a gang of wolf bandits pillages a nearby city in search of metal objects, forcing Po to depart for a hasty rescue. As he will soon discover, the banished peacock Lord Shen (Gary Oldman) has forged fire-breathing, metal-spitting cannons to wipe out all who stand in his path to world domination.

It's debatable whether or not the story has grown more entertaining, especially considering the plot is little more than a generic kung fu tale of good vs. evil, like the kind found in just about every live-action martial arts film in the last several decades. While the main conflict is a relentless overlord with an obedient army and destructive weaponry, the underlying discordance is Po's hazy recollection of the past and the desire to know who he is, how he ended up the son of a goose, and what happened to his real parents. Is Po in need of confidence or the drive of revenge? Are his actions provoked by inner peace, as the movie insists on preaching, or by the powerful force that is adrenaline-pumping payback?

Perhaps he's simply trying to succeed at being "hardcore" so that he can measure up to his companions. And if that's the case, it's a shame that so much of his time is spent annoyingly foiling reconnaissance, ambush and rescue missions with his numbing defiance and cack-handed clumsiness. It's funny at times to see how pathetic he is compared to his generally no-nonsense warrior counterparts, but equal parts infuriating that he doesn't have to learn the hard way that there are consequences for his reckless actions. This leads to the invincibility exhibited by all parties, which reduces the urgency and seriousness of every predicament. Po is immune to injuries and haphazardly shields himself from harm with an accidental frying pan, a lucky misstep, or a loose floor plank that swings up (like stepping on a rake) to block an onslaught of throwing knives. Crane similarly avoids danger with spastic flight, and Tigress has no excuses at all - she suffers only singed whiskers after taking a cannonball to the face. Gravity and physics also seem to utterly evade the heroes, playing no part in their unlikely escapes - although it does make the creatively complex chase sequences more intense and spontaneous.

- The Massie Twins ( GoneWithTheTwins.com )

Kung Fu Panda Birthday Party Ideas

One of the most popular movies of 2008 is Kung Fu Panda. This movie, which teaches that everyone can make a difference in their own way, is well-reviewed and well-loved by nearly everyone. Therefore, don't be surprised if your child wants a Kung Fu Panda themed birthday party. Thankfully, it is not that hard to provide for them when you use some imagination and craft supplies.

Pick a Character

One thing everybody is going to have to do is pick their favorite character. You may have a lot of pandas but that is okay. You can simply work with it. Once everyone has picked their favorite character, give the kids paper plates with eye holes cut out of them. Then, using party supplies and craft items, the kids can create their character on the paper plates and then wear them, turning them into the characters they love from the movie.

The Belts

Every Kung Fu master has a belt, so by using some simple paper or even a bit of fabric, you can make belts for everyone. These aren't going to be your normal belts though, they are all white (or some other color) and the kids can decorate them how they see fit. Let them put their personality into their belts and you will see some great works of art unfold.

Capture the Moment

Once you have created the masks and the belts, it is time for everyone to strike their best pose for the camera. Get a picture of it, put the name of the character they are (even a made up name) in the computer and print it off for them. This will give them a great picture to remember the fun birthday party with.

Kung Fu Panda is poised to become the biggest movie of the year and something everyone wants to see. So, you should be ready when your child asks for a Kung Fu Panda themed birthday party. If you use a few supplies and these party ideas, you can create a great Kung Fu Panda birthday party!

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Kung Fu Panda - Family Movie Review

Movie Mama Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Starring: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Ian McShane, Lucy Liu, Angelina Jolie, David Cross, Seth Rogen

Directed By: John Wayne Stevenson, Mark Randolph Osborne

Running Time: 1 hr. 35 min.

MPAA Rating: PG for sequences of martial arts action.

Genre: Children's, Animation

Po the panda (Jack Black) is just a regular guy working in his father's noodle shop, although his passion for Kung Fu seems to always get in the way. His father desperately wants to pass the noodle shop down to Po, but fate takes a different turn. While at a ceremony at the Jade Palace, Po is surprisingly named the legendary Dragon Warrior, and finds himself studying Kung Fu alongside his idols: Monkey (Jackie Chan), Viper (Lucy Liu), Crane (David Cross), Mantis (Seth Rogen), and Tigress (Angelina Jolie). Po tries his best to become a Kung Fu master under the tutelage of Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman). But when their enemy, Tai Lung (Ian McShane), escapes from prison, and Master Shifu declares that only the Dragon Warrior can defeat him, Po must believe in himself and search for the hero within.

Po's overly enthusiastic outlook on life is refreshing and entertaining to watch. Jack Black's take on the character is fluid and genuine, and you find you just can't get enough of this optimistic panda. The voices and animation are what really make this film sparkle, yet the plot leaves much to be desired. There are several truly engaging parts, but the entertainment is interrupted by an equal amount of boredom. I found myself looking around the theater, yawning, etc. The audience was comprised of kids no younger than five, which I think was appropriate. Any child below the age of five might have trouble sitting through the slow scenes. But it all depends on the child. Parents looking for the comedy stylings of Jack Black might be disappointed--almost all the funny parts are stuffed into the trailers. The animation could rival Pixar films, but the story doesn't even come close.

PROS

Po struggles with being overweight, but he handles mean comments with dignity, and doesn't let anything get him down. He's overly optimistic, never wanting to give up on dreams or people. He studies Kung Fu with a passion and gives it his all. Even when he fails miserably, he gets back up and tries again.

Po, like a lot of people, overeats when he gets stressed out. But when he finds something positive to fill his life with, he finds that he no longer has time to obsess about food. This is a great lesson for parents--if you have an overweight child, it might be time to get him/her involved in something physical that they can truly get excited and passionate about.

Kids will be thrilled with the fighting and action scenes. I can picture little boys everywhere playfully trying out their Kung Fu Panda skills at home.

CONS

The film is one of the cleanest of the year, however there are a few things I'll mention:

There is a brief gag where Po places two bowls on his chest as though they are either breasts or a bra. Po exclaims, "My tenders!" when referring to groin pain. He uses the word "suck" several times, as well as exclaiming that he's going to pee when Tai Lung is "tickling" him.

Throughout the entire film we are reminded that we must believe in ourselves in order to succeed. But I felt there was a casual underlying theme suggesting that as long as we simply believe, then everything will turn out okay in the end. This isn't the greatest lesson to teach our children, who should know that life doesn't always work out the way we've planned.

OVERALL

It's a good clean film, however there's nothing new to get excited about. If you're looking for a film to take the kids to, I suggest waiting until the end of the month for Pixar's WALL-E. Save Kung Fu Panda for a DVD rental.

Megan is the staff family movie reviewer for pluggedinparents.com. For more parenting articles on health and safety, nutrition, baby, money and tech, family life, pets, and movie reviews, visit pluggedinparents.com today!

The Kung Fu in "Kung Fu Panda"

In "Kung Fu Panda", the Panda Po seems to possess the humor which Jackie Chan obtains, and there is a scene that he has learned some skills from Shi Fu, his Kung Fu moves in that part are similar to the moves Jackie Chan performed in his movie "Eagle's Shadow". From there, we can see that the directors have prepared a lot in the forms and actions of Kung Fu, and they must have studied a lot of chinese stars' moves and actions for their reference.

Through Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and other chinese stars, the world know Chinese Kung Fu, however, many individual only know these stars and their impressive moves on the screen.

But, from this movie we can see that foreigners' understanding to this special chinese culture and tradition is deeper than before. Besides the actions from Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and other stars, the film designed characters of different types, such as the five masters: monkey, viper, crane, tigress, mantis are the names of Chinese Kung Fu forms. From this point of view, we can see that the foreigners' understanding have changed from stars into different forms of moves which shows that they know it deeper than before.

Compared with Chinese martial art ethics, the foreign grapple skills pay much attention on the skills rather than self moral cultivation. Take the combat-skill for example.

What is Combat-skill? It is the skill that one can to attack, to defense and to dodge with the other man. Combat-skill is an ancient combat technique. We call it skills because its purpose is contradicted to other sports. Although combat skills can help us in body building and resist assailants, however, the purpose of combat skills is to strike others to death swiftly, deadly and efficiently. It may sound scared, however, this is the substance of combat skill.

The power can be the most important factor of combat skill. So we can see the foreign grapple skills focus on the masterful skills, while the Chinese Kung Fu majors in self moral cultivation. That's the most distinctive feature between these two different froms of moves.

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Have You Ever Seen the Film "Kung Fu Panda"?

In the summer of 2008, a lovely panda with round body enjoys great fame among the world. Its name is Po, who at first is a lazy guy; however, he becomes the dragon warrior by chance. Finally, he defeats the enemy Tai Lang, and protects all the citizens in Peace Valley.

"Kung Fu Panda", which is directed by two famous directors, John Stephenson and Mark Osborne, what's more, there are some famous stars, such as Jack Black, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, and Angelina Jolie who provide their voices for the characters in this film.

The first weekend after this movie is released to the public in North America; it has already won 60 million dollars box-office result. In China, by June 26th, the box office had gained 63 million RMB. Undoubtedly, Panda Po becomes the super star among all the theatres in June. When it wins the box office, it has got highly spoken of by the public.

The American famous media, such as, "Entertainment Weekly", "Hollywood Reporter" and so on, all of these media give "A" grade to "Kung Fu Panda". Their comment on Po like this: "Po is a perfect hero, he, with round body, and is loved by all the people, what's more, it is not as ugly as Shrek, and he is a lovely guy with healthy teeth." "Washington Post": "Although we try our best to reject the charm of "Kung Fu Panda", this CG (Computer Graphics) film which made by DreamWorks Animation is full of power and inspiration." "Los Angeles Daily News": "This movie is the best film after "Shrek" in the history of Dream Works Animation." "Associated Press": "It makes the audience feel boring, although the cost of summer's blockbusters becomes more than before. Well, 'Kung Fu Panda' is an exception." "Hollywood Reporter": "Although 'Kung Fu Panda' is primarily oriented toward children, the humor it shows to us is fit for all ages."

In China, after the theater's let out, the Chinese audiences give their high comment on "Kung Fu Panda". From the children to the adults, they all give their lavish compliments to this blockbuster.

It is another amazing in film history, well, have you ever seen the film "Kung Fu Panda"?

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Kung Fu Panda Movies and Sequels Latest

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The latest on 
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