Kung Fu Panda

(2008)

RATING:	40%
FORMAT:	DVD

(Image: http://danceswithfat.wordpress.com)

Yet another tale-wagging-the-dog computer animation in search of a good story, characters and a plot: Form and content are identical.

This violent, would-be comedy wastes the talents of Dustin HOFFMAN and Jackie CHAN in favor of violent set-pieces that bear little relation to classical dramaturgy.

Jack BLACK’s character animation inaccurately renders his delivery style; rendering his participation pointless. Ian McSHANE’s villain comes across best of all.

There is no attempt to justify the cultural milieu presented by offering Western audiences any insight into Chinese culture and, specifically, the meaning of a martial art like kung fu. This ugly-duckling tale could have been set anywhere in the world; making the background mere exotic wallpaper - about as interesting as the decor in an Indian restaurant in the Fulham Road.

---

Copyright © 2013 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker5.blogspot.com) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved.