7.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.6 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
Kung Fu Panda features Po the Panda, a lowly waiter in a noodle restaurant, who is a kung fu fanatic but whose shape doesn't exactly lend itself to kung fu fighting. That's a problem because powerful enemies are at the gates, and all hopes have been pinned on a prophesy naming Po as the "Chosen One" to save the day. A group of martial arts masters are going to need a black belt in patience if they are going to turn this slacker panda into a kung fu fighter before it's too late.
Starring: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth RogenFamily | 100% |
Adventure | 100% |
Animation | 86% |
Comedy | 46% |
Action | 45% |
Martial arts | 16% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
The audio is the same from the 2D bluray
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Blu-ray 3D
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the
present.
Cuddly animals sell. Be they giant stuffed prizes at carnivals, the fluffy kitten in the corner pet
shop window, or characters in the latest live-action or animated films, furry four-legged creatures
are a marketer's dream come true. Hollywood has enjoyed a long and storied lineage of animals
in lead roles. Old Yeller, Milo & Otis, Lassie, Babe, Alvin and the
Chipmunks, and even Remmy
the Rat from Ratatouille
effortlessly capture the hearts of audiences everywhere with their often human-like personas,
showing a range of emotion and stirring the soul through the good times and the bad, their
adventures, well-being, and fates practically a part of culture and certainly of cinematic legend.
Of course, like any good idea, loads of wannabe imitators crop up more often than one might care
to admit, giving the world a couple of live-action Garfield films and enough Air
Bud flicks to keep a
five-year-old busy until he or she starts high school. Fortunately, one of the more recent animal-centric
films, DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda, stands firmly with the best of the best of the
cute-and-cuddly animal world movies. Rivaling the animation, storytelling, and characterization
of the best Pixar films, Panda will tickle the funny bone, pull on the heart strings, dazzle
with its death-defying action, and prove once and for all that it's what's in the heart that really
counts.
Po: Level Zero.
DreamWorks' release of Kung Fu Panda in Blu-ray 3D is pretty spectacular. It's not the perfect 3D title, but the movie looks great
with
the added dimension and this is easily a worthwhile add to any high-def collection that already includes the previous 2008 2D-only Kung Fu Panda release. First, this presentation doesn't lag very far
behind
the visual perfection of the original release. Blacks are a little darker, but there are no scenes where information is completely lost to darkness, as is
the
case with some 3D titles. Po's black fur threatens to melt into darker backgrounds in some lower-light scenes, but the transfer maintains enough
clarity
and stability to prevent that from happening. Fine detail excels in every frame; whether various character's fur coats, the wooden floors and stone
walls
of Po's father's eatery, and even the smallest little fibers that make up the frayed rope on the bridge where Tigress and Tai Lung do battle, there's
nary a
moment where the digital creations don't look exemplary. This transfer is crisp and razor-sharp from start to finish. Colors are superb as well; Tigress'
orange-and-black striped fur, Mantis' green body, and general odds and ends around town and at the Dragon Warrior ceremony sparkle, with the
brightest shades popping right off the screen. Banding is minimal, and there are no other troublesome anomalies of which to speak. The material
holds
up well with the added 3D element, an element which makes a great movie even better.
The 3D aspects of this transfer are superb. Only slight and infrequent bouts of crosstalk mar otherwise glorious 3D visuals. Things begin with a nicely
offset DreamWorks logo, followed by the film's title, which features the word "Panda" appearing to almost lay flat. It's a genuinely impressive feat,
though relatively
simple nevertheless. The transfer is awash in magnificent depth throughout. There's very good separation, even in the more "flat" animation that
opens the film
in the form of one of Po's Kung Fu dreams. There's a fine sense of spacing, whether from building to building in town, up daunting flights of stairs, or
visible in something as simple as the space between Oogway's reptilian body and hardened shell. His neck and head appear to stick out of the screen
in one scene, as does the business end of a spear in another. Debris, confetti, and leaves all appear to drift in front of and through the
screen during several scenes, adding a further "wow" factor to the visuals. Everything is very shapely and natural, particularly round objects, such as
vases, and Po's
rotund belly. DreamWorks' 3D transfer is fairly seamless, even if it encounters a few easy-to-overlook obstacles on its way to Blu-ray 3D excellence.
Note that this disc does not offer 2D playback; all screenshots were taken from the 'Kung Fu Panda' 2D-only release from 2008.
Kung Fu Panda slices and dices sound systems with an amazing Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This is a rich and fulfilling experience that always finds just the right balance. It is never too loud, too forced, or too underwhelming. Everything works together in perfect harmony to create a fine mix. The sound flows naturally and evenly across the front, with the perfectly-rendered dialogue remaining entrenched in the center, although the track features some excellent panning and directionality of dialogue in several instances that never sounds forced or out of place. Bass is well represented. Deep and powerful, but never overextending its welcome, it is simply natural and precise. Surround speakers are used to excellent effect; there is a deluge of information thrown back there, but all of it is integrated wonderfully into the film, never becoming a distraction but nevertheless creating an immersive, fulfilling experience. From the most subtle atmospherics to awesome directional effects, from the score to sound that sweeps across the back, the surround channels are put to excellent use through virtually the entire picture. Tai Lung's escape sequence in chapter 10 is a sonic delight, extremely active yet clear and clean as a whistle, the entire soundstage coming alive as the Snow Leopard escapes, the prison crumbling and exploding all around, the action incredibly robust and the sound field full and powerful yet elegant and delightful. Kung Fu Panda offers a reference-grade sonic experience from the Dolby TrueHD presentation.
The only supplement on this disc is a Blu-ray 3D trailer for Puss in Boots. A 2D DVD copy of the film is also included.
Kung Fu Panda is a film that does most everything right. Witty, action-packed, featuring a fabulous cast of characters, and with a strong, uplifting message, the film never sees a dull moment. The film holds up extremely well to repeat viewings, and Kung Fu Panda is destined to become a long-standing favorite among fans of animation, the martial arts, or as a movie that lifts the spirits and dampens the negativity that surrounds any situation life may offer. Whether one struggles with self-image issues, lacks courage or discipline, or is ridiculed and put down by others, the film offers a nice reprieve from life's problems and offers meaning, depth, and reassurance while it entertains. DreamWork's Blu-ray 3D release of Kung Fu Panda is, no surprise, a winner. Featuring superb 3D video and a stellar lossless soundtrack, this release is a must for 3D-owning fans of the movie. Suitable for audiences of all ages and available and a top-notch Blu-ray to boot, Kung Fu Panda's Blu-ray 3D release comes highly recommended!
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