7.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
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 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Bonus View (PiP)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
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 last year's 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 latest 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 finds it difficult to stand toe-to-toe (gut-to-gut?) with even his Furious Five action figures.
Framed at 2.35:1 and presented in 1080p high definition, it should come as no surprise that Kung Fu Panda offers viewers a reference-quality transfer. Every frame features a fantastic sense of depth and an abundance of pristinely-rendered color. Take even one of the first scenes in the film where audiences are introduced to Po and his father in the noodle restaurant. The disc reveals the marvelous texture and detail of the walls and the stone floor, not to mention the cutting board and the cleaver that play a prominent role in the scene. The ornately-decorated buildings seen throughout the film look amazing. The adornments, the roofing, the varied colors that are prominently featured give them a look and feel that springs to life and look just as good as anything seen in the other high profile animated releases currently on Blu-ray. Even something as simple as the tan colored dirt turf as seen outside the Jade Palace as Po attempts to find some way inside to view the Dragon Warrior ceremony in chapter five looks absolutely real. The various animals seen throughout the film show an amazing attention to detail, every bit of it brought to life on Blu-ray. Viewers will be privy to every strand of fur and every stitch and seam in their clothing (particularly Po's patchwork shorts). Whether the movie's various scenes take place in bright outdoor locales, which is the setting for much of of the film, or the dark, dank, lifeless interior of Tai Lung's personal prison, or a dusk sequence on Panda's first day of training, the image holds up to sheer perfection. Make no mistake, Kung Fu Panda offers a remarkable transfer, and an excellent movie to boot.
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 codec.
Kung Fu Panda bursts onto Blu-ray with a wealth of bonus materials. Inside Kung Fu
Panda is a grouping of extras that begins with a commentary track featuring directors Mark
Osborne and John Stevenson. A nice, breezy track, the directors share their thoughts on a
myriad
of topics, including the long process of getting the film to the big screen, the influences and
stylistic
choices, the personalities the voice actors brought to the characters, and even more mundane
information like lighting schemes that serve stylistic purposes to contrast one character from a
location, for example, the difficulties of rendering some of the film's more dynamic sequences,
and
plenty more. Fans of animation will enjoy this track a great deal. The disc also includes a trivia
track with its information presented on a scroll similar to the one seen in the film. Offering some
material covered in the commentary and some not, it's best watched in conjunction with the
audio
commentary. The Animator's Corner is a picture-in-picture video commentary that
includes some bits from the audio commentary track but also includes plenty of new information
as
well, including behind-the-scenes looks at the animation process, the voice recording sessions,
and
plenty more. Meet the Cast (1080i, 13:18) is a brief sequence of interview clips with the
cast members discussing their roles and their experiences working on the film. Pushing the
Boundaries (1080i, 7:07) takes an all-too-brief look at the challenges of creating the film's
impressive visuals. Conservation International: Help Save Wild Pandas (1080p, 2:00) is
a public service announcement, hosted by Jack Black.
Po's Power Play is a series of extras beginning with Dragon Warrior Training
Academy (1080p). This is a game where players must face five challenges to attain the level
of Dragon Warrior. In Dumpling Shuffle, players must follow three scrambling bowls and
remember under which is located a delicious dumpling. Learn to Draw (1080p) shows
viewers how to hand-draw their favorite Kung Fu Panda characters, hosted by the
real-life artists who worked on them for the movie. Sounds and
Moves of Kung Fu is another series of supplements.
Sound Design (1080p, 3:54) looks at the how the filmmakers created the numerous
audio effects that accompany the film. Next up is a music video by Cee-Lo entitled Kung Fu
Fighting (1080p, 2:29). Learn the Panda Dance (1080p, 4:32) features a
demonstration of how to do the Kung Fu Panda dance. Do you Kung Fu?
(1080p, 24:13) allows viewers to learn the basics of several Kung Fu styles.
Land of the Panda is a grouping of five additional supplements. Mr. Ping's Noodle
House (1080p, 4:43) is a fascinating feature that shows a chef creating noodles form a ball
of dough. How To Use Chopsticks (1080p, 2:56) is a kid-centric feature that shows how
to properly hold and utilize chopsticks, as well as some chopstick etiquette. Inside the
Chinese Zodiac (1080p, 11:33) looks at the Chinese calender and the animals that represent
each year. Animals of 'Kung Fu Panda' (1080p, 6:18) looks at the real-life animals that
have influenced the history of Kung Fu. What Fighting Style Are You? (1080p) is a quiz
to discover which style you represent (I was Tiger Style). Moving along, DreamWorks
Animation Video Jukebox (1080p) is a series of animated music videos from Flushed
Away, Over the Hedge, Madagascar, Shark Tale, Shrek,
Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and
Bee Movie. Also
included are 1080p trailers for Monsters vs. Aliens and Madagascar 2: Escape 2
Africa. Finally, this disc is BD-Live (Blu-ray profile 2.0) enabled. At the time of writing, a
feature entitled Po Around the World (1080p, 27:38) was available. Here, viewers may
watch scenes from the film dubbed in various languages.
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. Likely to hold up extremely well to repeat viewings, and not only by those in the film's targeted demographic, no doubt Kung Fu Panda is destined to become a 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 release of Kung Fu Panda is, no surprise, a winner. Featuring flawless video, a stellar lossless soundtrack, and plenty of extras, everything about this package is a positive. Suitable for audiences of all ages and available on a top-notch Blu-ray to boot, Kung Fu Panda comes highly recommended!
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