Kung Fu Panda - DVD review by Maggie Woods

“A soft and cuddly, magical new hero
comes to DVD with the year’s biggest
comedy hit that took $600 million at
the worldwide box office — prepare for
Panda-monium to break loose with the
magnificent Kung Fu Panda...”

IN A LAND OF TRADITION AND HONOUR, the wise tortoise Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) — the spiritual leader in The Valley Of Peace — tells of a vision of a Dragon Warrior who will help to defeat a great evil that is to come their way.

The red panda Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) is a great Kung Fu master who has trained five of the greatest warriors the world has ever known: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Viper (Lucy Liu), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Monkey (Jackie Chan), and master of deflection Crane (David Cross). But his biggest challenge is about to arrive…

When the foretold evil comes in the shape of a deadly enemy — the treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane), who has escaped from Chor Ghom Prison — the five great Kung Fu heroes snap to attention, but only the Dragon Warrior can enter the fray. Oogway has announced the search for the Dragon Warrior and not far away, somebody who longs to join the Kung Fu heroes he already worships is setting his heart on being that fighter.

Over-enthusiastic, outspoken, clumsy and with a penchant for the merchandise, Po (voiced by Jack Black) is working in his father's noodle house. Mr Ping (James Hong) dreams of Po one day taking over the family business. Oddly, Mr Ping is actually a goose, which is perhaps why Po feels strangely unlike his father's son! Po, however, dreams of becoming a Kung Fu hero and spends his free time playing with action figures of the Furious Five — Tigress, Viper, Mantis, Monkey and Crane.

Po sets off to present himself to Shifu, but by the time he has painfully hauled himself up the mountain the gates have closed and he has to work out a way to get into the temple to earn himself the right to fight alongside his heroes.

Big and cuddly and cute, Kung Fu Panda Po is declared the Dragon Warrior of legend. But while his heart and spirit may have already acknowledged his potential, his body doesn't know it yet… This most unlikeliest of martial arts heroes is the star of this superb, mystical and hilarious animation from DreamWorks and he alone can win the day and unravel the mysteries of the Dragon Scroll.

Hardly daring to believe that he is actually studying with his idols — the legendary Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey — the food-motivated Po is disappointed to find that they initially view him with suspicion. Or should that be derision?

Po has to call upon all his reserves and puts his whole being — and his mighty frame — into becoming a great Kung Fu hero; but will it be enough? Will his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths? Po must embrace his true self in order to prove himself and fulfil his destiny as the Dragon Warrior to stand against the clever Tai Lung.

With exotic music, well-orchestrated fight scenes and unbelievable animation, Kung Fu Panda is funny, mystical and superbly executed. It has been described as being possibly DreamWorks' greatest family film and is a heart-warming journey into the realms of first class fantasy.

From the makers of Shrek and Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda has terrific animation and a perfect all-star voice casting with splendid characterisation, also featuring Michael Clarke Duncan as the voice of the tough-talking Rhino Commander Vachir, the head of prison security who fears nothing except for Tai Lung; and Dan Fogler, the voice of Zeng, the messenger goose. The screenplay is by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger and Kung Fu Panda is Directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson.

Younger members of the family will love Kung Fu Panda and there is enough adult-aimed humour to keep everybody happy. Subtle oriental backdrops and plenty of over-the-top Kung Fu action make this movie as beautifully visual as it is exciting. Great fun for all the family.

• Kung Fu Panda will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on 17 November.

"[Kung Fu Panda is] one of the best animation films to appear for a long while" — Edward Porter, The Sunday Times Culture

"With exotic music, well-orchestrated fight scenes and unbelievable animation, Kung Fu Panda is funny, mystical and superbly executed" — Maggie Woods, MotorBar

Kung Fu Panda two-disc Master Edition

Over-stuffed with behind-the-scenes features filled with hilarity and activities that pack a punch. Viewers can explore the animals depicted in the films, follow a tutorial on drawing their favourite characters, go behind-the-scenes to meet the cast, find out about the sound design, learn the Panda Dance, watch a 'Kung Fu Fighting' music video, delve into Mr. Ping's noodle house, figure out what fighting style they are, download printables and game demos and much, much more.

Disc 1

Kung Fu Panda Bonus features: Audio Commentary | Meet the Cast | Tech of Kung Fu Panda: Pushing the Boundaries | Conservation International: Help Save Wild Pandas | DWA Jukebox | Trailers | Set-Top Game: Dragon Warrior Training Academy.

Disc 2

Bonus features: Be a Kung Fu Master | Animals of Kung Fu Panda | What Kung Fu Style Are You? | Do You Kung Fu? | 'Kung Fu Fighting' Music Video | Learn the Panda Dance | Learn to Draw | Sound Design | Land of the Panda | Mr. Ping's Noodle House | How To Use Chopsticks | Inside the Chinese Zodiac | Po's Power Play | Interactive DVD Rom activities: Dumpling Shuffle | HP Printable Projects | KFP Sound Machine | KFP and MAD 2 Activision Game Level | Kung Fu Panda Around the World | Po Around the World

Kung Fu Panda single-disc DVD

Available in widescreen, this includes the following special features: Audio Commentary | Meet the Cast | Tech of Kung Fu Panda: Pushing the Boundaries | Conservation International: Help Save Wild Pandas | DWA Jukebox | Trailers | Set-Top Game: Dragon Warrior Training Academy DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda.

Kung Fu Panda Blu-ray

Presented in 1080 pixel High Definition with English 5.1 Dolby True HD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Bonus features include: Inside Kung Fu Panda | Filmmakers' Commentary | The Animators' Corner | Trivia Track | Meet the Cast (HD) | Pushing the Boundaries (HD) | Conservation International: Help Save Wild Pandas (HD) | Po's Power Play | Dragon Warrior Training Academy | Dumpling Shuffle | Learn to Draw (HD) | The Sounds and Moves of Kung Fu Panda | Sound Design (HD) | "Kung Fu Fighting" Music Video by Cee-Lo (HD) | Learn the Panda Dance (HD) | Do You Kung Fu? (HD) | Land of the Panda | Mr. Ping's Noodle House | How to Use Chopsticks (HD) | Inside the Chinese Zodiac (HD) | Animals of Kung Fu Panda | What Fighting Style Are You? | DreamWorks Animation Video JukeBox (HD) DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda Synopsis

About DreamWorks Animation SKG

DreamWorks Animation is principally devoted to developing and producing computer generated, or CG, animated feature films. With world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced CG filmmaking technology and techniques, DreamWorks Animation makes high quality CG animated films meant for a broad movie-going audience.

The Company has theatrically released a total of sixteen animated feature films, including Shrek, Shrek 2, Shark Tale, Madagascar, Over The Hedge, Shrek The Third, Bee Movie and Kung Fu Panda.

• Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa opens in theatres on November 7, 2008 and Monsters vs Aliens, the Company's first film produced in 3D, is scheduled for a domestic release date of March 27, 2009.

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