Expect the Unexpected

By: Ramses Flores
I have always had a belief that no matter what critics and movie journalists say, there are just some films which hold no interest to them. The right thing to do is to go into every film screening with an open and optimistic mind but I really doubt that when a critic goes and sees a film like Bratz or the Hannah Montana concert film that he or she is hoping for the better. Instead, I think that they embrace themselves for the worst possible outcome and just try to survive through it. I know this because today I experienced this when I was invited to go and see some exclusive footage for this summer’s Kung Fu Panda. I am happy to say, however, that I was dead wrong.

I was not really anticipating seeing this footage from Kung Fu Panda too much and it looked like another silly kids films that is just meant to be a fun and innocent film for the kids. I was ready for the worst and was just going to try and smile through it all. The directors of the film (John Stevenson & Mark Osborne) came out, gave a quick rundown of the films characters and story, and then introduced the first scene of the film to us. The scene focused on the kung fu panda himself (voiced by Jack Black )fighting along side some kung fu masters by the name of The Furious Five while the already clichéd Kill Bill theme song played in the background, it was just the exact thing that I was expecting from the film. It was silly, bright, colorful, and felt just like a by the numbers kids film. The only thing that I needed more was a training montage set to “Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting”

I had already begun to expect the worst just judging from this first clip that was shown to us. The scene ends and we find out that this is just a dream that Po the panda was having and we are then introduced to some expected physical comedy and what we have to come to expect from Jack Black and his high energetic style. I would be telling a lie if I were to say that I was amused. Then, something started to happen when the next couple of scenes were shown and we were given more backstory to the film. The film all of a sudden took a shape of its own, which I don’t think anyone saw coming.

It didn’t take too long before we were all introduced to the first action/fight scene of the film and it was just then when the excitement could be felt in the room. I think I was not the only one who was all of a sudden blown away by the film. We were shown a select number of action scenes and every single one of these scenes is really something else. I am happy to write that Kung Fu Panda is not the silly kids film that it looks like it might be. It is not that at all. Instead, Kung Fu Panda can best be described as a CGI animated mash up of the classic kung fu films of the 70’s mixed in with the bright and colorful kung fu films from the last couple of years like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon or Hero. Plus, it’s still a kids film. Yet, don’t expect an innocent cartoony kid’s film. The scope of the film is as epic as the films that it is paying homage to. The film is very serious at times, the fights are extremely cinematic, and the cinematography is as beautiful at times as the cinematography of the modern day colorful kung fu films. The animation is also superb and is very pleasant on the eyes when mixed in with its bright and at times moody colors. Oh, and it’s still funny, charming, and most important…still for kids.

After all the scenes were shown to us the directors opened themselves up for some questions. It didn’t take too long until it was immediately clear that all the people behind this film are gigantic fans of kung fu films and what they have crafted is a film that pays as much respect to the art of kung fu and martial arts films as it can. They talked in depth about how much time went into crafting realistic kung fu fights as well as how hard it was to make a film funny yet respectful towards to the art. They also threw any bad feelings I had towards the film at first when they themselves talked about how they did not want to make a silly film that spoofed the genre and instead make a film that is grounded in reality but is still fun. It was extremely clear that there is a lot of heart and passion behind the project and it showed in not only the way the directors talked about the film but also in the select scenes we were shown.

I only got to see about 25 minutes or so of footage. Some moments in these scenes were still rough around the edges, but what was there was extremely satisfying. I am a fan of the kung fu genre and I was heavily impressed with what I saw. The film is months away from now with a release date set for June 6th but what I was shown today made me gain a lot of respect towards the film and made me anticipate the films release date, which was something which I never thought I would anticipate.

This film is not the kind of film that it’s poster and title make it out to be. I am more than sure that critics, parents, and especially kids will be blown away by the surprise that it will turn out to be. I am sure that this will happen because it happened to me.

To view the official movie trailers use this link:

http://www.kungfupanda.com/
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Bazuca Magazine ©2008

Redactado por Polo en February 6th, 2008 con no comments.
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