A step into a world of morals
Great animation, great story, lots to think about and heaps of fun. King Fu Panda 3 is a winner.
REVIEW
Kung Fu Panda 3
Directors: Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Alessandro Carloni
Production companies: DreamWorks Animation, Oriental DreamWorks
Produced by: Melissa Cobb
On show: screening widely
Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, JK Simmons, Jackie Chan, Lucy Lui, Seth Rogan, Bryan Cranston, Kate Hudson, James Hong, David Cross.
Rating: ★★★★½
By STEPHANIE CHEN
Kung Fu Panda 3 brings back the lovable and funny nature of the original Kung Fu Panda film, while exploring deep ideas and issues.
Visually stunning, it paves the way for animated films by providing meaningful character development, complex messages and well-rounded storylines without losing its main focus, to provide fun and entertainment for children.
From the outset the film displays its visual prowess, providing a stage for DreamWorks to assert their dominance in animation, easily rivalling, if not overshadowing, the recent products created by Pixar and Disney.
Indeed, the film consistently wows the audience with intricate sceneries, powerful but elegant Kung Fu moves and endless seas of cute and chubby animals. The animation is perfect; The Kung Fu fight scenes are indicative of what film can do as an art form.
The film incorporates and displays the beauty of Chinese culture in a respectful and artistically innovative manner. Playing predominantly with warm colour palettes of reds, creams, greens and golds, the audience is softly engulfed by the rich cultural influences that thrive throughout the extremely detailed film.
The writing is almost bulletproof. No loose ends are left untied, and plot holes from the previous two films are also resolved. The film was genuinely funny for both young and old, with plenty of references to the previous films to keep Kung Fu Panda fanatics satisfied.
The storyline explores serious questions about morality during war times, the need for self-sacrifice and the consequences of human choices, without losing its light-hearted, family-friendly tone.
The storyline also highlights the fundamental role teachers play in a healthy society as well as the importance of maintaining and reflecting on your cultural and historic ties when you can.
The film does not skimp on character development. The main story line focuses on protagonist Po’s journey of self-discovery.
Po is not only forced into a physical battle with the mega-cool and mega-evil Ox villain, he is also forced to grapple with concepts of identity when he is reunited with his long lost father.
Important questions are raised about the relationships between children and their adoptive and biological fathers, with even a small nod towards the LGBTQ community when Po’s adoptive father suggests it would be in Po’s best interest to have two fathers work together to love and guide him.
Po is forced between two completely different societies of the pandas and the jade palace, and must find a way to bridge the two without dismissing one identity for the other.
Audiences also see significant growth in the supporting characters. Po’s biological father represents the victims of war, having lost his wife and son during a time of conflict. He introduces, subtly, the issues of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Po’s adoptive father, who is a goose, must come to terms with Po’s new relationship with his biological father. The mega-cool and mega-evil Ox villain must also overcome the shock of losing his fame, of becoming irrelevant and of having his previous war accomplishments disappear from people’s memories.
The audio components of Kung Fu Panda 3 cannot be overlooked. The voice actors were impeccable, the moods and emotions were carried effortlessly and naturally.
Another notable mention is the final scene, where the Chinese version of the song Kung Fu Fighting provided a final powerful and heart-warming touch to the film's golden chi.
The only criticism is that viewers are not given the opportunity to really think about the complex issues, thanks to the constant barrage of jokes. The audience is never allowed a moment of true self-reflection. Regardless, we are left with a full heart on conclusion.
The film does not disappoint, even given the high expectations laid down by its predecessors. Any lack of substance from Kung Fu Panda 2 is all but forgotten thanks to this masterpiece. Kung Fu Panda 3 fulfils more than its destiny and leaves us wanting more prophecies for another instalment.
