Kung Fu Panda: The BEST animated movie that I have watched in recent times

MOVIE: Kung Fu Panda
Cast (Voice): Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, and Jackie Chan
Director: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson
Review by: Ramesh Ramanathan

A clumsy panda bear becomes an unlikely kung fu hero when a treacherous enemy spreads chaos throughout the countryside in this animated martial arts adventure featuring the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, and Jackie Chan. On the surface, Po (voice of Black) may look like just another portly panda bear, but beneath his fur he bears the mark of the chosen one. By day, Po works faithfully in his family's noodle shop, but by night he dreams of becoming a true master of the martial arts. Now an ancient prophecy has come to pass, and Po realizes that he is the only one who can save his people from certain destruction.

With time running short and malevolent snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane ) closing in, Furious Five legends Tigress (Jolie), Crane (David Cross ), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), Monkey (Chan), and their wise sensei, Master Shifu (Hoffman), all draw on their vast knowledge of fighting skills in order to transform a lumbering panda bear into a lethal fighting machine. Now, if the noble Po can master the martial arts and somehow transform his greatest weaknesses into his greatest strengths, he will fulfill his destiny as the hero who saved his people during their darkest hour."

THE GOOD PART OF THE MOVIE...........
This one is a laugh riot. If this cannot make you laugh, nothing else will. I can't recall any more than 1 hard belly laugh but it t always had me smiling or giggling through the run time. Almost none of the jokes were home runs… but then did all work. It was entertainment all the way. A class, not a crass villain, great animation; variegated fighting style – all added to the fun.

THE BAD PART IF SOMEONE FEELS SO.....ITS BAD......
There isn't much to complain about in this movie, but I will raise a couple of issues. First of all, some of the voice casting felt completely wrong. I worship the ground Dustin Hoffman walks on… but him as the voice of the sage Chinese Kung Fu master that trains the furious 5 and Po??? It just didn't fit. Seth Rogen as one of the furious 5? I hope I'm not just being picky… but whenever these guys spoke (especially Rogen) it just kinda pulled me out of the movie. And Jackie Chan was conspicuous by an absent voice.

BOTTOM LINE: It’s the best animated movie that I have watched in recent times. The Panda bear is awesome and boy, it steals the show