The Smug Baldy Speaks

We just caught the awesomeness that is Kung Fu Panda. Jack Black was the perfect choice for the voice of Po, the noodle cook who dreams of being a Kung Fu master. The animation – even the short dream sequence at the film’s opening were amazingly well done, and I was surprised by just how much fun I had watching this gem.

I really appreciate great animation, and here Dreamworks delivered an excellent effort. The characters moved fluidly, the environments and lighting were expansive, and the level of detail was extremely high. We expect to see fur and hair rendered in CG films, but in this one, we even see the texture on Master Shifu’s nose.

Aside from the art and animation, however, the script was perfect for Jack Black. He got to go pretty wild with his vocal stylings, and he was still able to bring a good deal of humanity to his character. OK, he was a panda, but a very believable human panda that wants to learn kung fu.

Here are some of my favorite lines that I found on IMDB:

Po: Legend tells of a legendary warrior whose kung fu skills were the stuff of legend.

Po: It is said that his enemies would go blind from over-exposure to pure awesomeness!

Mr. Ping: We are noodle folk. Broth runs through our veins.

Po: The Furious Five! You look a lot bigger than your action figures! Except you, Mantis. You’re about the same.

Po: The Sword of Heroes! Said to be so sharp you can get cut just by looking at – Ow!

Po: [looking around at the historical artifacts in the palace] Wow! I’ve only seen paintings of that painting!

Oogway: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.

Po: I just ate, so I’m still digesting, so my kung fu may not be as good as later on.

Tigress: It is said that the Dragon Warrior can go for months without eating, surviving on the dew of a single ginko leaf and the energy of the universe.
Po: Then I guess my body doesn’t know I’m the Dragon Warrior yet. It’s gonna take a lot more than dew, and, uh, universe juice.

Tai Lung: You… you’re just a big… fat… panda!
Po: I’m not a big fat panda. I’m the big fat panda.

Tai Lung: The Wuxi finger hold!
Po: Oh, you know this hold?
Tai Lung: You’re bluffing. You’re bluffing! Shifu didn’t teach you that.
Po: Nope. I figured it out. Skadoosh!