As I mentioned earlier, this is an animated film that premiered on May 15, 2008, at the Cannes International Film Festival. The film premiered in the United States on June 8, 2008, and in the Czech Republic on July 3, 2008—24 days after its U.S. release.
The main characters are voiced by the following actors
: JACK BLACK
(Po), DUSTIN HOFFMAN
(Master Sifu), IAN MCSHANE
(Tai Lung), ANGELINA JOLIE
(Master Tigress), JACK CHAN
(Master Monkey), SETH ROGEN
(Master Mantis), LUCY LIU
(Master Viper), DAVIS CROSS
(Master Crane), RANDALL DUK KIM
(Master Ugwaj), and JAMES HONG
(Mr. Ping, Po’s adoptive father).
The story begins with Po sleeping and imagining himself fighting alongside the Furious Five. When he wakes up, he goes to help his father (it’s a mystery how Po ended up with him) at the family restaurant. They sell noodles; Po serves food and cleans dishes there. Master Oogway has a vision: Tai Lung has attacked the Valley of Peace. Sifu sends a messenger to the prison where Tai Lung is held to make sure he hasn’t escaped and that it was all just a dream of the old master. The day has come for Master Oogway to choose a new Dragon Warrior. It is a grand celebration; Mr. Ping sends Po to the palace to sell noodles there. But Po isn’t even thinking about noodles; he just wants to find out who will become the new Dragon Warrior. By a twist of fate, Po finds himself right in the middle of the action, and Master Ugwaj chooses Po. But no one likes this at all; after all, according to Sifu, a fat panda can’t become a Dragon Warrior. Tai Lung escapes only thanks to a goose messenger. Sifu first tries to kick Po out of the palace, but Po won’t give up. Sifu discovers that Po masters the art of kung fu thanks to his hunger, so he trains him quickly using food. Po receives the Dragon Scroll, but upon opening it, he and Sifu realize it is empty; they see only their own reflections inside. The Dragon Five try to stop Tai Lung, but they fail completely. He leaves the temple and goes to his father to tell him everything. His father, however, explains that extraordinary things happen when people believe in them. Tai Lung breaks into the palace and nearly kills Sifu. He engages in a brutal and merciless battle with Tai Lung in the middle of the Valley of Peace. He uses his unique kung fu style, which confuses Tai Lung because he cannot understand why his moves have no effect on the panda. During the fight, Tai Lung seizes the Dragon Scroll, but just as Po didn’t understand it, neither does he. Po explains it to him. In the end, Tai Lung is defeated by the “Vush’s Pincers” move, which he taught himself. He became the savior of the Valley, and the Fivesome and Sifu recognized Po as a true kung fu master.
It’s a fairy tale for all ages, because it’s full of humor, action, and the biggest fat panda ever.