The first film Kung Fu Panda was debuted to $60.2 million in June 2008. And Producers have a big ambition of $65 to $70 million for Kung Fu Panda 2 this year. However, right till now, it seems not too optimistic for them.One of the reasons, according to one analyst is that the students are still in the class. But in my opinion, many people are waiting for the time to watch it on iPhone 4, iPad 2, Motorola Xoom or Galaxy Tab, etc. to save time and money for the depression of the economy.
The story is like this: Po is living his dream as the dragon warrior and protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu master include Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey. Po’s life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use secret unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu.
Po and the ‘furious five’ will travel across China to face the threat and vanquish it. The questions that how can Po stop a weapon that can stop kung fu and how he unlocks the strength he needs to succeed can be answered on the big screen only.
(When I say Kung Fu Panda in the following text, it refers to both Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda 2)
As a Chinese, it makes me feel complex when watching this Kung Fu Panda film. And as I know, a lot of people, especially the educated ones, have the same opinion as me. Should we feel proud that the American people are accepting the Chinese way of thinking for what we can see in Kung Fu Panda? Or should we feel ashamed that we cannot produce such a wonderful film if even we have long taken Panda as a national treasure?
However, we can still see that the so called Chinese factors in this movie are far more American than Chinese. First, the character of the Panda Po is different. Maybe the only similarity is that Po is fat. But just like the Panda in Warcraft III, Americans have given the Panda new skills and new characters. While in Chinese culture, what can a Panda do? Nothing! The Pandas in China have difficulty reproduce naturally and they are under entire care of the human beings. We Chinese have never imagined (or dreamed) such animals can save the world!
Besides, the philosophy in Kung Fu Panda is American with a Chinese coat. The dialogue in the movie seems so Chinese for many of them are translated from the ancient Chinese philosophy books. But under this guise, it is actually the American philosophy! To save the world has long been an American way of thinking which we may find in so many Hollywood movies that we don’t need to find examples. In Chinese culture, no one is thinking about the world will be destroyed one day and there will be a super hero to save the world. May be it is due to the religious reason for the most import 3 religion in China (Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism) have no such saying as end of world or judgment day. Though Islam has, but it is minority compare to the majority Chinese people.
Finally, "distroy the Kung Fu" is ridiculous. The villain in Kung Fu Panda wants to conquer China. Possible! He wants to destroy Kung Fu. Totally nonsense! The American people may not know Chinese people enough at this point. Anyone who has read some Chinese Kung Fu novels or watched some Chinese Kung Fu films will find out that the utmost desire for a person is to become the first of the world (conquer China), but he will not even think of destroying Kung Fu. Most of times he will try his best to find a student to inherit his Kung Fu. And if he cannot find a talented one, he will die with regret!
These are some of feelings about Kung Fu Panda, from the Chinese way of thinking. Anyway, Kung Fu Panda 2 is a good movie and I am looking forward to watching it.