Much frothing in the blogosphere regarding the 36th Annual Annie Awards giving 15 awards to Kung Fu Panda, including Best Feature, while giving Wall-E none.
The thing is, the Annie’s are right. Kung Fu Panda is the better movie.
Wall-E deserved to win technical awards I’m sure. It’s innovative interpretation/translation of real-world lenses and cameras into a 3D computer generated space is a step forward in the art.
Every element of Wall-E is polished, seemingly perfect. Combine this attention to detail with an innovative storyline and wonderful sound design and you should have the superior picture, right?
Nope. Kung Fu Panda is better.
It’s completely lacking in the current smugness of Pixar product. It seems that Pixar has been so successful that this success has, understandably, gone to its head – not in the sense that they’re resting on their laurels, but that the characters of their films have become insufferable. The Incredibles and Ratatouille – stories about accomplished, absurdly talented people and their struggles with being so gifted – please. Every time the Rat opened his mouth you realized he was an assh**e.
As for Wall-E, every frame screamed out – look at me – isn’t this just the best movie ever?
Kung Fu Panda on the other hand is different.
It has genuine charm. It’s scrappy, tough and above all beautiful.
Regarding it’s beauty – the marketing of the picture is a prime example of disingenuous and cowardice in selling pictures to the public. It was marketed to the public as Shrek. The adverts were cherry picked ‘Jack Black Skidoosh’ moments and even the font used in the poster and the opening credits is crude, amateurish.
Contrast this with the film – which is a lovely paean to Taoism.
The plot isn’t predictable as some have said. It’s simple. It’s nature. In fact it could be said to be without plot since we know the story so well – it may be the first story – and so we can simply exist – live in the film.
Live in its beautiful moments of colour and detail.
See it if you get the chance.
- – -
One caveat: Angelina Jolie’s voice work in the film is terrible. I feel for the poor animators who were tasked with her character Tigress. She really does bring nothing to the table; makes me wonder, was she ever really any good?
omg – i'm glad someone else noticed that too – i kept whispering to my friend, 'angelina jolie is CRAP in this…' i mean, there were times where you could almost “see” her speaking into the microphone while staring off at a spot on the wall…bored and distracted…or just unable to act without other actors…
I haven't seen Panda but I've Seen Wall-E. If Panda really is better in every regard, it must be one hell of a flick.
Man I couldn't disagree with you more.
Kung-Fu panda was the best-looking DreamWorks movie ever. You're right about that. The voice-acting was pretty decent. But KFP was lacking in the script department. It was entirely predictable from beginning to end.
Wall-E on the other hand was pure art. The script (while based on familiar idioms) was far richer than that of KFP. The animation was superior. The sound design was superior. It's interesting to see that Wall-E is up for a number of Oscars while KFP and Bolt are up for one each – best animated picture.
I am concerned that Wall-E will lose out simply because the academy is sick of giving awards to Pixar every damn year but Pixar is just on another plane than Dreamworks.
In 20 years Wall-E will be seen as a classic. Kung-Fu Panda will be forgotten (or ruined after Dreamworks releases retreads in the form of KFP 2, 3, and 4.
not better in every regard – in fact if you isolate every 'element' of production it wouldn't be hard to argue that Wall-E is better – no innovation in the story – jackie chan wasted with a small role and jolie is terrible, and yet and yet it's a wonderful film that doesn't have the pomposity of Wall-E.
I think you're right that Wall-E is art –
and the script was richer, the sound design/'photography' was more innovative and groundbreaking + better character animation and voice acting –
and yet to me Kung Fu Panda was without the pretensions, pomposity and snideness of Wall-E and all the better for it.,, (don't get me wrong = I like Wall-E – both Dr. Higgins and I lauded it on this show: The Film Talk – Part 29 – Hello Wall-E!
You realize everyone but the blinded and in denial is laughing at you for this, right? WALL-E is the better movie. It's better reviewed, it's won the most BEST PICTURE (not just Best Animated) awards of any animated film and was even a serious contender for a Best Pic spot at The Oscars (it was voted most likely to upset the set-in-stone nominees, even over The Dark Knight). Kung Fu Panda…wasn't. NO ONE thinks it was a better movie or that it was a movie that deserves it more. WALL-E will win the Best Animated Feature and a few other awards at The Oscars, along with a possible Best Screenplay award. Guess who will go home empty handed? Kung Fu Panda. Seriously, this article is laughable and the majority knows it, so prepare for lots of pointing and laughing at this BS.
I've seen this, but not Wall-E, so I can't compare the two.
I remember one of my in-laws telling me she didn't care for KFP after taking her kids – and after I saw it, I realized why -
Because it isn't, as you say, another “Shrek/Madagascar/Cars” – filled more with slapstick humor and marketed as such.
I really like the segment of the film that you have captured above with the first two screen grabs. My kids were very disinterested, however.
Wow, that's first time a blog post of mine has been called an article! Makes me feel like a journalist now! ;)
anyhew, we'll have agree to disagree Matt – while I'm sure you're right that Wall-E will win at the Oscars, Kung Fu Panda will always have a special place in my heart.
I brought my two kids to Wall-E. They're 3 and 7. For the first half, they -along with every other kid in the cinema- were spellbound. You could hear a pin drop -why? Because everything was new to them (no formula) and they couldn't look away because there was no talking or noises to let them know what was happening. Then the humans come into it and it's like the whole raison d'etre is gone. Nothing is new anymore. Suddenly it's another boring ole chase movie, racing to a climactic, predictable, life-lesson ending. Kids lost interest and ran screaming in the aisles before it was over. Mine stayed-put, naturally, but even the 3 year old sensed the makers had lost their nerve and gone with the formula.
Kung Fu Panda is a simple tale, but doesn't rely on sly nods to other stories. There are no cynical asides for the older viewers. It is what it is.
Personally speaking, of the two, I agree with Jett that each individual element in Wall-E is better, but overall KFP is more “true”. It doesn't kow-tow to focus groups and doesn't try to satisfy anyone other than itself. And it doesn't try to teach pat-lessons …something Pixar increasingly get up my goat with. What is Ratatouille but a rant against anyone who might have the audacity not to like it? It is its own rebuttal to any possible criticism -a preemptive strike. Pixar needs its pegs lowered a little. If nothing else, I hope these awards go some way to promoting that notion.
You must be paid by dreamworks
That's right Ray. That's why I said in a review that 'Hotel for Dogs' is our generations 'The Godfather'.
I was thinking the same thing that overall, KFP is the better movie, and started trolling the internet to see if others thought the same thing. Wall-E is a gorgeous movie, but I agree with an earlier poster that it degenerates halfway through and becomes a typical, predictable moralistic story. In KFP, while there are some minor plot problems (e.g. the Wu-She Finger Hold) not satisfactorily explained, it is very consistent and true to itself from start to finish. It has numerous interesting and humourous subplots that all tie in and is a homage to Taoism. It's a movie that I will watch again and again, whereas I just can't say the same for Wall-E.
In Angelina's defense, I suspect Tigress was deliberately made to be the uptight, controlled counterpoint to Po's brashness. Not a lot of room to maneuver and for the member of the Furious Five with the most lines it makes her deadpanness so obvious. The other voices of the Five were relatively wasted, but then again, they really weren't meant to outshine the more important characters, Po, Shi-Fu and Tae Long.
Nice to know others feel the same way :)
Not to take anything away from Pixar's achievement with 'Wall-E', but 'Kung Fu Panda's' paen to Taoism was just lovely – a very sweet film that doesn't have the hectoring quality of Wall-E.
[...] few weeks ago my genial co-host Mr Jett Loe acclaimed Dreamworks’ gorgeous, fun and sassy animated astonishment ‘Kung Fu… in the wake of its upset victory over ‘Wall-E’ at the Annie Awards. He included some [...]
[...] Kung Fu Panda is Better than Wall-E – The Annie Awards are Right [...]
okay, I liked both movies, and I agree with Remi being a jerk, but seriously.
Wall-E against kung fu panda? here's my 2cents:
Wall-E has beautiful storytelling and music (space dance scene, anyone?), and though the last 20 minutes of the film were utter crap, for me, the awesomely executed previous portion totally makes up for it.
Maybe it's just because I had high expectations for KFP, but it seemed way too rushed and the ending was just stupid. The characters of the Five were given no personality at all (except that Tigress is uptight), and Jack Black seriously got on my nerves (even though I think he's great).
I really hated Jack Black's voice work, even moreso than Angelina Jolies, because in my opinion the “wanna-be” coolness didn't fit at all in the movie's setting. you know, like how movies set in middle age britain always seem weird when the actors have american accents?
Pixar may seem pompous, but KungFu Panda just seemed childish. The story was pretty lame, and it had that retarded “bad fighter gets really good during montage” cliche that is totally stupid. everything was totally predictable, and though it made for a couple of laughs, I would call it a pretty mediocre film with no effort put towards an interesting, original story-line.
But, it's all opinion :)
PS: Is it me, or does the monkey have no speaking lines in this film at all? what's the point of getting freaking jackie chan to have 1 line of dialogue?
[...] Australia Taken Waltz with Bashir Gran Torino Righteous Kill Hunger Kung Fu Panda (Gareth’s Dissent) My Winnipeg [...]
In response to your P.S.
Jackie Chan Actually has 12 lines in “Kung Fu Panda” without counting any of the grunts or oooh-ahhh's.
1. We should hang out.
(although Monkey speaks again in his dream, it is actually the voice of Zeng)
2. Or even see his toes.
3. Good morning master. (with group)
4. But… he will.
5. Tigress! You have got to try this.
6. It's Shifu!
7. Po??
8. We've got this. Help her!
9. He's too fast!
10. Sorry Po.
11. Come little one. Let's find your mama.
12. Master. (with group)
In response to your P.S.
Jackie Chan Actually has 12 lines in “Kung Fu Panda” without counting any of the grunts or oooh-ahhh's.
1. We should hang out.
(although Monkey speaks again in his dream, it is actually the voice of Zeng)
2. Or even see his toes.
3. Good morning master. (with group)
4. But… he will.
5. Tigress! You have got to try this.
6. It's Shifu!
7. Po??
8. We've got this. Help her!
9. He's too fast!
10. Sorry Po.
11. Come little one. Let's find your mama.
12. Master. (with group)