Special Review: 2005 US GP

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome to my Special Review with a temporary revived F1 GP Review.

You know, its been a year since I’ve done with my last year’s season, which I thought it will be fun, but due to a lackluster reaction, I pretty much canceled it after one season, cause I wanted to share my thoughts to you all, but due to DA’s algorithm that I barely got favs, comments and others, I decided to just tossed in a bin after the season is over. However, I felt like to bring it back, but im a limited of time, but im only prefer to going back in time to do my review of F1 Grand Prix to the past, some that I remember seeing it from my childhood or some that got a lot of attention. But today’s temporary revival review, I felt like to talking about quite possibly one of the worst GP in F1’s history before 2021 Belgian GP that taken place… In America.

The 2005 US Grand Prix took place on June 19th in 2005 season in Indianapolis Motor Speedway that became infamous that ruined the image of F1 in America for all the wrong and stupid reason why 2005 season was… Dare I say, the most questionable season when it comes to rule changing that it only use in one and only season. As well as the good’ol fashion they said they said both before, during, and after the race.

So, how bad can it be for ruining US market of F1 before an the return of US GP at Austin, Texas in 2012?

Well, lets find out.

Before the event

For nearly century, Indianapolis Motor Speedway had been in a loooong journey of many races and sessions in May, or even other races outside of IMS. I guess it explained why its called “The Month of May” to this day. However, the major downside is that winter season was nothing but a pain in the asses for the constant repaved every year when the snowing hit the track, but that cost a lot of money for repaving every year before we get to either US GP or the iconic Indy 500, so the track has repaved with diamond grind. The diamond grind surface is smooth as Carlos Sainz’s Smooth Operation in Ferrari for easy grips and less problem of drainage, but the downside is that it can also be sharp as millions of knives that could potentially ruining the tires in racing or even driving on the road with diamond grinding. It was first tested around on April in multi tests, a month before Indy 500 of 2005, with four Indy Racing League teams had a tested in privacy at the new track surface with Firestone (the subsidiary brand from Bridgestone), but it ended up gone wrong that they had to repaved due to unsuitable dual grips, until it went fine both the test and into the Indy 500. Bridgestone are eventually got used to make a harder tires when it comes to diamond grind surface after done with multi tests, but other tire brand in F1, Michelin, didn’t even bother to test the surface to just jump over based on Michelin’s domination from F1’s new rule without learning a cautionary tale of NASCAR’s 2005 Coca-Cola 600 (when Charlotte Motor Speedway also used diamond grind that caused dozens of cautions that Goodyear should’ve realized, but that’s a different story).

“But what’s the new rule?”, you ask yourself. Well, since 2000 to 2004, Ferrari was dominant in five seasons for not just their best cars nor even best career of our childhood hero Michael Schumacher, but its due to the chemistry between Ferrari and Bridgestone based on their unique strategy, using soft compound and minimal of refueling in insane speed against any other teams like McLaren, Renault, Williams and others. So FIA saw it as an opportunity to creating a new rule in 2005 season, where every teams only using harder sprint tires throughout the races, meaning everyone will never pitting for changing tires, but only for refueling (minus the weather conditions like raining). This rule sounds good idea in theory this rule easily ruining Ferrari’s domination based on Bridgestone’s slow tyre performances, resulting a focus rivalry between Renault and McLaren, but that rule became a problem that some drivers really want to change so badly, such as what happened at 2005 European GP (taken place in Nürburgring) when McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen was in a lead, until at the final lap that his front left tyre went from vibration to completely destroying his suspension before going to the first corner, which was the first sign of problem from “the new rule”. But that all change when we went to Indiana.

The Event

By the way, real talk, when I was a little kid, I was enjoying see the race in previous GPs with my dad or even my uncle to watching in F1, whether be qualification or even the racing, but when I saw it as a kid, I had no idea what’s going on, because I was pretty naïve and ignorant to understanding the news in F1, even though this was long before we have social media, which I thought the race was questionably odd, but looking back now, this is where I questioned “What in a world were they thinking for changing the rules whatsoever?!”, so here it goes.

During the practice session on Friday, we witnessed Toyota’s Ralf Schumacher (Michael’s young brother) spun out of control and crashed at the wall of 13th corner (aka Indy 500’s first corner), which is the second time since last year’s US GP at the racing where Ralf (who used to be in Williams) was not only concussed, but also had a broken back. But here, he was ok, but due to a concerning medical ground from what happened in previous year, he was replaced by Ricardo Zonta, which he’ll be fine, until he has a same problem from spun out with tire problem from either blew it up or blistering, the latter of them cause a concern for teams with Michelin tires. Only three Bridgestone teams, Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi are doing fine for their practice, but teams with Michelin tires had some problems from various reasons like the aforementioned potential blew up or blistering, thus resulting to negotiation to figuring out what’s the problem or even what to do to solve the problems or not, some put the blame over the resurfacing diamond grind that Michelin ruining their tires, but others put the blame at Michelin for blindly went ahead without a couple of test like nothing happened, cause again, Michelin was dominant thanks to FIA’s new rule.

But in a weekend during qualification and before the race, both Michelin, the teams and FIA had numerous options they all of them are rejected, such as FIA suggested all Michelin cars to just slow down at the final corner before crossing the starting/finish line, but that definitely won’t work that could easily plain anti-climatic to see cars going slow like a snails at the final corner, Michelin suggested this race will be a non-championship based on a serious problem that it shouldn’t effect the championship, but FIA said no, then Michelin suggested only every teams with Michelin tires race but after every 10 laps, they have to pit, but that won’t work, since the rule is all about sprinting, so it got rejected. Then around in a last hour before the race, teams and Michelin suggested a chicane taking place before turn 13, but it was rejected again both FIA and Ferrari (yup, the big red team are also in argument that adding chicane won’t work, so we thought). Why they’re all rejected at three latter? Its because those suggestion (that they’re not came up by FIA) are violating of changing the current rules at the time, otherwise, FIA will never race in USA ever again, which cause a massive argument that based on strict sanction that they’ll making walkout with unsanctioned rule without FIA, which it sounds like they could make the death of F1 via split brand, Indycar style since 1996. Right before FIA reached their boiling point and permanently decided all Michelin teams will NEVER race after qualifying in Indianapolis, because FIA thinks its all Michelin’s fault for not bringing proper tires, which is where we got here.

Basically in a nutshell, FIA pretty much acting like they got shot themselves in a foot from a potential walkout unsanctioned, by pretty much tell everyone to shut the hell up and let FIA make their own changing rules, otherwise “We will never race in United States, EVER AGAIN because of you idiots don’t understand that we constantly say NO on your worthless options!”. Like jeez, over-sensitive much??

The starting grids (if you can call that, with Bold for only drivers be on a race) are;

Pole: Jarno Trulli (Toyota) (His first pole in Toyota)

2: Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren)

3: Jenson Button (BAR)

4: Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault)

5: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)

6: Fernando Alonso (Renault) (Before taken his first champ in his career that we all know

7: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)

8: Takuma Sato (BAR)

9: Mark Webber (Williams)

10: Felipe Massa (Sauber)

11: Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams)

12: Jacques Villeneuve (Sauber) (Oh hey, I didn’t know the 97 champ was in Sauber…)

13: Ricardo Zonta (Toyota) (Yup, he took place to replacing Ralf Schumacher, but that didn’t last long)

14: Christian Klein (Red Bull)

15: Nick Heidfield (Williams)

16: David Coulthard (Red Bull) (Remember when DC was good in McLaren? Good times…)

17: Tiago Monteiro (Jordan) (Yeah, Jordan is no longer the same when they used to back in the late 90s)

18: Christian Albers (Minardi)

19: Narain Karthikeyan (Jordan)

20: Patrick Friesacher (Minardi) (He’s much as worthless before being replaced by racer turned porn maker, Robert Doornbos. Im not kidding for the latter.)

As I said before, before the race, there were discussion with all the last minute options that are all rejected before FIA flexing their heelish muscles to tell everyone to follow their last minute decision and stick it. It starts off in a formation lap that at first, again, when I saw it as a kid, I was exciting to see something promising race in US, but we all know how it turned out. As David Coulthard said on a radio “If that is the case, if there’s still indecision with the team principles, again, if it comes to my choice, I want to race.”, based on a discussion like that, yeah, I wish that last minute changing shouldn’t happened. Instead, we witnessed almost every cars like Toyota, Renault, McLaren, BAR, Sauber, Williams and Red Bull parked their cars in their garages, leaving the crowd both shocked and disgusted that only six cars parked on a near empty grids with the aforementioned Bridgestone teams, Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi.

When the race begins, it feels like no action, Ferrari doing their things of Schumi vs Barrichello, while both Jordan and Albers scrambled each others, while Friesacher just… Being Friesacher. But after three laps, the F1 engines was overshadowed by a chorus of boos by the fans, holding a protest signs, early walking out of stands and even throwing bottles on the track (To quote from Mystery Science Theater F1, “This is getting out of hand! There’s outrage and there’s killing other people!”).

At this point, other than the fans walking out of stands in protest for refund (which some of them didn’t get, unless Michelin does offered some refund or kept their tickets for next year or in Champ Car’s Cleveland Grand Prix, the most lamest airport track ever), the race is… Pretty boring, it feels pretty much lackluster that we watch a near empty track with six cars, minus when Schumacher and Barrichello both had a near contact with Rubens went off from track, but going back in there. Though if they do crash, it would’ve been crazy to see Jordan take the victory with Monteiro, with Karthikayen ins 2nd, while Minardi’s Albers taking a first and only podium. Can you imagine that, eh?

Speaking of Minardi, I forgot to mentioning before the race, Paul Stoddart (the boss of Minardi) was pissed about the discussion that he wanted his team and others to do a protest for solidarity, but that didn’t happened, which during the race, Stoddart was interviewed (in pissed off mood) calling the FIA didn’t have a care of his team nor even sports and claiming Minardi’s time is over for unable to overtaking Jordan (Oh come on Stoddart, this is Minardi, the biggest backmarker team ever for… Obviously lackluster performance for so many years), despite they’ll get a small points in US… Ok, I know Stoddart was pissed for being not able to get along of protest and even Minardi’s final year for lack of funding, but jeez Stoddart, I know you were pissed about this, but there’s no excuse of saying “we’re not able to getting points nor even beating Jordan” because FIA didn’t have a care about you, man, your team is slow as current Turbocharged Williams since 2018. Again, despite Minardi got a small points in US, but still, what’s their excuse, bitching over Jordan’s out beating, or Friesacher’s poor driving in F1?? (Sorry for building up my rant…)

After a loooong, boring race with six cars with 73 laps, Michael Schumacher claimed his first and only victory in 2005 season, with his teammate Rubens Barrichello in 2nd and Jordan’s Tiago Monteiro took a 3rd place, making his first and only time in a podium and being the only Portuguese driver in a podium ever as im writing this. Ferrari just shown briefly and quietly in a podium, they just took a trophy and champagne then left, but Monteiro celebrated all alone in a podium that im pretty sure he gave the inspiration of Bronze medal meme.

Post-race result (minus every teams with Michelin tires);

Winner: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)

2: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)

3: Tiago Monteiro (Jordan) (Insert Bronze Medal meme)

4: Narain Karthikayen (Jordan)

5: Christian Alberse (Minardi)

6: Patrick Friesacher (Minardi) (Nope, he’s still worthless…)

After the event

By this point, the while “no tires changing” rule was a complete and utter disaster idea, this is the equivalent of experiment gone wrong ever since FIA tried to taking a new rule based on what Ferrari did in their glorious early 2000s time before Renault’s Fernando Alonso claimed his first championship in his career, along with Renault claimed the constructors championship, its not hard to see why at the end of that season, FIA changed back to the old tires changing rule.

Sure, the 2006’s US Grand Prix is rather better than last year, but the damage was already done, the US market of F1 was dwindled due to lack of interest from controversy and the US GP held the final race at 2007 with McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton being the last winner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway in F1. But it won’t be until in 2012 that the US GP is back, this time, taking place in Circuit Of The America (or COTA for short) in Austin, Texas that we all know today, and as im writing this, we have three US tracks in F1, not only COTA, but also Miami International Autodrome and the Las Vegas Strip Circuit (even though its a street circuit).

As for Michelin, they announced they’ll never renew their contract in F1 and 2006 will be Michelin’s final year and it was the last time we ever had a Tyre War. Though from before, the current tire supplier, Pirelli is still with us, though before the extended contract, there was a rumor whether or not either Hankook will make a replacement or Bridgestone’s return, but as im writing this, Pirelli remains in F1 forever, even though I wish if either Hankook or Bridgestone going to F1, otherwise, we might as well bring back Tire War since 2006 if one of both wanted to be in F1 so badly.

Conclusion

So, what do we have learned about this disaster?

Well, the best way to describing this, its a full on he said/he said debacle from blaming at FIA’s questionable rules and blaming at Michelin for not creating a proper tires than was Bridgestone did after their private test to Indy 500 with their subsidiary Firestone. Which is something that we gotta test the tires if they’re good to go before the disaster happened, especially when it comes to a horribly “No tire changing” rule, which is pretty much one of those “Experiment Gone Wrong” when we went to IMS, while they resurfaced their paved track that what we have here today. And not to mention, this whole “No Tire Changing” feels like one of those FIA’s worst things they’ve ever done since the current budget or heck even the unnecessary red flags. Speaking of tires, its been decades since we haven’t have a tire brand vs tire brand, while Pirelli is still with us today, but we have Hankook tire are joining motorsports like Formula E, not to mention, it had a rumor whether or not Hankook will be a takeover tire supply in F1, or even bring us back the tire war, it will be pretty divided if the tire war return comes reality, otherwise, Tire War is gonna be like military war, nobody won, everybody’s lost. While I enjoy watching F1 to this day, but we’ll never forget sometimes, F1 gave us from craptacular shows like the 2005 US GP.

So this ends of my Special Review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

This is my second special request of my Movie Review, this time its from from MarnicSteve92 in Discord, where he requested me to reviewing Kung Fu Panda.

At first, he was suggested me to see the recent release of Kung Fu Panda 4, but Im in hiatus of watching recent movies in cinema due to being burnt out and hurt from three strikes of three movies in negative results. I know its kinda unfair for changing request, but its always a personal decision we watching too much bad movies for clearing our minds and taking a break.

And lastly, that’s a nice pick that this is another one of those movies that I remember seeing it when I was young, and I thought it was awesome, funny and one of my favorite Dreamworks movie next to Shrek 1 and 2. So, this must be my lucky day to reuniting this movie for looking back, considering how Kung Fu Panda is considered Dreamworks fan favorite, as well as spawning franchise. So, it will be a worth of shot for my revisiting my childhood in today’s review.

“Kung Fu Panda” is a 2008 animated martial-arts comedy movie that was directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne, produced by Melissa Cobb, and written by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger (two of them for screenplay), Jonathan Aibel, and Glenn Berger (the latter of two for story).

Back then, Dreamworks had their own video game company called “DreamWorks Interactive” when they released and anthropomorphic martial arts game called “T'ai Fu: Wrath of the Tiger”, so in 2004, they’re publicly planned to make a movie about same concept, but in a comedy fashion. But from before, they’re originally planned to make a movie called “The Seal Lullaby”, which was intended to be their adaptation from the anthology stories of “The Jungle Book” that it’s called “The White Seal”. But that plan was ultimately scrapped for focusing on Kung Fu Panda. The idea of this movie came from the executive Michael Lachance, where he wanted it as spoof movie from which martial arts movies, but the co-director John Stevenson wasn’t so keen for the idea, so he changed to having a character-based wuxia comedy, which it will be a good idea to make it original than doing a cheap parody one which one of martial arts movies. Though they did mentioned they’re inspired from “Kung Fu Hustle”, but they also wanted to be clear to have not just comedy, but also having an authentic Chinese and kung fu feel on this movie from its presentation.

And when this movie came out in 2008, it is no stranger it was beloved by critics and audience for its action fight scenes, the humor, a fun casting and even great animation, so much so they got nominated from Academy Award and Golden Globe Award. And the box-office was in full on “Skadoosh” by earning $631.7M over $130M, making it the 3rd highest grossing film of the year 2008, and probably the top highest grossing animated film of the year 2008 above Madagascar 2 and Pixar’s WALL-E.

As for my experience, I never had a DVD of this movie when I was young, but I eventually watched it when I was activity house with kids and teens and I liked it. So it will be a worth of re-watching this movie thanks to purchasing this movie on DVD. Or watching it on Netflix (Yup, I subscribed Netflix as im writing this).

So, with all that said, will this movie is worth of be a Dragon Warrior, or is it really in badly placement to be a new fighter?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

While its another underdog tale that we all know, but this one is more like an unlikely hero being a chosen one that no one ever predicting.

The movie begins in a dream where it tells the future about the powerful protector called “Dragon Warrior” who’s said to be the main master with Furious Five in protection in Valley of Peace, it was a dream that we we’re in for the introduction to our main character, Po the panda, since he was dreaming to be a great Kung Fu fighter in Valley of Peace and befriend with Furious Five, but the downside is that it wasn’t because he’s a panda, its mainly due to working on restaurant noodle with Mr. Ping. But one day at Jade Palace, upon the tournament for Furious Five held by Master Shifu, but his Grand Master Oogway is not only yet to identify the Dragon Master, but he also warned about the prison break from Shifu’s former student Tai Lung, who’s desperately wants to claiming Dragon Scroll, so Shify has to call Zeng to keep the eyes on Tai Lung. But upon the tournament Po really wants to see the tournament so bad he came in too late, until he uses fireworks to breaking into the tournament and… In big surprise, Grand Master Oogway sees Po as a future Dragon Warrior as a savior in Valley of Peace, resulting a huge shock and confusion in both Master Shifu and Furious Five, but Oogway says, in reference from Bob Ross, “Its just a happy accident”. So its up to Po to get trained seriously to prove them to be a Dragon Warrior.

Like I said, this movie plays more about an unlikely hero being a chosen one to be a hero in the land, seeing how Po may not looking in good shape to become a Dragon Warrior to protect the land against Tai Lung, it wasn’t as easy how to feel our appearance if we want to be a great fighter with martial arts like Kung Fu, unless if its a motivation to earn a heart and have fun with as friendship, again, even if Po is gotta train seriously for either Shifu or Furious Five. But of course, it wasn’t just a heart or the motivation, the movie is also to have fun with it, cause I gotta say the movie is actually funny for the delivery and its slapstick, especially with fun reference of numerous martial arts films, whether its a martial arts movie reference or maybe their own delivery, the movie does have fun to give me a smile and a chuckle.

While its cliché for being another underdog tale, but it plays more like an unlikely underdog with a nice execution to have fun and even have a heart in this movie.

The Animation

The movie’s budget cost $631.7M and with a big budget like this movie, it looks pretty good for Dreamworks film.

For starter, the design of the location are look nicely and beautiful for a fictional land in China, with the town with markets, the palace and environment with a grassland hill or even a mountain with a Cherry Blossom tree, they look fantastic and beautifully done.

As for the designs and the effects, they’re also nicely done and even fun looking. The character designs are no stranger to be an anthropomorphic animals in their showing off either making dish in the kitchen or even martial arts, sure, they can be a big exaggerated and cartoony style for the character designs, but in fairness, they’re looking pretty good, fun, cute and even nicely fitting for how they look for their representation, especially with Furious Five are based on the martial arts fighting styles like mantis, monkey, snake and couple others. Of course, the effects are also beautifully done from the environment, the fighting and couple others for what they accomplished.

And as for the animation, while the presentation may look dated for a 2008 animated movie, but looking back now, it still well-done for the mix of some realistic movement and a cartoon fashion with some fast past and some squash and stretch, again, they can be exaggerated, but still, its pretty nice for the movements. Speaking of movements, lets not forget about the fight scenes, they’re no stranger for the highlight of this movie for their fighting styles, not just Furious Five for their animal based on a fighting style, but also to see a training and fighting in Kung Fu they are both fun and entertaining to see a fight scenes in a both comedic fashion and even reference of couple of past martial arts films, like the scene where Po and Master Shifu are in lunch at first, but they both fighting over one piece of dumpling is actually a nice and fun reference of Jackie Chan’s film called “The Fearless Hyena” where Chan’s protagonist is trying to eat one piece a food while being fought and teased by his master, pretty funny for its physical comedy in this scene. Here’s a quick fact, while Jackie Chan stared martial arts comedy film like “Drunken Master and “Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow”, “The Fearless Hyena” was Chan’s first film he ever directed.

Another fun part of the animation of this movie is the use of shadow puppetry style hand-drawn animation on both opening and the ending, its pretty nice they Dreamworks sorta brought back their hand-drawn since one their flopped film “The Seven Voyage of Sinbad”.

In fact, its a one heckuva film for the action and the design that, according to Dan Wagner, the head of Character Animation, was said, I quote;

“We've had some productions that were stressful, but this one ran very smoothly and DreamWorks is [sic] this production as a template on how they would like future productions to run. We lucked out, and there really was a sense of harmony on the animation. Even the production people. We all seemed like we were on the same page, believing in the film. That doesn't happen very often. I tell animators, you will be working on dumpers for most of your career, but every once in a while you get a gem. Kung Fu Panda was a gem.”

Yeah, I can’t blame you for a challenging aspect of this film, but still they did a hard-work for the animation and such, but they did a pretty good job.

The animation of this movie looks pretty good for the setting, the designs, the movements of the animation, and even the fight scenes, they’ve accomplished it.

The Characters

For a fun writing of the story, I think its no stranger that the characters in this movie are actually memorable, not just the writing, but also some familiar and fun voice acting.

Lets start off with Po (voiced by everyone’s favorite comedian/musician, Jack Black), he’s the unlikely underdog that he likes to following his dream to become the best Kung Fu fighter in China until he’s being chosen from Oogway’s future view in his mind, even if he’s too confident, too curious and probably clumsy for his dream upon entering Jade Palace that is until he’ll get over it to learn more that he’ll eventually becoming a Kung Fu hero. I think he’s such a fascinating and memorable main protagonist that he likes to following footsteps of his dream, because the doubt of his appearance, we can relate that we’re more like a poor size person becoming a hero, but eventually get over to be take it serious, be strong and be fun, especially with the latter, Jack Black is definitely did a fun work of his performance that make Po both memorable and funny.

Next up is Master Shifu (voiced by Dustin Hoffman), a mentor in the movie for not only being a master to giving us Furious Five, but also going to training Po for the sake of Tai Lung’s threat, which is sadly the case for what happened at the latter that he adopted and trained Tai to be the next Dragon Warrior after Tai was left alone as an orphan, but his ego overflown that not only for being thrown out, but also being taken to the cell as Oogway was concerned from his future view, resulting not only trained five masters to giving us Furious Five, but also looking around for who’s going to be a new Dragon Warrior. I find him also nicely well-written character, he may have fun, but he’s pretty much taking martial arts seriously ever since what happened. At first, we thought he’s a strict and serious mentor that he takes Kung Fu training seriously at Po, but once we found out what happened, even though its pretty cliché, but its the heart it was uneasy if the student turning against mentor for the arrogance that hungered Tai that ended up banishing him and Shifu felt the pain that it wasn’t easy if Tai would’ve been, which of course, Po, despite being unlikely hero as I said, will encouraging him that he’ll be the new Dragon Warrior. Which is exactly that I like the chemistry went from rough start to eventually gotten better for training. But of course, Dustin Hoffman did a fun work of his role, and probably his perfect voice for playing an old mentor.

Then we have Furious Five themselves, these guys are like the sidekick in the movie for their showcase of their fighting style in their training and even their plot device for how to motivating Po without taking seriously, as well as explaining what happened to Master Shifu. Even though they may have one-dimensional role, but they have a fun performance of their voice acting.

There’s Tigress (voiced by Angelina Jolie), the leader of the group for being no-nonsense and tough-as-nails master of the group, but Jolie did a nice work of her role, Mantis (voiced by Seth Rogen, aka Donkey Kong in The Super Mario Bros Movie) who’s small, but he can fight in a bug size with dry-humor (Well, what do you expect for Seth Rogen, eh?), Viper (voiced by Lucy Liu) is a quick snake fighter, but yet good-nature as a sweet snake, Crane (voiced by David Cross) is a sarcastic and yet pragmatic of the group, and Monkey (voiced by my favorite comedic martial artist Jackie Chan) is an easy-going fella of the group, but course, when it was released in China, Chan provided his Chinese dub.

And last but not least, there’s Tai Lung (voiced by Ian McShane), the main villain and a betrayal student that he wants to be a Dragon Warrior, but being thrown out to the cell based on his inflatable ego that he wants to be “Better than anyone else”. I find him also a memorable villain, though its another cliché of student turned evil plot element, but its the delivery of him for how much he cares way too much to be a Dragon Warrior than anyone else, cause honestly, nobody wants to be a hero when they have inflatable ego like him, but he does have a one helluva abilities that despite going aggressive against one and other. And Ian did a fun work of his antagonistic role in a mix of arrogance, aggressive and probably funny too.

As for the rest, they’re no stranger to be there for a small plot details.

There’s Master Oogway (voiced by Randall Duk Kim) is an ancient mentor for the birth of Kung Fu and feel the future, Mr. Ping (voiced by James Hung) who’s a noodle restaurant owner and Po’s adoptive father, Zeng (voiced by Dan Fogler) is a timid messenger for checking Tai Lung’s prison and Vachir (voiced by the late Michael Clarke Duncan) is commander of the prison with his sense of hubris and boastful, and… Duncan was great and fun of his performance (Rest in Peace, Michael, you were amazing…).

While the character has their cliché and perhaps one-dimensional, but its the execution for the writing done pretty good and even fun voice acting with our familiar casts.

SPOILER ALERT for those who haven’t seen a movie, or if you don’t mind

The third and the final act are quite fun to see the final battle, but some part that probably didn’t make any sense.

After Oogway is sacrificed into Spirit Realm (Wow, that scene is heartfelt to see him go from blossom) and Po wanted to stay despite knowing he has a bad treatment from Master Shifu and Furious Five for not able to facing against Tai Lung, The Five had no choice by going on a defense against Tai Lung as they can. But after Shifu sees Po got himself a surprise from his physical feats and motivation of foods (mainly due to if Po’s upset, he wanna eat something), this gives Shifu an opportunity to training Po to learning Kung Fu, and it worked out well in the training, as well as Po’s innovation fighting style, which is a good news that Po is now ready to be a Dragon Warrior. But the bad news is only the beginning, after Tai Lung beat down Furious Five with nerve-strike technique (minus Crane that he had to carrying them for emergency to Shifu). After recovering the fives, Shifu is now going to giving a Dragon Scroll to Po, a reminder from before that if Po is worthy to be a Dragon Warrior, he’ll earning the scroll. Once Po got the scroll to reading it, the scroll message receives… Nothing! Its just… Blank for some reason (Yeah, the whole Dragon Scroll thing is pretty much overhype that once we get it, it feels like Po got ripped…), so Shifu has no choice but orders both Po and Furious Five to bring all the villagers to evacuating from the valley from Tai Lung’s threat, meaning Shifu is going to putting his life on the line to fighting against his former student. Meanwhile, Po has to not only bringing villagers out of valley for safety, but also reuniting Mr. Ping, sharing that despite he’s now knowing Kung Fu, but also said he’s pretty much of a wasted opportunity after received a blank scroll, until Mr. Ping shares about the secret ingredient soup, revealing that its… Also nothing, like no secret ingredient at all, instead its all things will become special in belief, resulting Po notices a similar connection between the secret ingredient and the scroll is all nothing but to believing that makes Po becoming special.

Back the palace, Tai Lung outnumbers his skills to brutally beating down Shifu in a verge of killing his former, but then Po arrives for the sake of Shifu and showing has a Dragon Scroll, confirming he’s the true Dragon Warrior, but Tai Lung find Po to be ridiculous that he thinks he’ll beat him easily, thus resulting a Final Battle between of two, the battle between the new Dragon Warrior and the former student turned evil from being twisted by the dark side of his ego. The final battle itself is actually both pretty good, creative and of course, funny, ranging from Po being a bouncy ball from obstacles and backfiring Tai (including squashing his head with his EXTRA T H I C C), using environments as weapon (Jackie Chan style) to having a one helluva impact of fighting in the village. But after Tai defeats Po (so we think), he takes scroll and… Found out its “no secret ingredient”, its all to be believing to becoming special as a true Dragon Warrior as Po said in recovery, the rage is overwhelming for Tai, as he wants to beat Po in second attempt, but Po, again, backfires him from his special techniques and easily beat him down. As Tai is about to taking Po down with nerve-strike, Po counters him with one the most deadliest technique that remembered move from his master, the Wuxi Finger Hold, after Tai begging him to question how he does that, Po drops his pinky finger, completely defeating Tai Lung in oblivion, sending him into Spirit Realm (Pretty impressive and creative with a unique technique to beat the villain in a martial arts film, eh? Well, that is unless they brought him back in recent Kung Fu Panda 4 for… Reasons, as im writing this...). And in the end, he was celebrated as the hero in the Valley of Peace for his completion fighting as a Dragon Warrior, until he goes to see Shifu if he’s going to die after a brutal fight, but he’s thankfully okay, its mainly to relaxing in peace to recovering the pain (Huh, at least the movie avoids the dead mentor cliché. Aw well), until Po likes to asking for hanging out with something to eat.

I gotta say, the final act, while the subplot about the scroll and the secret ingredient kinda ruined the third and final act, but its a pretty good one to see the epic battle and the satisfaction to beating Tai Lung down to peacefully saving both valley and our mentor.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, Kung Fu Panda is both pretty good and fun animated martial arts film and probably my favorite next to Shrek 1 and 2, Puss in Boots The Last Wish and maybe even The Bad Guys (despite the flaws from the latter).

Despite the flaw from a subplot about the scroll, but movie has a fun writing with a good story, memorable characters, fun voice performances, and an outstanding animation for its presentation and the action fight scene, the latter of which are pretty good and fun too.

This is no stranger a “Must-Watch” that you gotta see it either yourself, or even friends or family. This movie is no stranger for if you’re a fan of Dreamworks, a fan of martial arts or maybe both (like me), its a fun movie to just… Have fun for animated martial arts films for being another underdog tale to see becoming a heroic Kung Fun fighter to bringing peace. I enjoyed this movie back then, and I still enjoy it to this day.

For my rating, im gonna giving this one a 9.5/10, along with earning the Trophy of Success.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.