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in the spectacular action sequences that are carried out with tremendous color and terrific spontaneity. Every strike seems vital and impossibly alive. The film is tenacious as it strives towards its entirely satisfactory conclusion. This is the sort of film where the telegraphed ending doesn't grate on the nerves because it is so desired by the audience and ultimately so deserved. This is a tremendous character study of a broken, battered panda (everyman) who finds himself facing a life that offers nothing more than one of the same. It's the plight of countless millions of humans whose dreams lay shattered at their feet as they suffer through a life of severe compromise. It's a universal story, portrayed in thousands of films, but here it comes off as fresh and imbued with legitimate meaning.

The dark aspects of this film are handled with great attention to detail and supreme skill. The prison where Tai Lung is housed is a filthy, subterranean death pit that conjures up images of mysterious chambers where vile experiments are carried out on the unwitting. It's really effective as a contrast to the rest of the film which explodes in an orgy of saturated colors. Tai Lung is created as a deeply fascinating creature whose behavior seems natural considering the circumstances. He's merely a warrior who feels cheated out of what he considers his birthright. He is punished, rejected, simply because Master Oogway sees something in his heart that he doesn't like. The idea here is that perhaps Tai Lung was born with this flaw and it isn't his fault whatsoever how he developed. Perhaps this has to do with the fact that he's an outsider who was deposited on Shifu's steps as a baby. He was raised as Shifu's own child and given every opportunity to develop his martial arts skills. When the time came for the honor of Dragon Warrior he was turned down and became the enemy of the Valley of Peace. He's a force of nature with supreme skills and this proves to make him a seminal character in the tale.

The performances in this film are all quite imaginative and imbued with the spirit of the production. Jack Black emotes the proper amount of pathos at the initial stages and Po's growing confidence as he develops as a fighter. Angeline Jolie purrs and makes for a quite sexy tigress. David Cross, Jackie Chan and Seth Rogan are all rousing as their respective characters. But ultimately, it's Ian McShane who steals the show as the indomitable Tai Lung. The character is filled with so much fury and heartache and McShane captures this most exquisitely.

Overall, this is a fantastic animated feature filled with many moments of wonder. Each character is properly rendered and particular attention is paid to their facial gestures which lends the film a semblance of realism. Indeed, the animation is a strange mix of realistic and grossly exaggerated. Ultimately, the film does everything right and maintains a level of poignancy throughout. It's a story that has great purpose as it gives kids a strong message of what is possible if they force the issue by believing as strongly as they can. Of course many strong beliefs still end in failure but it remains important to sell the idea of belief to kids. This film does its work well. It's grandly illustrated and deeply moving. The fat panda that could makes for a marvellous concept that is handled beautifully in this film.

Learn more about this author, Everett Jensen.
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