Kung Fu Panda

[ToTheNines]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_Fu_Panda

Another ****** concept that will likey ride to success on celebrity voices and a hip-hop soundtrack (Shark Tale, anyone?).

If this makes more that TMNT, all hope is lost.

[Barkworm]

Jackie Chan is in it! And I'd bet money that this makes more than TMNT.

[Ecto Jedi]

I find it disheartening that TMNT 2 is fighting for its life in some studio exec's office while Dreamworks has already got Puss in Boots: The Story of an Ogre Killer greenlit for 2011.

What a world, what a world.

[Mecha Cow]

This looks like ass, but I'll see it because of the Chan man.

And of course this will make more than TMNT.

[Spike Spiegel]

This #@$@ will make more than TMNT because the widdle kiddies and their soccer moms can go see it together.

[Drtooth]

I don't know.... I have to say Dreamworks comes in a very distant second after Pixar for best CGI studio. i like Blue Sky's stuff, but the stories seem uneven (though I LOVE LOVE LOVE robots) and Sony should just stay the hell away from the medium all together.

So it could either be a decent little enjoyable film, or a total "Let's see how many celebrities we can cram into our film" piece of Sharktale.

Honestly, out of all of them, I'm both looking forward and worrying about this one... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar_2:_The_Crate_Escape I liked the original, but I don't know about a sequel...

I find it disheartening that TMNT 2 is fighting for its life in some studio exec's office while Dreamworks has already got Puss in Boots: The Story of an Ogre Killer greenlit for 2011.



are you serious? Are you serious? Really? You mean that one studio that doesn't know how to get another film to work since it was over shadowed by a crappy Disney film and Will Ferrel pushing the bounds of Homoerotisism and acting like a total D-bag, and another studio is milking the closest thing it has to Mickey mouse?

How long have you been following Hollywood for? 2 weeks? This is the same industry that keeps pooping out Resident Evil movies, dispite the fact no one likes them. These are the people who feel they should just remake Porky's and Animal House over and over again, but give them new shiney titles like "Van Wilder." The ones that make terrible Hip Hop remakes of classic films and then makes sequals to them.

That said, I do not see why TMNT 2 can't be made, as it made a snot load of money in merchandising. And when it all comes down to that, that's all a movie needs.

But as for more Shrek films, 3 was plenty. in fact it was actually overdoing it. The Third one was enjoyable, but not half as good as the others. And I still think monsters Inc was robbed. if the Oscar doesn't go to Ratatoullie, Paprika, or TMNT (bit of a stretch, I know) and goes to anything Dreamworks made, they erred.

[tinlunlau]

I think I'll watch this in the theatres to show support to the man who let me give a shot at my current job, Jackie Chan.

I've worked for him on a couple of occasions. Namely, for translation of the special features on the Hong Kong DVD release of his recent Hong Kong movies "The Myth" and "Rob-B-Hood".

[Spitfire]

Use this to your advantage. If this movie makes tons of cash then a studio will be more likely to green light another turtles film. Similar concepts are the ways to cash in.

But F Dreamworks the only reason anyone sees their movies is for the name.

[Ecto Jedi]

are you serious? Are you serious? Really? You mean that one studio that doesn't know how to get another film to work since it was over shadowed by a crappy Disney film and Will Ferrel pushing the bounds of Homoerotisism and acting like a total D-bag, and another studio is milking the closest thing it has to Mickey mouse?

How long have you been following Hollywood for? 2 weeks?

Umm, I don't get it. Should I feel dissed, or what? Was that an aside at the studio's expense or Hollywood's? Or mine?

Please clarify.

[Drtooth]

Hollywood. I'd never get mad at anyone who isn't sucking the blood out of the innocent and casting Will Ferrel as the role.


Actually, that one made no sense whatsoever.

But you get the point. Hollywood will come out with the dumbest stuff possible and somehow they make it very popular.

Kung Fu Panda is probably 2 words they pulled out of a hat that somehow fit together and sounded just hillarious, and based a movie off of having a title. Sort of like what Cartoon Network did with "My Gym Partner's a Lab Monkey" They just shove together as many funny words to distract from the fact the show is a piece of crap.

That list of upcoming movies is incomplete. They forgot "Look Ma, There's a toothbrush in my skull," "Holey Moley! The Adventures of Wonder Worm," and "Dishwasher? Purple Octopus walnut tree upside down Milly."

They have to print up the T-shirts, make prototypes for the Burger King Toys, cast random celebrities, design the characters, rerecord random songs from the 70's or 90's, create the DVD special features, animate it, and write a script. In that Order.

[Cure]

If I were Spitfire, I'd be upset that someone was stealing my motif.

But seriously, you guys know NOTHING of this movie. The only thing more depressing than crappy movies being made all the time is knowing that there are so many close-minded people that won't give something a chance well before a lot is even known about it just because it seems corny.

[Drtooth]

I think it could be good, meself. Not great. nothing close to Pixar's high standards (though Cars was pretty rough) but maybe the reason why the lack of love is due to Dreamworks's track record, specifically the horrible "Shark Tale" (which had some good bits, but was so mixed and just came off as "Pixar made a fish movie, we'll make one too to steal their profits").

I still believe they decided on the name and cast before they even came up with a plot. And this could go either way. It could be entertaining, or it could be cheap. I'm gonna wait for a trailer, myself.

[ToTheNines]

specifically the horrible "Shark Tale" (which had some good bits, but was so mixed and just came off as "Pixar made a fish movie, we'll make one too to steal their profits").

F**k that movie dude, my little cousins were talkin jive for a month after they saw that.

[Mecha Cow]

If I were Spitfire, I'd be upset that someone was stealing my motif.

I didn't want to say anything but I was thinking the same thing. :lol:

(No offense guys, just playing)

[Spike Spiegel]

Shark Tale's animation looked like Windows 98 PC graphics...and yeah, not that great of a story either.

[Drtooth]

Also coming up next
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
• How to Train Your Dragon (2009)
• Shrek 4 (2010) •
Crood Awakening (2010)
• Puss in Boots: The Story of an Ogre Killer (2011)

Actually a Puss In Boots movie might work, but there's no topping
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FZSSC0K3L._AA240_.jpg

Crood Awakening (just read the Article) sounded like it was going to be good (it was co-written by John Cleese, after all.) But it looks like it will be completely rewritten due to creative differences.

[Spike Spiegel]

Also coming up next
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
• How to Train Your Dragon (2009)
• Shrek 4 (2010) •
Crood Awakening (2010)
• Puss in Boots: The Story of an Ogre Killer (2011)

Actually a Puss In Boots movie might work, but there's no topping
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FZSSC0K3L._AA240_.jpg

Crood Awakening (just read the Article) sounded like it was going to be good (it was co-written by John Cleese, after all.) But it looks like it will be completely rewritten due to creative differences.


Too many Shrek movies. This is overkill to me.

[Drtooth]

The Third one proved they really shouldn't go any further. There was some good stuff in Shrek 3, but it just seemed "been there done that" and almost like they could have had 2 more script revisions to make it really pop. They didn't. It was enjoyable, but not as good as the other 2.-

[Masked Ninja]

I like the character designs so far for Kung Fu Panda, but I worry that my hopes that it'll be anything but loud, annoying, and hyperactive are in vain. I just rewatched Over The Hedge recently... liked it the first time in theaters, but now I'm just painfully aware that they pick one or two characters to be hyperactive and random, and rely on those to deliver all the humor (which is genuinely funny sometimes, but just irritating otherwise).

But if it does end up having a little heart (and a little more Ritalin), who knows... I know I'd like for it to be good.

[Drtooth]

I think over the Hedge is the only time a hyperactive character actually worked. Maybe because Steve Carell did it sio well.

But they also at random make a tiny wimp character in the mold of The Gingerbread man from Shrek. Like the shrimp in Sharktale and the little Marmosette (or whatever it was ) in Madagascar. I hate that. Gingerbread man worked the first time. making multiple copies of him doesn't.

[Jelly Bean]

has any one here heard of this new animated movie that is due to come out in june yet? Since most of us are all ninja turtle fans and like the whole martcial arts thing I thought this movie would be of interest to us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEgk9XsFCR0

Apparently the concept of this movie is that is the animal style techniques of kung fu that the animal characters will represent.

[Sewer Bull]

http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=21353

[Jelly Bean]

oops:o sorry about that. I guess Krang should merge this thread with the orginal one :(

[Ra]

To be honest, I'm not that hyped for this. Although Jakie Chan as Monkey would be awesome to see. I can really hear him in that role. As for everything else...eh. The story seems to be a simple "been there, done that" kind of a story about the "Chosen One". Really, can people think of something a bit more original in terms of plot these days?

[gobo]

I'll be seeing this just because it's good to know that it's still cool to make fun of the martial arts animal concept. As someone said before, it could very well work to our advantage for getting TMNT2 off the ground.

[Drtooth]

I've decided to skip this. maybe see it later. There are too many bigger, better looking films coming out this summer. I may just get the Pez dispensers, since I'm a collector, but that's about it.

[Jelly Bean]

I want to see this. If it's a bunch of marticial arts practicing animals in and it's done right, maybe it could help TMNT get more acceptance. I just hope it's not to stupid and silly and has good plot and fight scenes and not just a bunch of onvious one liners. :roll:

[Roseangelo]

I just hope it's not to stupid and silly and has good plot and fight scenes and not just a bunch of onvious one liners. :roll:

That's exactly what I'm expecting. And why I won't be spending money to see it.

[Drtooth]

That's exactly what I'm expecting. And why I won't be spending money to see it.


That and obvious found music, and fart jokes. Jeez Dreawmorks. Shrek was a hit, yes. But you don't have to turn EVERY movie into Shrek.
Betcha there's some idiotic clone of Gingerbread man in this one too. That joke was only funny the first 7 times.

[Jester]

All I see when I look at Kung-Fu Panda is a rip off of TMNT minus 2 words. I'd know for sure if they added "Adolescent Anthropomorphic" to the title.

[Jo Dawn]

This #@$@ will make more than TMNT because the widdle kiddies and their soccer moms can go see it together.

Um... The 'widdle kiddies' and their moms COULD go see TMNT together. And that's why it's sequel is flailing in the water without a lifesaver.


And I think I'll see this. The one trailer entertained me more and for longer than some other movies have.

[gobo]

Gosh, peeps... It's a kids' movie. Why such pessimism? It's not like this was inspired by a long history of hardcore Kung-Fu Panda stories or anything. Granted, I don't expect it to be phenomenal, but I don't think it'll be as bad as you guys claim. It seems like a decent little parody to me. Though, does anyone know if the plot will really be as uneventful as the trailers makes it seem?

[Ra]

I think the reason why everyone is so hostile is because it just seems to be the same story with different characters. That's how I feel about it, anyways.

It just seems like it's going to have fart jokes, one liners, a one-dimensional story that won't be fitting for adults or kids over the age of 8, and won't really be worth the money. Also that, and the fact that I feel ripped off as an artist when I created something similar last Christmas, yet Dreamworks beat me to the punch (Ninja Panda...but I won't go into that now.) It just seems frustrating that you can't really seem to create a decent movie for the whole family any more. There are ideas out there, but the entire movie company (Dreamworks in this case) just wants to do the same old story with different characters in it. Less time to make, less effort, and more money for them.

I could be wrong, but that's how it's all playing out for me.

[Drtooth]

All I see when I look at Kung-Fu Panda is a rip off of TMNT minus 2 words. I'd know for sure if they added "Adolescent Anthropomorphic" to the title.


Gah. Every time TMNT hits, someone has to hold a barrel behind it to catch whatever cash falls into it.

Remember the Black and white comics which blanketted the market, that were all basically putting various animals in the TMNT's roles? Or the 90's action figure movements of Battletoads (well, that's a videogame), Stone Protectors, and stuff like that?

Now we just have terrible Kung fu animal cartoons. Kung Fu Panda, Skunk Fu, and Chop Socky Chooks.

Seems to have come full circle.

I think the reason why everyone is so hostile is because it just seems to be the same story with different characters. That's how I feel about it, anyways.

It just seems like it's going to have fart jokes, one liners, a one-dimensional story that won't be fitting for adults or kids over the age of 8, and won't really be worth the money. Also that, and the fact that I feel ripped off as an artist when I created something similar last Christmas, yet Dreamworks beat me to the punch (Ninja Panda...but I won't go into that now.) It just seems frustrating that you can't really seem to create a decent movie for the whole family any more. There are ideas out there, but the entire movie company (Dreamworks in this case) just wants to do the same old story with different characters in it. Less time to make, less effort, and more money for them.


Quoted for truth. It's not like I hate Dreamworks. I like them and all. But there movies are formulaic, are made up from the same stuff, and are sold due to the fact they paid celebrities to voice the characters. And always from the A List. They really should have learned their lesson after Shark Tale got horrid reviews, but they didn't. I will say I enjoyed Bee Movie simply because Jerry Seinfeld and his joke writers wrote the script. And I think that Flushed away was a good effort that kept the British produced script from becoming Americanized (we had some delightful stabs at the French and the US in that picture- something really British).

But all and all, this looks like "Shrek somehow becomes a Panda that does Martial Arts" and not a serious film. I may see it at a dollar theater, but there are too many other films I'd rather see. I mean, with a summer movie line up that has Iron Man, Indiana Jones, Batman, Speed Racer, a Star Wars TV pilot film, and the Hulk, I'm gonna have to make a painful choice (due to financial troubles) of which ones of those to skip, and which ones of those I'll pay 10 bucks to see. If it were a quieter summer with hardly an interresting blockbuster in site, I'd be there opening weekend.

I will say this... they didn't make the character designs as ugly as they used to be. Shark Tale's characters were hideously ugly. These guys are almost kinda cute, yet funny looking. I may just grab a Happy Meal toy of one of them.

[Mecha Cow]

I'm not trying to suggest 'Kung Fu Panda' is original or creative in any way, but do you guys honestly believe it's a TMNT ripoff? Even if the two were similar at all -which they aren't-, TMNT is pretty derivative to begin with. Come on now.

As for me, I'm going to see it because it has Jackie Chan. And also because I don't take this stuff very seriously.

[Jo Dawn]

Yeah, um... TMNT is a ripoff at it's base, hah. So I find the argument that this is a TMNT ripoff rather amusing.

What is a ripoff of a ripoff...?

[gobo]

I feel ripped off as an artist when I created something similar last Christmas, yet Dreamworks beat me to the punch (Ninja Panda...but I won't go into that now.)
Honestly, I never thought you were serious about that. Panda Khan beat you to it while you were yet to be concieved. Recall the Playmates TMNT figure from ages ago? That was based on a (terribly short-lived) independant comic book, much like Usagi Yojimbo. So, take solace in the fact that it's all been done before. You can't create anything that's never been thought of. You can only create what hasn't been thought of in a while. :) Now, pardon me while I go reenvision the Teletubbies as urban hoods. ^_^

[Ra]

I'm not trying to suggest 'Kung Fu Panda' is original or creative in any way, but do you guys honestly believe it's a TMNT ripoff?
Not in the slightest. If it ripped off TMNT, well, eh. It's not a 100% ripoff. I mean, it's an animal native to China, which is home to many martial arts. I guess it had to happen sooner or later.

Honestly, I never thought you were serious about that. Panda Khan beat you to it while you were yet to be concieved. Recall the Playmates TMNT figure from ages ago? That was based on a (terribly short-lived) independant comic book, much like Usagi Yojimbo. So, take solace in the fact that it's all been done before. You can't create anything that's never been thought of. You can only create what hasn't been thought of in a while. :) Now, pardon me while I go reenvision the Teletubbies as urban hoods. ^_^
That's not what I'm mad about. Let me explain... (good god I hope this doesn't look long).

I know that it only takes awhile until you need to recycle old ideas. Heck, I don't care if someone thought of a Ninja Panda back in the 50's. I was hoping to make a little bit of money from idea. Like a comic strip and le such, although that probably wouldn't have happened anyway. Just an idea about a flesh-eating panda (who is partial to raw human livers) that doesn't know a thing about being a ninja, but everyone calls him that anyways. He is viewed as a hero when he is actually the one murdering people and causing mayhem. Seemingly a unique twist on an old idea, yeah?

But here's the thing that gets me frustrated: if I were to go through with it all of that hard work to get my idea off the ground, the general public would brush me off as some rip-off cashing in on Dreamworks and their new movie. That also leaves you open to law suits if the idea is still fresh in everyone's minds. Which is probably the last thing you need in life. So that means I would have to wait about until "Kung-Fu Panda" becomes a bad memory, THEN I can go about doing my own thing.

Having said that, I'm not that mad about it all. A bit bitter about it all, yes, but not hateful. Heck, if it gets streamed to Youtube I'll probably watch it. What I'm just sad about is how this might hinder me in getting my idea out into the real world. That's it.

[Spitfire]

Yeah, um... TMNT is a ripoff at it's base, hah. So I find the argument that this is a TMNT ripoff rather amusing.

What is a ripoff of a ripoff...?

TMNT is a spoof actually...

I never saw this as a rip off, though I find it convenient it's coming out a year after TMNT, I just see them trying to cash in. I mean anyone can toss this kind of crap together. Street Sharks was a rip off, Biker Mice From Mars was a rip off, Extreme Dinosaurs was a rip off. Unless this has four teenage pandas that do martial arts I'd consider it to be another dumb kids movie with celebrity voice actors.

[Drtooth]

I know that it only takes awhile until you need to recycle old ideas. Heck, I don't care if someone thought of a Ninja Panda back in the 50's. I was hoping to make a little bit of money from idea. Like a comic strip and le such, although that probably wouldn't have happened anyway. Just an idea about a flesh-eating panda (who is partial to raw human livers) that doesn't know a thing about being a ninja, but everyone calls him that anyways. He is viewed as a hero when he is actually the one murdering people and causing mayhem. Seemingly a unique twist on an old idea, yeah?

But here's the thing that gets me frustrated: if I were to go through with it all of that hard work to get my idea off the ground, the general public would brush me off as some rip-off cashing in on Dreamworks and their new movie. That also leaves you open to law suits if the idea is still fresh in everyone's minds. Which is probably the last thing you need in life. So that means I would have to wait about until "Kung-Fu Panda" becomes a bad memory, THEN I can go about doing my own thing.

Having said that, I'm not that mad about it all. A bit bitter about it all, yes, but not hateful. Heck, if it gets streamed to Youtube I'll probably watch it. What I'm just sad about is how this might hinder me in getting my idea out into the real world. That's it.

Here's the problem. Asian marital Arts with animals indiginous to Asia... I'm pretty sure quite a few people came up or would eventually come up with that one. Now, if you placed Asian Marital Arts to something indiginous to another area, you'd have an idea no one would touch. Like, lets say Ninja badgers or Ninja Lions.

Anyway, I wouldn't go as far to say that Kung Fu Panda is a TMNT Knockoff (though, let's not forget... this is Dreamworks. When a studio - Mainly Pixar- announces a movie about Bugs or Fish, they have to come up with one too - so let's not discount that), so much as an obvious cash in to the Asian influenced Pop Culture Movements.

It's not so much this film looks bad, as routine. That's all I have to say.

[Roseangelo]

Variety has an early review of the movie:

How many underdog kidpic characters have been told "You just need to believe" in recent years? Whatever the ample number, add one more to the list with "Kung Fu Panda," a nice looking but heavily formulaic DreamWorks animation entry. The tale of a bumbling, pot-bellied, black-and-white bear who has greatness thrust upon him when anointed to protect his community, the vocally star-laden effort features an abundance of broad, buffoonish slapstick that will play perfectly well with kids to desired B.O. effect. But overall mild impact will likely prevent this from joining the top commercial tier of animated attractions.

Full review. (http://www.variety.com/VE1117937142.html)

[Cure]

Well, well. Look at what movie is certified fresh. (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kung_fu_panda/) Meaning that most critics agree it's good.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Ugh, I can't stand any sh*t that comes from the house that Jeffery Katzenberg built. It's just the same old sh*t year in, and year out.

I'll be waiting for Wall-E, thank you very much.

[Drtooth]

I'm willing to give it a chance, as long as I can afford to see it after all the other, better movvies I plan on seeing. I give them credit for having great character designs. And the animation is great. Too bad the scripts are pretty weak. But this movie, I'll give a shot.

Hell, I paid to see Shark Tale, so I might as well see this.

Though I did pass on Horton Hears a Who...

[ToTheNines]

I have to ask. Is there any actual bad guy in this? The fighting seems to be all slapstick and just sparring against his buddies.

And to those who say this movie's sucess could help a TMNT sequel get off the ground: It won't help get us a good sequel, only Imagi's comedy crap.

[Drtooth]

And to those who say this movie's sucess could help a TMNT sequel get off the ground: It won't help get us a good sequel, only Imagi's comedy crap.

(laughs at naivete that Imagi will still be in business for a sequel)

Apparently. buzz has it that the trailers and ads have exaggerated pieces of the film that aren't totally reflective of it. If I didn't wanna check out the Bleach film on Wednsday, I'd see it this weekend.

[ToTheNines]

(laughs at naivete that Imagi will still be in business for a sequel)

Whatever. You know that 4kids and Playmated don't want what TMNT should be, they want what ever is gonna sell their cartoon/toys. If this movie isn't remotely violent, and just a bunch of stupid phyiscal comedy, what do you think the next TMNT movie is gonna be if it's CGI?

[Drtooth]

That isn't the point I'm making, though. As I said multiple times, the current management shake ups at Imagi have put both Gatchman and Astroboy at risk for staying forever in developement limbo. If these 2 films don't get made, they're going to lose craploads of money, and I severely doubt they can take a huge hit like that and get TMNT 5 underway.

[gobo]

As for this having any impact on a TMNT sequel, it'll probably make a ripple that'll call for more movies regarding anthropomorphic martial artist animals. Mirage et al can pull a bait and switch after they catch the studios' attention.

[Drtooth]

As for this having any impact on a TMNT sequel, it'll probably make a ripple that'll call for more movies regarding anthropomorphic martial artist animals. Mirage et al can pull a bait and switch after they catch the studios' attention.

Hey. We already have that Skunk Fu Cartoon.

I just came back from McDonalds and saw the new Movie toys. They look better than the 10 dollar Mattel toys.

[Jo Dawn]

As for this having any impact on a TMNT sequel, it'll probably make a ripple that'll call for more movies regarding anthropomorphic martial artist animals. Mirage et al can pull a bait and switch after they catch the studios' attention.

I hope it doesn't influence the new sequel. Because then we are guaranteed to have some crap kid's TMNT movie.

[Drtooth]

I hope it doesn't influence the new sequel. Because then we are guaranteed to have some crap kid's TMNT movie.

I don't know... remember TMNT Comedy movie? Mirage blocked that idea. I think if they were going for something cartoonish like that, no doubt Mirage wouldn't be interrested.

[odupianist]

I saw this last night. I haven't read the previous pages. I thought it was pretty good. Granted, it's a kids' movie, but it had its enjoyable parts for an older crowd (I'm 24)