Binge Thinking

Kung Fu Panda

My Brother asked me to look after my nephew one weekend over the summer (what summer I hear you cry) well exactly – what do you do with a five year old when it’s chucking it down with rain outside? I made the mistake (or so I thought) of asking him what he wanted to do and his reply was: “I want to go and see Kung Fu Panda Auntie Suze”.  “Oh no” I thought – another animated film that I have to sit through.  But he is a lovely kid and feeds me white minstrels throughout our trips to the movies so let’s do it!

And how happy am I that I went. 

I absolutely loved it!

Kung Fu Panda rocks.  There are loads of great messages in it around positive self-belief which resonated with me (and the little chap inbetween minstrels).
  
Without giving the entire plot away, it tells the story of Po, the Panda, who works in a noodle restaurant owned by his father Mr Ping. Po is a kung fu fanatic with secret dreams of becoming the ‘Dragon Warrior’. However, his weight and clumsiness make his goal seem unattainable.  The tortoise, Master Ogway advises Po to believe in himself and he will become the Dragon Warrior.

There is a great line in the film where Master Ogway says to Po “tomorrow is a mystery, yesterday is history but today is a gift because that’s why it’s called ‘the present’.  I have heard this before but feel better for being reminded of it.  Again.

One of the key messages of the film is that “there is no secret ingredient”.  Things become special, because people believe them to be special. 

All in all I found it a very enlightening film with lots of examples to give to kids (and adults) of how believing in yourself will make all the difference. It’s also hilarious and I would say it’s highly recommended viewing.  I will never turn my nose up at an animated film again.  Promise.  

Oh and Lewis really enjoyed it too!

SW