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If you try to think about every animal as a Kung Fu master, which one will be on the Top one? Lion or Tiger or Leopard? Anyway, it’s definitely not a lazy and fat Panda. But in a funny animated film—Kung Fu Panda, a panda named Po became a Dragon Warrior, that is Kung Fu master. I am watching this movie again this week, and I really love it!
In the movie, Po lives with his adoptive farther—a goose named Mr. Ping who owns the noodle shop in the Valley of Peace. Mr. Ping hopes that Po would take over his family business in the future, but Po was obsessed with Kung Fu and his mind was not for help Mr. ping run the noodle shop. One day, Po was chosen as the Dragon Warrior by Master Oogway (Turtle), then he goes the mountain and studies Kung Fu with Master Shifu (Red Panda). Meanwhile, Shifu’s favorite adoptive son Tai Lung (Leopard) escapes for revenge and fights for getting the Dragon Scroll, and he tries to destroy the village of Peace. So, the villagers pin their hopes on Po—almost know nothing about Kung Fu skill. Unexpectedly, Po defeated Tai Lung in the final battle.
Although Kung Fun Panda is a very funny movie, some of the plots give me some inspiration. The reason for Tai Lung practice Kung Fu was because he wants master Shifu was proud of him, and desire to get the recognition of Master Oogway who was qualified to designate him as Dragon Warrior, thus getting a Dragon Roll and learning the best Kung Fu. The approach to pursuing a goal like Tai Lung is not necessarily bad, but it very stressful when chasing goals under other’s expectation. If the result is not as good as expected or failed, it must be a trap into frustration. Unlike Tai Lung, Po loves Kung Fu when he was a child. He practices Kung Fu combined with his favorite food—Bean Buns, which makes him study Kung Fu very efficiently. Ultimately, Po was made achievement in short time. So, appropriate motivations and incentives will make goals easier to achieve.
Although Kung Fun Panda is a very funny movie, some of the plots give me some inspiration. The reason for Tai Lung practice Kung Fu was because he wants master Shifu was proud of him, and desire to get the recognition of Master Oogway who was qualified to designate him as Dragon Warrior, thus getting a Dragon Roll and learning the best Kung Fu. The approach to pursuing a goal like Tai Lung is not necessarily bad, but it very stressful when chasing goals under other’s expectation. If the result is not as good as expected or failed, it must be a trap into frustration. Unlike Tai Lung, Po loves Kung Fu when he was a child. He practices Kung Fu combined with his favorite food—Bean Buns, which makes him study Kung Fu very efficiently. Ultimately, Po was made achievement in short time. So, appropriate motivations and incentives will make goals easier to achieve.
Here are some my favorite lines from Kung fu Panda 1:
Oogway: My friend,
the panda will never fulfill his destiny, nor you yours, until you let go of
the illusion of control.
Shifu: Illusion?
Oogway: Yes.
[points at peach tree]
Oogway: Look at this tree, Shifu. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me, nor make it bear fruit before its time.
Shifu: But there are things we *can* control.
[kicks the tree so that peaches fall]
Shifu: I can control when the fruit will fall!
[he slices a peach and throws the pit to the ground]
Shifu: I can control where to plant the seed! That is no illusion, Master!
Oogway: Ah, yes. But no matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Shifu: But a peach cannot defeat Tai Lung!
Oogway: [folding dirt over the peach pit] Maybe it *can*, if you are willing to guide it, to nurture it. To believe in it.
Shifu: But how? How? I need your help, master!
Oogway: No, you just need to believe. Promise me, Shifu. Promise me you will believe.
Shifu: I... I will try.
Shifu: Illusion?
Oogway: Yes.
[points at peach tree]
Oogway: Look at this tree, Shifu. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me, nor make it bear fruit before its time.
Shifu: But there are things we *can* control.
[kicks the tree so that peaches fall]
Shifu: I can control when the fruit will fall!
[he slices a peach and throws the pit to the ground]
Shifu: I can control where to plant the seed! That is no illusion, Master!
Oogway: Ah, yes. But no matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Shifu: But a peach cannot defeat Tai Lung!
Oogway: [folding dirt over the peach pit] Maybe it *can*, if you are willing to guide it, to nurture it. To believe in it.
Shifu: But how? How? I need your help, master!
Oogway: No, you just need to believe. Promise me, Shifu. Promise me you will believe.
Shifu: I... I will try.
Shifu: [Stops Po from leaving] You cannot leave! A real warrior never quits!
Po: Watch me! [Po tries to run past Shifu, but was pushed away] Come on! How am I supposed to defeat Tai Lung? I can't even beat you to the stairs.
Shifu: You will beat him because you are the Dragon Warrior! [Pokes Po in the stomach]
Po: Ow! You don't believe that! [Shifu swings his arm around] You never believed that! From the first moment I got here, you've been trying to get rid of me!
Shifu: [Po tries to run past Shifu, but was pushed away again] Yes, I was, but now I ask you to trust in your master as I have come to trust in mine.
Po: You're not my master. [Po shoves the staff away from his face.] And I'm not the Dragon Warrior.
Shifu: Then why didn't you quit?! You knew I was trying to get rid of you, and yet you stayed!
Po: Yeah, I stayed. [stands up] I stayed because though every time you threw a brick at my head or said I smelled, it hurt, but it could never hurt more than it did every day of my life just being me. I stayed because I thought if anyone could change me... could make me... not me, it was you, the greatest kung fu teacher in all of China!
I love the Kung Fu Panda franchise! I wish my love of eating would make me into a Dragon Warrior with amazing fighting skills and athletic prowess, but sadly that destiny hasn't come up yet... it is inspiring to see how Po turns his life around by acknowledging that he is a food-loving panda, and using that to his advantage as a fighter. In case you haven't seen it, there's a statue of Po in one of the cinematic arts buildings (I'm guessing some USC alum or professor helped make the movies).
ReplyDeleteKung Fu Panda was a good movie. I like jack black. Thats an interesting point you make about incentives. if feel like we are right in the age where the incentives behind our actions become more about what we want and not what parents, teachers or others want for us.
ReplyDeleteYou make me want to see this movie now! Some kid movies nowadays just seem ridiculous and "Kung Fu Panda" sounded like it might be one of them. I guess that is why they say not to judge a book by it's cover, huh?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I like that you posted about this because I feel it falls in line with our class and how we've been discussing overcoming all odds.
Kung Fu Panda is such a great movie. This post makes me want to go back and give it a rewatch! I really appreciate your interpretation of the movie, goals are way easier to accomplish when you enjoy the process required to get to them. This is something that I hope to remember for myself.
ReplyDeleteKung Fu Panda might be in my top 2 movies of all time! I am so obsessed with Kung Fu. I've always loved watching the old movies with Jackie Chan. Drunken Master is and always will be my favorite Kung Fu Movie!
ReplyDelete