Who doesn’t love a cuddly, soft panda, the world’s cutest animal and the best thing to come out of China since stir-fried noodles?

Ironically, the lovable panda that stars in the animated “Kung Fu Panda” is a clumsy lug working in the family’s noodle shop. Incongruous as it may seem, animation doesn’t capture the essentially adorable and outwardly sweet-natured appearance of the giant pandas on display at the National Zoo ever since President Nixon made his historic 1972 trip to China. On the other hand, only a cartoon could give a giant panda the dexterity to become a master of martial arts.

Alternating between comedic elements and Jackie Chan-style action heroics, “Kung Fu Panda” is the story of a plump, drowsy, huggable black-and-white bear with a huge pot belly who has only one aspiration in life, namely to become an expert in a martial art that relies on agility, mental prowess and lightning-fast reflexes.

The clumsy bear is named Po (voiced by Jack Black), a waiter at his father’s noodle diner who displays none of the inherent abilities to become a Kung Fu master. And yet nothing will dissuade him from the foolish quest, not even his father, a goose named Mr. Ping (voiced by James Hong).

Eager to quit slinging noodle bowls, Po heads off to a public ceremony at an ancient temple where grand master Oogway the Turtle (Randall Duk Kim), acting upon prophecy, will anoint the new Dragon Warrior. This selection will have great consequence for the inhabitants in the mountainous Chinese village that is otherwise vulnerable to attack from hostile forces.

It is widely expected that the appointment of the Dragon Warrior will go to one of the members of the legendary Furious Five: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Crane (David Cross), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Monkey (Jackie Chan). All of these Kung Fu artists have been trained by the wily wolf Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman). Literally stumbling upon the scene, Po drops in on the ceremony so unexpectedly that Oogway proclaims that the lovable panda is the new Dragon Warrior.

This turn of events does not sit well with the Furious Five, or with Master Shifu, who thinks Po is irredeemably incapable of being properly trained, if only because the panda is obscenely overweight and lacking any athletic skills. What Po lacks in ability, he more than makes up for in optimism and enthusiasm. And so the giant panda participates in a rigorous training program that is often very comical, because as expected Po is uncoordinated and maladroit.

Master Shifu’s lessons, which will lead eventually to obtaining the powerful knowledge from the secret Dragon Scroll, take on a greater sense of urgency when the vicious snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian MacShane) escapes from the heavily-fortified and well-guarded prison where he has been chained up for years. With revenge on his mind for having been denied what he presumed was his rightful place as the Dragon Warrior, Tai Lung is set to wreak havoc on Po’s isolated village.

For the final third of its run, “Kung Fu Panda” lurches quickly from the comedic tone to the full-bore action that requires much hand-to-hand combat. A furious battle erupts when the Furious Five confront Tai Lung on a precarious rope bridge over a deep ravine. This is the run-up to the showdown between the suddenly energized Po and the determined Tai Lung.

Chinese art and architecture lend themselves to a very colorful rendition in computer-generated animation. “Kung Fu Panda” realizes the essential beauty of the Chinese culture with masterful precision. This is a good-looking film where the visuals come off much better than the script. A younger audience is more likely to be impressed with the decent story and its actors that are easily outdone by the film’s splashy art.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

It seems only fitting to note the recent release of a DVD double feature about one of nature’s most amazing creatures. “A Panda is Born” and “Baby Panda’s First Year” capture the essence of how the Giant Panda’s survival depends on the successful reproduction of each member of the species, given that an estimated 1,600 pandas live in the wild.

“A Panda is Born” follows the panda mating at the National Zoo as the female, Mei Xiang, and her mate, Tian Tian, finally succeed, resulting in the ultimate delight of a Panda birth. The companion piece, “Baby Panda’s First Year” follows baby Tai Shan’s life at the Giant Panda Habitat at the National Zoo, and viewers get to marvel at the instincts of first time mother Mei Xiang.

This DVD double feature proves an earlier point that a real live panda is much cuter than the animated version in “Kung Fu Panda.”

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

{mos_sb_discuss:5}

The CLPA Youth Orchestra will show off its talents in a June 8 concert. Photo courtesy of Andi Skelton.

LAKE COUNTY – The community is invited to a concert presented by the Clear Lake Performing Arts Youth Orchestra this Sunday, June 8.

This group of young string players has been working for months on a varied program. Wes Follett, director, and Tamsen Serena, coordinator, are enthusiastic about the progress that this group has made. The audience at the Mother’s Day Symphony concert heard an excellent presentation of just a few of the tunes that will be presented at their own concert.

Please show your support to these young players and attend their concert on June 8 at 6:30 p.m. You will experience an event that clearly shows the results of our CLPA youth programs.

Since the County Schools Strings program was discontinued, it is vitally important to support this youth orchestra in our community. There is no charge for the concert, but donations will be gratefully accepted for the CLPA Youth Music Fund, so the group can continue this project.

The concert will be held in the Friendship Hall at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, Third and Church St.

For information call 279-1126 or 928-9621.

{mos_sb_discuss:5}

Faded At Four is bringing their great sound back to local audiences. Back row, from left, bassist Martan Scheel, guitarist Brian Kenner, drummer Chris Sanders and guitarist Chris Murphy, with lead singer Jon Foutch seated in the front. Photo by Cecil Blackburn.

LAKE COUNTY – After a long journey to Hollywood and some time spent working on new music, Faded At Four is once again ready to return back to the local Lake County music scene.

Fans can hear Faded At Four at Carlos and Vinny's in Lakeport on June 21 for a $10 cover charge. Faded At Four will also be selling T-shirts with their new, updated logo the night of the show.

Tickets are limited for this event and sure to sell out fast. Contact Faded At Four at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or stop by Carlos and Vinny’s in Lakeport to purchase tickets.

Faded At Four's past accomplishments were to win the Uber grand prize in Ukiah’s first annual Bandslam Competition and also opened for Kid Rock at Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa.

The band also was a regional finalist in the Bodog Battle of the Bands, finishing third out of more than 4,500 bands in the nation in the online fan votes.

More information about this band can be found at www.fadedatfour.com.

{mos_sb_discuss:4}

(Rated PG-13)

For a guy who could be collecting Social Security, Harrison Ford remains surprisingly virile and tough, resolutely up to the challenge of cracking the whip and punching out the bad guys in yet another turn as Indiana Jones.

Jokes are being made about his age-challenged durability, as he returns in his latest adventure, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” One central character cracks wise that Indiana Jones must be about “80” years old, before learning quickly that this action hero is no ordinary senior citizen. Almost two decades after last playing the role of the archaeologist, Harrison Ford is in fine fettle as the academic who vastly prefers dangerous adventures.

Fortunately for us, Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones has weathered the years very well since “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” For the sake of chronological credibility and storyline continuity, this fourth installment of the adventures of the whip-toting, snake-hating, globe-trotting professor zooms past the dealings with the Nazis leading up to the full-blown Second World War and leaps to the nastiness of the Soviets during the Cold War era of 1957.

These dictatorial regimes are truly interchangeable, and when Indiana’s new nemesis appears in the slinky villainess form of Cate Blanchett’s Irina Spalko, you can only marvel at how she’s cut from the same mold of a psychotic Nazi. The Reds are just as eager to get their mitts on objects that possess highly curious powers, this time the legendary Crystal Skull of Akator.

Indiana’s exploits start with a real jolt. At a remote Nevada military base, Indiana and his sidekick Mac (Ray Winstone) barely escape a close scrape with nefarious Soviet agents under the command of the ice queen Soviet commander, the devastatingly beautiful Irina Spalko. After another close call with death, Professor Jones heads back to his duties at Marshall College, only to find out that his adventures have become a liability to the university.

On his way out of town, Indiana meets rebellious young Mutt Williams (Shia LeBeouf), who rides his motorcycle like Marlon Brando in “The Wild One” and combs his pompadour hairstyle with the vigor of Edd Byrnes in “77 Sunset Strip.”

Carrying a grudge and a proposition for the professor, Mutt seeks Indy’s help to make one of the most spectacular archaeological finds in history, namely the celebrated object of fascination, superstition and fear which can only be found in the remotest corners of Peru.

Heading to South America in search of the Crystal Skull is adventure enough when Indy and Mutt end up in the ancient tombs where danger lurks around every corner, and not just from the natives. They soon realize they are not alone in their search, as the Soviets are also hot on the trail of the crystal object that may confer extraordinary powers to potentially alter the balance of power.

This being an Indiana Jones adventure, of course, it goes without saying that the action is of the highest caliber, given the steady hand of director Steven Spielberg setting the stage. While there are some interesting revelations about Indiana, it’s also very rewarding to have Karen Allen’s Marion Ravenwood reappear at a very critical moment when Indy and Mutt are greatly outnumbered by the bad guys in the South American jungle. Ever spunky and resourceful, Marion is a very tough character, one who seems quite fitting to match wits with the Professor.

The action is so breathless in its pace and execution that it seems you need a scorecard to keep track of all the fights, chases and rounds of machine gunfire. There’s even a moment where Indy has to grapple with a big snake as a means to avoid quicksand. The Crystal Skull comes in handy to ward off hostile natives and armies of huge red ants. Best of all, Indiana Jones looks great wearing his fedora, though cracking the whip is what he does with panache. Forget the doubters and cynics.

You really can’t go wrong with Harrison Ford leading the charge in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” It’s a terrific launch for the summer movie season.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

Though its release date is not until June 3, I couldn’t wait to write about “Mannix: Season One,” the long-running detective drama starring Mike Connors as the tough and cynical Joe Mannix.

Having watched a few episodes, I am hooked on this show, which hearkens back to the golden age of the detective shows.

Mike Connors is one cool cat as the old-school detective with rugged good looks and the ability to trade punches with the bad guys. It’s easy to see why this show was so popular. The dialogue is great, and the action is even better.

I noticed that Mannix seems to get knocked unconscious in most episodes. He’s probably had more concussions than Troy Aikman.

In this first season, Mannix is employed by a big agency that relies on computers, while he sticks to his gut instincts. Naturally, his rough-and-tumble approach carries the day.

Another fun thing about “Mannix” is the appearance of many guest stars that remain recognizable nearly 40 years later.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

{mos_sb_discuss:5}

Finally, now that we’re edging closer to summer, a film suitable for entire family entertainment arrives on the scene. Not surprisingly, it emerges from the work of C.S. Lewis, delivered by a studio that knows how to supply wholesome fun.

Disney’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is a sequel, artfully realized and stunning in scope, which follows up on the spectacular story that began with “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

Once again, the four Pevensie siblings are in the thick of the action as time travelers to reclaim their royal positions as protectors of the magical kingdom of Narnia.

When the story of “Prince Caspian” begins, the Pevensie kids are just ordinary school kids living in World War II-era London. Peter (William Moseley) and Susan (Anna Popplewell), the oldest siblings, are adapting to typical teenage concerns. Edmund (Skandar Keynes), the younger boy who betrayed his sibling for his own selfish gain in the first adventure, has matured, while the youngest, Lucy (Georgie Henley), retains an innocent faith that will serve the group well at a critical time.

While waiting in a tube station in Trafalgar Square, the quartet is suddenly transported back to Narnia, discovering that the faraway kingdom where they once served as kings and queens has faded into legend.

More than 1,300 years have passed in Narnian time, and the magical kingdom has been relegated to the backwater of the forested countryside. The land of talking animals and mythical creatures exists as little more than folktales to the Telmarines, a tribe of humans that finds its homeland in a state of political turmoil and intrigue, due to some trickery that seeks to deny the throne to the rightful heir, Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes). Even the mighty lion Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson) has been missing for 1,000 years.

Marked for death by his cruel uncle Lord Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), Prince Caspian has to flee the Telmarine castle. Fortunately, the prince has an ally in Doctor Cornelius (Vincent Grass), who provides a horn that should be used only in the direst circumstances.

The vicious Miraz is anxious to eliminate the prince, since his wife has given birth to a boy who can assume the throne. With adequate warning, Prince Caspian escapes to the woods, where he encounters a Narnian dwarf and talking beaver, both of whom seem eager to enlist the prince’s help.

Meanwhile, summoned by the magical horn, the Pevensie children arrive not a moment too soon in Narnia, saving the life of Trumpkin the Red Dwarf (Peter Dinklage) and endearing themselves to the natives who would like nothing more than to see Narnia returned to glory.

The kingdom of Narnia is populated with all sorts of interesting creatures, including fauns, minotaurs, centaurs, satyrs, dwarfs and furry animals, large and small. Aside from Trumpkin’s ability to speak volumes just by his darting eyes, the most talkative animal is a feisty mouse with a penchant for sarcasm. The source of great comic relief is Reepicheep (voiced by Eddie Izzard), the diminutive rodent sporting a prominent feather in his hair and wielding a nasty sword.

That Prince Caspian ardently seeks to reclaim the Telmarine kingdom is hardly a surprise. Enlisting the aid of the Pevensie children in this cause is facilitated by the impetuous Peter’s desire to wage an all-out battle against the nasty minions of Lord Miraz so that the Narnians can thrive in a tranquil environment. The parallels to the fight against the Nazis in World War II is noticeably apparent, though perhaps subtly reinforced by the use of the London Underground train stations as a refuge during German bombing raids.

“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is truly an epic film with a majestic sweep that is fitting for the imaginative world of C.S. Lewis. Suspense is rampant with the forceful battles between Miraz’s overwhelming army and the hardy band of outnumbered Narnians. A lot of the battle scenes are very intense, with some images that seem too violent for a PG-rated film.

Nevertheless, “Prince Caspian” is an exciting adventure that does not give short shrift to the emotional pull of the very interesting characters, human and otherwise.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

Westerns don’t appear that often on the current Hollywood scene, probably because John Wayne is no longer with us and Clint Eastwood is way past his prime. So the best we can do is to enjoy the old Westerns as they gradually find their audience in DVD release.

Watch the West be won all over again with beloved icon John Wayne in the original 70mm version of “The Big Trail,” now neatly packaged in something called the “Fox Grandeur Special Edition.”

This historical classic follows Wayne as brave leader Breck Coleman who guides hundreds of settlers in covered wagons from the Mississippi River to their destiny out West.

This is not the only Western DVD riding into town. “The Garden of Evil” is the 1954 film set in Mexico where three American adventurers attempt to rescue one of their own trapped in a gold mine.

Released in 1951, “Rawhide,” not the TV series starring Clint Eastwood, tells the tale of Susan Hayward and her stagecoach crew getting caught up with outlaws on their journey from California to St. Louis.

These are all part of the “Fox Western Classics Collection” intended to be perfect Father’s Day gifts.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

{mos_sb_discuss:5}