Kung fu panda  
John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
Film
November 2019

I believe the most interesting character in this film is Po’s father Mr Ping. Mr ping is a goose and owns the towns local noodle shop which has been passed on through generations and is not Po’s biological father since adopted Po when he discovered him left in a box after his parents were forced to flee during an invasion of the village. Mr Ping is adamant that Po is destined to become the next owner of the noodle shop. But Po has other dreams of becoming a member of the furious five that protects the Valley of Peace. When fate is in Po’s hands he decides to act on it and take his opportunity to fulfil his true destiny. In the beginning, Mr Ping is saddened by the fact Po does not wish to carry on his legacy but because of his supporting and encouraging attitude towards Po he decides it is only fair to let Po achieve his dreams. I find him interesting because of how relevant it is to me. With everything and anything, I have ever wished to attempt or achieve my mother like Mr Ping has given me nothing but 100% pure positive support and encouragement. I believe if it wasn’t for this support I would not have achieved any of my dreams, aspirations or became the same person I am today.

One of the most important messages I took from watching this film was during a scene when Master Oogway is giving Po advice and guidance. During this conversation Oogway tells Po; “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present”. This quote is very inspiring because of how it reminds me not to dwell on mistakes or disappointments in the past and not to predict what is to result from my mistakes but to live in the present and accept today as a gift. This is something I think all people should remember when they feel as if they are worried about their past mistakes. It will allow you to free your mind and focus on the good that is now. I often find myself feeling like this and wondering how I could have done something better or if I had of done it differently would it make this better. But this mindset and attitude is wrong, instead of dwelling on my past I should be enjoying the present and fixating my energy and time into enjoying the gift of today. 

One of the most difficult challenges overcome in this film was Po’s journey to becoming the dragon warrior. Po is someone with a lack of skills and coordination which is something that is expected of a dragon warrior. With the doubt of Master Shifu, he is given a certain amount of time to prove that he is actually worthy of such responsibility. Po spends many hours practising, learning and master the skills and qualities of a dragon warrior. Throughout this journey, there are multiple times where Po does not feel worthy and believes it is best that he gives up. But instead of giving up because of such difficulty he chooses to persist, endure and persevere. To the surprise of Master Shifu, he proves is worthiness and claims the dragon warrior title. This shows that no matter how hard, no matter who tells you otherwise and no matter how little ability you have, you are always capable of achieving your dreams and aspirations. A powerful quote is said by Po’s father; “There is no secret ingredient” although without context this quote seems irrelevant this is a much more significant underlying meaning. The noodles that Po’s father makes contain a so-called “secret ingredient” which is what makes them so popular. But in fact, the only secret is self-belief. Mr ping replies to Po’s shock; “To make something special you just have to believe it’s special”. I believe this also relates to overcoming a significant challenge because of how it teaches me that if I wish to achieve something the only way I can be capable of anything is to believe in myself.

I would strongly recommend watching this amusing and enjoyable film as it is not only a great entertaining and captivating story but also portrays very strong morals and messages relevant to people of all ages. It assesses the ability to stay persistent, resilient and most importantly believe in your self even when the odds may not be in your favour. And also displays strong messages that encourage living in the moment and not dwelling in the past which I believe are two very important aspects needed while growing up as an adolescent.