Watchmen? Faugh! I Have Netflix!
Mar. 7th, 2009 02:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bloodyrosemccoySo Kung Fu Panda’s overall story was disappointing. While I like the old “magic feather” part—that everyone is special if they know how to look—I didn’t like that he came in and with one six-month training montage managed to steamroll the abilities of the six characters who spent their lives learning kung fu. I had an entire childhood to hear about my Innate Specialness; I am still having difficulty grasping how hard work, practice, and effort fit into the big picture of Getting Good At Things.
On the other hand, it has some fabulous animation in it. Good character design,* a very cool choice to have the tiger be a tigress, and holy damn what fabulous action sequences. It was total eye candy—Tai Lung’s escape from prison, the bridge battle, the practice, all of it made me want to do it myself.
Which means I ought to start doing tae kwon do again—work my way back up to be worthy of that black belt. At this point I think I’ve probably slid back down to, say, green or yellow. And this is where the effort part really cheeses me off—I am not good at tae kwon do. I hate moving, I have no stamina, I either fall asleep or start making up stories when I’m supposed to meditate, I am spatially unaware to the point where I got forms mixed up after weeks of practice.
Plus, I’m a bit puffier than I was back then.
So I worked for that belt. And if I want to get back up to speed again, I’ve got to work again. Accepting who you are is important, but working to add to who you are is a worthwhile goal, and I think we need to balance these messages out more. I’m inspired by the movie, but not by the protagonist. Work hard, kids, and you can be just like me.
Also, if you have the DVD, HOLY GODDAMN HELL watch the feature about Mr. Ping’s Noodle House.**
*We have decided that Master Shifu is the actual incarnation of Dustin Hoffman’s soul: a dignified master of his craft who is so damn cuddly and fluffy that you just want to give him a big old hug.
**Except, hey Bean: Alton Brown? Really? He's irritating. How d'you stand him?
On the other hand, it has some fabulous animation in it. Good character design,* a very cool choice to have the tiger be a tigress, and holy damn what fabulous action sequences. It was total eye candy—Tai Lung’s escape from prison, the bridge battle, the practice, all of it made me want to do it myself.
Which means I ought to start doing tae kwon do again—work my way back up to be worthy of that black belt. At this point I think I’ve probably slid back down to, say, green or yellow. And this is where the effort part really cheeses me off—I am not good at tae kwon do. I hate moving, I have no stamina, I either fall asleep or start making up stories when I’m supposed to meditate, I am spatially unaware to the point where I got forms mixed up after weeks of practice.
Plus, I’m a bit puffier than I was back then.
So I worked for that belt. And if I want to get back up to speed again, I’ve got to work again. Accepting who you are is important, but working to add to who you are is a worthwhile goal, and I think we need to balance these messages out more. I’m inspired by the movie, but not by the protagonist. Work hard, kids, and you can be just like me.
Also, if you have the DVD, HOLY GODDAMN HELL watch the feature about Mr. Ping’s Noodle House.**
*We have decided that Master Shifu is the actual incarnation of Dustin Hoffman’s soul: a dignified master of his craft who is so damn cuddly and fluffy that you just want to give him a big old hug.
**Except, hey Bean: Alton Brown? Really? He's irritating. How d'you stand him?
