Unit 1 Kung Fu Panda
Part I Language through Movie
Section 1 Before-class Activities
A Plot Description
The film Kung Fu Panda is set in and around China’s Valley of Peace,
where there are no humans, only talking animals. Po the Panda spends his time
daydreaming about being a martial arts hero when he’s not working for his
father making and serving noodle soup.
Meanwhile, at a nearby temple, the head monk, Master Oogway, has had
a vision that the power-mad Tai Lung will escape from prison and ravage the
Valley in his quest for dominance. To stop this, Oogway must discern the one
who deserves to become the Dragon Warrior. There are five obvious candidates, all apprentices to
Master Shifu: Monkey, Tigress, Viper, Crane, and Mantis. Yet, as the result of a seemingly random
series of events, Oogway chooses Po. This comes as a surprise not only to an outraged Shifu but to
his pupils as well. The thought of Po confronting Tai Lung is laughable since the fat panda has trouble
making it to the top of the temple’s stairs. But, as must be the case for the movie to have any traction,
Po has hidden talents that Shifu is able to discover and unlock, even as time grows short.
The filmmakers get some comedic mileage out of making Po a Kung Fu fanboy. There’s a tonguein-
cheek scene that has him examining artifacts in the temple and revealing the kind of minutia that
only a true fan would know. He’s a die-hard Trekkie suddenly set loose on the Enterprise soundstage.
For him, meeting the Furious Five is “a dream come true”. Even though he’s the legendary Dragon
Warrior whose arrival has been greatly anticipated, he is awestruck and tongue-tied around Monkey,
Tigress, Viper, Crane, and Mantis.
Although the basic storyline and moral are standard animated film building blocks, Kung Fu
Panda contains enough funny material, low-key thrills, and moments of genuine pathos (a flashback
detailing Shifu’s past connection to Tai Lung) to
prevent it from seeming too much like a re-tread.
This is a solid family film material, although one
suspects the children will get a little more out of it
than their parents.
B Extensive Listening & Viewing
Movie Clip 1 Watch the very beginning of the film Kung Fu Panda and answer the
following questions.
1. What is Po’s dream about? Judging from this part, do you think that Po is a big fan of daydreaming?
2. Why does Po lie to his father? Do you notice the difference between Po and his father? What is it
specifically?
Movie Clip 2
Watch the scene in which Po happens to have private conversations
with Crane, Tigress and Master Oogway.
1. Why does Po feel upset after being unexpectedly chosen to join the world of Kung Fu and study
alongside his idols? List at least two reasons.
2. What is Master Oogway’s comment about Po? How does he enlighten Po?
Section 2 In-class Activities
A Class Lead-in
Movie Clip 1 & 2 have shown us several characters in Kung Fu Panda . From Dad’s selfmockery
of his dream about making tofu, we can see that he is a self-content man with little
desire and no courage. From Master Oogway’s insightful words, we feel that he is a mysterious
man full of wisdom. If we dig further, we find that the characters can be traced back to their
philosophical background. Now, match the left column with the right column.
Taoism moderation
Buddhism belief in Jesus
Christianity wu wei (non-action)
Confucianism karma and the law of cause and effect
Warm-up
Directions: Work in pairs and discuss the questions below.
1. Were you accepted into the university and the major you applied for? What did you feel and
what have you done up till now?
2. How do you understand the phrase “wu wei” or non-action? Is it a passive attitude favored by
lazy people or is it a smart way to go with the flow?
Movie Clip 3 Watch the scene about Master Oogway’s vision of Tai Lung’s return
and Shifu’s reaction.
B Intensive Listening & Viewing
Useful Words & Expressions
summon v. send a message telling sb. to come　召喚
vision n. dream or similar trance-like state, often associated with a religious
experience　夢幻，幻象，幻覺，異象（常帶有宗教色彩）
double v. (cause sth. to) become twice as much or as many　使某物加倍
destiny n. that which happens to sb./sth. (thought to be decided beforehand by
fate)　定數(shù)，天命
revenge n. return an injury　報仇，復仇
get/have/take one’s revenge (on sb.) (for sth.), take revenge (on sb.)
(for sth.)
agitate v. stir or shake (a liquid) briskly　攪動或搖動（液體）
settle v. (cause sth. to) become clear as solid matter sinks　（使某物）清澈
（ 因固體下沉所致）
bean buns small round sweet cake stuffed with beans　豆沙包
sign n. thing that shows that sb./sth. is present or exists, or that sth may
happen　痕跡，跡象，征兆