The Amazing Panda Adventure

The Amazing Panda Adventure is a 1995 family adventure film about a 10-year-old American boy called Ryan Tyler (played by Ryan Slater), who travels to China and has to take a panda cub to the reserve so it can reunite with its mother. This film was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures under their Warner Bros. Family Entertainment label. In theaters, the Looney Tunes short, "Carrotblanca", was shown before the film. Directed by Christopher Cain. Produced by Lee Rich, John Wilcox, Gary Foster and Dylan Sellers. Story by John Wilcox and Steven Alldredge. Ryan Tyler I've seen naked women before. A, I have cable TV. B, I just happen to be quite a lady's man. Relax, I'm an American. My life revolves around electronics. I think I can handle it. Dialogue [Spring recess has arrived, and with it, the trip Ryan has been dreading for weeks. Of course, he hasn't warned anyone how much he dreads it. You aren't supposed to refuse something as special as a trip to China. You aren't supposed to refuse the opportunity to see your father for the first time in two years] [It is two o'clock in the morning, and the flight is less than a dozen hours aside. Ryan lays in his bed wide awake in his dark bedroom with a flashlight in his hands. The beam of light is aimed at the ceiling, which his father has long ago painted dark blue. Over the blue, he's painted all the major constellations of stars in yellow. Then that lying in bed is sort of like camping out and staring up at the stars] [Ryan looks up at them, feeling a mixture of fear and despair. So long, Gemini, he thinks. Farewell, Orion, and thank riddance. Toodle-oo, Big Dipper, don't spill anything while I'm gone. See you soon, Ursa Minor....Little Bear...] [Ryan yawns and flicks off the flashlight. It is much no use and he has to get some sleep. Tomorrow, he will begin a trip that will take more than twenty-four hours to finish] [Halfway around the world, deep in the panda reserve, Ryan's father, Dr. Michael Tyler, creeps through the underbrush of vines and bamboo shoots, following a fifteen-year-old Chinese girl named Ling] Michael: Well? Ling: Close, I think. Michael: You think? Ling: Many go their entire life without seeing a panda in the wild. Michael: Well, if we don't see one soon, it's going to be too late. Ling: Shush! [She holds a finger to her lips and points ahead. Michael crawls up behind her and squints. Through a thick patch of bamboo, he can see a clearing] Listen. [Michael holds his breath and hears a faint crunching sound. A chill runs through him. He's heard the sound before in zoos and in the enclosures back at the reserve headquarters. It is the sound of a panda grinding mature bamboo in its powerful jaws. Few creatures in the world has jaws powerful enough, or a stomach hard enough, to consume almost rock-hard bamboo] [Ling starts to crawl forward and Michael follows. Despite being more than twice her age, he trusts her immediately. At fifteen, Ling knows the forest better than he will ever know it] [Once again, Ling stops in her tracks. This time she reaches for a long narrow tube she carried in her day pack. Michael knows at once what that means. He stops and waits while Ling presses one end of the tube to her lips and aims] [The sound of her exhaling breaks the silence. It is followed by an alarmed yelp and a soft scraping sound, as if something are trying to drag itself across the ground. Eventually, Michael hears a thud] [Ling turns toward him and nods in agreement. Then she swiftly stands and goes forward through the undergrowth. Dr. Tyler stands up and follows. Ahead, he catches a glimpse of something black and white lying on the ground. They've gotten one] [She is a completely grown female, probably close to three hundred pounds, lying on her stomach with her legs splayed out like a huge stuffed bear. Michael swiftly pulls off his pack and takes out a camera as well as a chart and tape measure. He photographs and measures her, but checks her ears and eyes. Meanwhile, Ling strokes her gently on the head] Ling: She is so beautiful. [Michael takes a white leather collar out of the bag. Attached to it is a transmitter about the size of a pack of cigarettes] Michael: Now we'll be able to keep track of her. [A small red light on the collar blinks on and off] [Ling points at the creature's chest] Ling: Dr. Tyler, look! [Michael looks down and sees a thin stream of translucent white liquid] Michael: Either she's pregnant or she's just had a cub. [As his eyes sweep around, they catch Ling staring at him, her face filled with emotion] Ling: Do you know what this means? [Michael nods slowly, trying not to reveal the emotion he also feels] Michael: Only if it's real and we can prove it. Only then do we have a chance to keep this reserve open! [Ryan and his mother enter the airport terminal. Each of them holds one handle of Ryan's dark green duffel bag. They dodge people lugging bags and mothers with shrieking children. Ryan can't help thinking about what lays ahead. As usual, his mother is acting fairly neurotic, but it doesn't really distract him] Mrs. Tyler: I sewed name tags in all your underwear. [Ryan can feel his doubts about this entire fashion starting to well up uncontrollably] Ryan Tyler: Mum, I was thinking.... [Suddenly, his mother stops in her tracks and shuts her eyes] Ryan Tyler: What, Mum? Mrs. Tyler: The name tags. Ryan Tyler: Yes, that was really nice of you. I always wanted name tags in my underwear. Mrs. Tyler: But they're not in Chinese. What kind are they? [She shakes her head and starts to walk again. Ryan keeps up alongside] Ryan Tyler: Listen, Mum–– Mrs. Tyler: Remember, Ryan, don't eat anything that moves or has eyes. And don't worry, your father will be there. He'll be waiting for you at the gate the second you get off the plane. Ryan Tyler: I know, Mum, but–– Mrs. Tyler: If you have any problems, call 911. Ryan Tyler: In China? Mrs. Tyler: If they don't have it over there, just warn them you're an American. [They arrive at the ticket counter. Ryan's mum takes his plane tickets out of her bag and hands them to the ticket agent behind the counter] Agent: Window or aisle. Mrs. Tyler: Aisle. Agent: Smoking or non? Mrs. Tyler: He's twelve years old. [Ryan realizes that they are getting too close for consolation. He has to say something before it's too late] Ryan Tyler: Mum, this is serious. Agent: How many bags will you be checking? Mrs. Tyler: One. [But as she starts to pick up the duffel bag to put it through the counter, Ryan holds the other end and stops her. His mother looks at him with a puzzled expression] Ryan Tyler: Mum, I don't want to go. [He feels a small wave of relief. There, he's said it] Mrs. Tyler: What? Ryan Tyler: I don't want to go. I never wanted to go! Mrs. Tyler: Why did you wait until now to warn me? [Ryan doesn't know what to say. He stares down at his feet. Someone behind them clears his throat. Ryan and his mum both turn. A tall man in a dark suit stands in line, holding two bags] Mr. Tyler: I hate to interrupt, but some of us do want to go. [Mrs. Tyler spins around to the ticket agent] Mrs. Tyler: We'll be right back. [Then she leads Ryan over to the big picture window that looks out over the runways and airplanes waiting to take off] Now, darling. I know it must be frightening to go to a strange country on your own. [Ryan shakes his head, no] Ryan Tyler: I'm not a little boy, Mum. I'm not frightened! Mrs. Tyler: Then what's wrong? Don't you want to see your father? [Ryan is silent for a moment] Ryan Tyler: I'm not sure he really wants to see me. Mrs. Tyler: Doesn't want to see you? Of course he wants to see you. He sent the tickets, didn't he? Ryan Tyler: Well, yes, but how come in two years I sent him forty-seven letters and he only sent me three? [Now it is his mother's turn to be silent for a moment] Mrs. Tyler: Well, darling, you know how you and Johnny sometimes get until you buy a new Sega game? You get them into it that hours go side-by-side and you don't even notice this. Well, that's how your father is about his work. Ryan Tyler: It hasn't been hours, Mum. It's been years! Mrs. Tyler: Well, his work is very reluctant to him. Ryan Tyler: More reluctant than me? Mrs. Tyler: No, but his work is so big that it blocks out everything else. That doesn't mean that he doesn't love you. [That is bull and Ryan knows it. Three letters in two years is a lousy average] Mrs. Tyler: Listen, darling. I once heard a saying "If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, then it's yours forever. If it doesn't, then it never was.'" [That is just more bull as far as Ryan is worried] Ryan Tyler: It's been two years. How much longer do I have to wait for him to come back? [Mrs. Tyler gives him a loving look and pats him on the head] Mrs. Tyler: You know how I know your father loves you? [Ryan shakes his head, no] Mrs. Tyler: Because he drew these constellations on your ceiling. And he did it so painstakingly, and it took him so long. Only a father who really loved his son would do such a fashion. [A loudspeaker crackles to life nearby] Loudspeaker: Flight 23 to Hong Kong is now boarding through gate 4C. Mrs. Tyler: That's your plane. [Ryan gives her an uncertain look. Mrs. Tyler reaches forward and takes the Chicago Cubs baseball cap off his head. Then she smooths his hair with her hand and starts to lead him toward the ticket counter] Mrs. Tyler: Don't forget, planes work in both directions. If you don't like it over there, you can always come home. Ryan Tyler: Promise? Mrs. Tyler: Absolutely. [Then she puts her arms around him and says all the mushy stuff mothers feel compelled to say if their children go away. Ryan knows he has to go. He can't let everyone down] [They go back to the ticket counter and gives the agent the duffel bag. Then Mrs. Tyler walks Ryan down to the gate] Mrs. Tyler: Be sure to brush your teeth every day, but only with bottled water. Ryan Tyler: Sure, Mum. [He doesn't know if he feels any better about going, but at least getting on the plane will get him away from his mother] [Deep in the forests of the reserve, the female panda brushes herself collecting bamboo stalks. Not far off, her cub is chasing a bright blue butterfly. As the cub runs farther and farther out, his mother begins to feel alarmed. She lets out a short bark and then starts after the cub] [Snap! A wire trap snaps closed around her back paw. She pulls at the wire, but that only makes the wire cut painfully into her paw. She pulls harder and calls desperately for her cub to come back. But no matter how hard she tries, she can't break free] [It seems to Ryan like he travels forever. The first flight takes seventeen hours. The second flight isn't exactly a short jump either. And unlike the first flight, it isn't a mixed group of all nationalities. This flight is almost all Chinese people, many of whom give Ryan funny looks, and none of whom speaks a word of English] [Eventually they land at the Chengdu airport, although to Ryan, calling the place an airport is a stretch. It is more like a couple of big metal Quonset huts stuck together. Military guards wearing green uniforms and carrying rifles stand around, giving him suspicious looks. All the signs are in Chinese. Ryan has no choice but to follow the crowd of passengers inside] [Suddenly, a guard in a green uniform grabs him by the shirt and barks something in Chinese. Ryan doesn't have a clue as to what he is saying. The guard says something more and looks pretty annoyed] [Not knowing what else to do, Ryan pulls out his passport] Ryan Tyler: I'm an American. [The guard turns and calls some other official-looking types over. They all wear dark suits and white shirts. They stand around Ryan, looking at him like he came from a different planet. Meanwhile, Ryan looks around in confusion, craning his neck for a glimpse of his father] Ryan Tyler: I'm looking for my father, Dr. Michael Tyler. [The men all scowl at him] Ryan Tyler: Ty-ler. [One of the men grins appreciatively. Eventually, Ryan thinks. Someone who understands. The man points toward a door. Ryan takes one step, but stops in his tracks as the door swings open and a man comes out. Through the open doorway, he can see that it is a bathroom. Ryan shakes his head, no. He's said Tyler, not toilet] [Somehow, without any understanding between himself and anyone else, Ryan manages to collect his duffel bag and make his road out of the air terminal. He stands outside at the curb wondering where in the world his father is while dozens of people ride past on bicycles. Others walk side-by-side carrying dead ducks over their shoulders or pushing rickety wooden carts filled with strange-looking vegetables] [Ryan pulls his Cubs cap on. He's never felt so lost or alone in his entire life. Where is his father? How can he just leave him there?] [Then he sees something that gives him hope. A dirty white minivan pulls up to the curb a dozen yards aside. On the side is the panda reserve emblem. It may be his dad] [Ryan lugs his duffel bag toward the vehicle. Meanwhile, several men in dark suits climb aboard. The doors start to close. Ryan runs up and bangs on them with his fist. A bewildered-looking driver opens the door and stares at him. Ryan looks in and is incredibly disappointed that his father isn't inside] Ryan Tyler: Does this bus go to the panda reserve? [The men in dark suits light cigarettes and stare at Ryan like he is a Martian. Ryan doesn't care. He gets on the bus and sits down in the back. Wherever they are going, he is going, as well] [The headquarters of the reserve is located in a small collection of ramshackle buildings just off the road. There, in one of the shacks, a man named Chang studies a large map on an electronic screen. Here and there on the map are tiny red dots, representing the pandas Michael and his crew have tagged] [Something is bothering Chang, and now he summons Ling and Michael into the room. Pointing at one of the red dots, he speaks emotionally in Chinese to Ling] Michael: What's he saying? Ling: He said one panda hasn't moved for a long time. [Michael nods gravely. That can mean any number of nonsense. Unfortunately, none of them are swell. He notices Chang and Ling giving each other looks] Michael: There's something you're not warning me. [Ling says something to Chang, who nods in agreement. Then she turns back to Michael] Ling: It is the mother panda. [Now Michael knows why she's been reluctant to warn him. If the mother of the cub is hurt or sick, then the cub is in mortal danger. And that means the entire reserve is in danger. It has been a horrible year for the reserve. Despite their best efforts, they've been unable to get any of the captive females pregnant. The one cub that has been born in the reserve the year before has died for no apparent reason. And poachers have taken two more cubs from the wild. The panda population in China is severely endangered, but the Chinese government has been threatening to cut off their funding if the reserve can't prove it is taking steps to help] Michael: We have to go to her. Immediately! [Ling finishes telling Ryan the folklore about the black marks on pandas and four sister mountains who look over them] Ryan Tyler: It's a bunch of bull. Ling: It's not a story about bull, it's a story about panda. Ryan Tyler: No, what I mean is, it's not true. Ling: My grandfather doesn't lie! Ryan Tyler: Well, if the 4 sisters are real, how come the panda bears are going extinct? Cast Stephen Lang as Dr. Michael Tyler Ryan Slater as Ryan Tyler Brian Wagner as Johnny Yi Ding as Ling Wang Fei as Chu Lan Yu as Mr. Xu, the inspector Isabella Hofmann as Beth Tyler Zhou Jian Zhong as Po Yao Er Ga as Shong External links Category:1995 English-language films Category:1995 American films Category:Films directed by Christopher Cain Category:Chinese films Category:Adventure films Category:Fantasy films Category:Films about giant pandas Category:Films set in China