Kung Fu Panda 2 Movie Review

Kung Fu Panda 2 delivers punches and kicks that hit the right spots. This animated sequel trumps its predecessor in many ways. It is an animated flick full of fun, action, laughs and a bit of drama.

Back in 2008, when the first Kung Fu Panda came out, we all liked Po, the soon to be Dragon Warrior. At first he looks unlikely to be the chosen one, given that he’s a panda and his fat. But at the end he found himself and became the warrior he was meant to be. This time around, Po is still on a journey of self discovery.

In this film, Po has undergone a lot of trainings that has made him a true warrior but he still needs inner peace. The film gives a more developed and engaging plot. It allows us to feel for Po who is considered as the best warrior in the land and also a panda looking for answers that have been a huge void in his heart.

This film is not only focussed on Po, which for me is one of the best things about it. It also shows the Five as part of the story and not just back drop characters like in the first one. This time around they are woven together to form a unique bond of friendship and team work. They are more part of Po’s life in the present while he looks for answers into his past. Here we see them not just Po’s fighting companions, but his closest friends and family. They care and protect him because they are afraid for Po to get hurt.

The villain of the story is a beautiful Peacock by the name of Lord Shen. He is a power hungry bird who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals and will stop anyone who gets in his way. The good thing about the presentation of this villain is that he is shown not only as a cold hearted enemy. We get to see his inner feelings as well. They may be shadowed by his evil ways; still we get to see a hint of it. And this character is voiced well by Gary Oldman. His voice gives an added fear to a beautiful bird. We get to hear him something close to his memorable in Leon the Professional when he shouted, “Everyone!”

Kung Fu Panda 2 delivers great animation. The movements are great and are not bad to look at in 3D. I saw this in 3D and for me, it worked. It gives an added grace to the character’s movement. I know some people might not like 3D, but this time, it works just like it did in James Cameron’s Avatar.

The entire environment was well designed. It brings a new feel and look of ancient China. The designs and sculptures were really made according to detail and blends well with the rest of the plain. Each temple is like a work of art. The artists really balanced everything. Light and shade, shadow and glare, all of this make a unique blend in the world of Kung Fu Panda.

One of the best things of the film is the laughs it generates. The jokes are fresh and you will really laugh, guaranteed. There will come a time in some scenes where it seems to be serious. The score is serious, the initial lines are serious and then someone makes a quick joking line and everyone will be laughing. Watch out for the scene where Po is shouting from the rooftops.

As expected, there are more action sequences in this film than the first. The creators really brought all they had to bring a more new way of fighting. They really had some inspiration from classic martial arts and kung fu films. The fight scenes are not dull. They are both fun and hardcore. They work for the story and just a mindless battle. 3d does a good job in bringing some of the scenes to life.

This film has a true heart. Emotions are high in Kung Fu Panda 2. You will be left in tears in some scenes. And those tears are not just from laughing really hard. The film showcases Po’s life and the true family he never met and his inner struggle to find himself and the truth. At first he fights for the wrong reasons then in the end, he fights for what’s right and true in his heart.

Kung Fu Panda 2 is a film that has heart, laughs, action and depth. It is an animated flick designed to deliver the right moves to tickle your funny bones and excite your fighting aura. It is a film that is perfect for the entire family and to everyone else. It is a film that will touch everyone by its true message.

Kung Fu Panda is a certified knockout hit. It delivers and delivers well. It is a film of self discovery and understanding your true potential and destiny. I can’t wait to see po and the Five again soon. I give it 9 out of 10.