Forums → Popular Media → Kung-Fu Panda! Ska-doosh, or Ska-don't?

I love Kung-Fu Panda.



The first movie took me, my snobby animation friends, and a lot of people by surprise with its gorgeous look, entertaining premise, and overall quality. Sure, there were a few times when I rolled my eyes .. but for the most part, the movie had two thumbs up for me. It's hilariously self-aware with its parody and jokes in an appropriately family-friendly way, but the movie wasn't afraid to give us a few exhilarating fight scenes.

So here we are a few years later, and the sequel hits theaters. I'll admit, I was a bit wary.

I guess it's sort of the "Hangover" model. No one expected the first product to do well; how, then, do you repeat the same success, the same formula if you don't know what got the hits?

They got it right this time.

Everything I loved about the first movie was there. My friend wasn't as impressed, but I spoke to the larger scope of the second film. One of the things I loved about the first movie was the representation of the animals. The pigs, the rabbits, even the geese all had their own distinct look. Their own walk, their own look. When we get to the Imperial City in the second, you're meeting wolves, gorillas, and even peacocks -- resulting in some of the coolest, strangest fight scenes in all of cinema as though the animators asked themselves "what would happen if a _________ and a ___________ got in a fight .. ?"

Fans of the first movie's villain should know he doesn't make an appearance in the second film -- something that gave me a lot of relief, because your new villain (a banished prince, Shen) is all kinda of awesome. It's nice to see the sort of seedy, genius villain as opposed to the bang-em-up that we got in the first film.

The hugest turn-off for the series, however, is the fact that the other Furious Five have .. essentially .. no characterization at all, save for Tigress. My friend and I sat through both films, greedily drinking up every line given by Mantis and Crane (our favorites!) -- every pithy, unimportant, throw-away line that usually ends up being something relate to a battle. (i.e "comin' your way!"; "watch out!&quot

However, to that point, the focus isn't on Viper, Monkey, Mantis, or Crane .. as frustrating as this is to me. Somehow (somehow!) the movie manages to make me care about the characters, despite not really knowing who they are. I'm a bit torn on that reality, because it's both impressing and a bit distressing.

You may roll your eyes a bit at some origin stuff, but from what I've seen, its cliches are handled a bit more tenderly than most. Also, the varying art styles for flashbacks/memories is fantastic. Lots of digital painting, and lots of layers. It's gorgeous, and I'm actually glad I didn't see it in 3D. Might've detracted from this a bit.

My bestie, an avid animation buff, says the action sequences are above superb. Making kung-fu look natural and smooth on animals, when it's obviously meant for humans? Fantastic.

In all, you're going to enjoy Kung-Fu Panda 2 if you liked the first one. The action keeps climbing and climbing and climbing .. and the climactic scene in the harbor gets visually and emotionally exhilarating, very quickly.

My closing note is how the sequel ends .. very obviously pointing to a third film. With Shrek's horse still kicking ("Puss in Boots", a spin-off, being released eventually .. ) I'm not sure how I feel about all this. The Shrek sequels were okay. That's a whole 'nother debate topic in itself. The second was brilliant. The third had its moment. I didn't see the fourth. Not sure what to do about the spin-off. Is that the future for Kung-Fu Panda? I guess we'll have to see.

Definitely go check it out, though! Well worth your time.