OVERVIEW: Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Since the original Kung Fu Panda, video games have been the main driver of the movie’s success. The original was a game-only release that was released in the same time as the movie, while the sequel was released before the movie, and the third one was released after it. Kung Fu Panda 2: The Video Game is a platform action game that had players battling dragons, riding dinosaurs, and shooting chickens in order to find out what the Furious Five are up to.

The Kung Fu Panda franchise has been a popular one for a few years now. Unfortunately, its games have always been a mixed bag. This time around, I’ve focused on the 2011 release, which is the latest game in the series.

CHECK : Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Movie Overviews

The sequel to Kung Fu Panda 2 came out in 2011 and it had a lot going for it. Personally, I think the first Kung Fu Panda is one of DreamWorks Animation’s best films, and it’s a shame it got lost in the mainstream. The somewhat unexpected return of the Dragon Warrior was directed by Jennifer Yu Nelson. She became the first woman to direct a cartoon in Hollywood. The film was co-directed by Brenda Chapman (Prince of Egypt) and Vicki Jensen (Shrek). Yet Yuh became the first woman to finish one of these films alone. This seems odd considering the film was only released 10 years ago. But even since then, there have been female directors in mainstream American animation, such as Jennifer Lee (Frozen films). I find this particularly odd at Disney, a studio that tends to emphasize female characters. I’m sure there are a number of factors that contribute to this huge gap, and I’m not one to suggest hiring women just because they’re women or anything. But rewatching this film, I was reminded of Juha’s performance, and I was struck by how absolutely nothing has changed in that regard in the last decade. Let’s see.  Kung Fu Panda 2 explores two interconnected scenarios: Poe’s mysterious past and the impending invasion of the forces of Lord Shen (Gary Oldman). Poe’s father must deal with his son’s newfound independence and interest in his biological family. Poe defines his position in the Furious Five. Now that Master Shifu has found inner peace, Po must do the same. But can the answers from his past bring him peace, or will they only open old wounds?  The beginning of the movie Kung Fu Panda 2 is great. The first two scenes use the same striking, two-dimensional visual style as the opening sequence of the first film. Instead of illustrating Poe’s dream scene, the striking images show us the film’s villain in the most nightmarish way possible. We get a glimpse of his past, in which he sought power by destroying pandas after it was predicted that one would turn against him. It is suggested, and then confirmed, that he killed Po’s mother and all the pandas in their village. The Moses/Superman trophy is in full swing here, as Poe’s mother saves his life by leaving him in a box of radishes that is eventually given to Mr. Poe. Ping (James Hong), his adoptive father, is delivered. Gary Oldman plays Lord Shen well, intimidating and condescending, prone to cruelty. I like that the flashback shows his parents as decent people who are disappointed and appalled by his behavior. Po’s parents love him but have to give him up to save him, while Shen’s parents turn their backs on him because of his actions. I also think the character of Poe in this film is excellent. He must face the traumatic memories he has repressed and accept what has happened in order to move on and grow. I love the scene at the end where Poe tells his father that he has figured out who he is: his son. It’s obvious, and I’m sure it’s been done before in adoption stories (there’s a similar scene in Tarzan that amazes me every time). Yet it is so effective and truthful to the characters. Everything around Shen and Poe is tense and propels the film forward. Shen’s design is also beautiful and menacing at the same time; the spots on his feathers seem to be a motif related to Poe’s painful memories of being separated from his mother. I like Tai Lung the best, he fits the theme of the first film so well. But Shen really is a great villain, as he is menacing, well thought out, well executed, and has a deep, personal connection to the hero. Tai Lung was more focused on Shifu, Oogway, and the abstract idea that he was not a Dragon Warrior. But Shen robbed Poe of the normal life he could have had with his parents, and traumatized him in a deep and tangible way. The first film was all about Po finding his identity as a warrior, but Kung Fu Panda 2 is more about dealing with his vulnerability and surviving trauma.

The music and animation in Kung Fu Panda 2 are also absolutely stunning. I love the use of recurring themes, such as. B. of course, the main theme and the song Inner Peace. I didn’t think it was possible, but it looks like the animators made the fight scenes even harder this time around. At times my eyes struggled to follow the fluid and spirited movements of the combatants. The voice actors are again excellent. DreamWorks can certainly be criticized for choosing big names and ignoring professional voice actors, but sometimes these star casts work well. Jack Black is still great as Poe, and Angelina Jolie as Tigress managed to show a little more humanity this time around. Their budding friendship is the perfect complement to a film that is ultimately about love, or in Shen’s case, the lack thereof. Michelle Yeoh is great as the fortune teller. But I have some issues with this character and his place in the story. I think it’s kind of helpful for someone to talk about what happened to Shen, Po and the pandas that accidentally led them to a massacre. Danny McBride is good as the wolf leader, Shen, but I found the character inconsistent. Somehow he doesn’t mind helping Shen kill and conquer, but he suddenly stops. The new voice actors are a great addition, but outside of Shen, the new characters could use some work. One of the main weaknesses of the film is Dustin Hoffman’s bumbling role as Master Shifu. Since he found peace, he’s been sitting at home until shit hits the fan. Maybe they wanted to take Poe away from his master so he could take his place, like Gandalf’s death in The Fellowship of the Ring or Ben’s death in A New Hope. Still, Shifu and his relationship with Po were among the highlights of the first film, and Oogway is already gone for lack of better.  Overall, I have mixed feelings about Kung Fu Panda 2. The bad guy and some of the action scenes are surprisingly better than in the original. I also really like Poe’s journey in the film. But the other new characters don’t hold up as well when you think about it, and many of my favorites from the original are dead or sidelined. The conflict in Kung Fu Panda 2 is more tragic and should be more emotional. But I feel like the film lacks that punch, that magic that the first film had.

Location – 6

Actor – 10

Control/Assembly – 6

Music/Sound – 10

Animation/Action – 10

8.4

Good

The conflict in Kung Fu Panda 2 is more tragic and should be more emotional. But I think the film lacks that punch, that magic that the first film had.

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