Kung Fu Panda 2

[Watashi]

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Cars 2 looks pathetic, but this is going to fill the animation slot for the summer quite nicely.

The first one was excellent. The sequel looks great too.

[Sven]

The toppling pagoda bit looks cool.

[Henry Gale]

Yeah, this willl probably be the one of the only times I plan to wait for the newest Pixar film and then see go to see a Dreamworks sequel opening weekend. Not that the trailer is that well put together (really, a Black Eyed Peas song from six years ago?), but some of the footage is definitely promising.

[TGM]

The first one was surprisingly good, and this looks really good based on the trailer so far as well. Looking forward to this now more than ever.

[Ivan Drago]

Mark Osborne isn't involved with it this time. Ehhh...

[Watashi]

This was amazing, amazing, amazing. They could make 10 Kung Fu Pandas and I wouldn't care.

There is some stunning jaw-dropping set-pieces in this film.

[Ezee E]

Might check this out. Need to see the first one still.

[Rowland]

The awesome set-pieces were all the first film had going for it, but they were admittedly very impressive, so I'd like to see this considering that it's getting similar praise.

[EyesWideOpen]

The first one literally made me and my wife both fall asleep in the theater so unless this one gets insane reviews I'll skip it.

[Watashi]

The first one literally made me and my wife both fall asleep in the theater so unless this one gets insane reviews I'll skip it.

What the fuck is wrong with you?

[Dukefrukem]

here we go...

[Sxottlan]

Nice. Little to no drop off from the first one. Not really hysterical so much as regularly inducing moderate laughs. In fact, I would have almost preferred less lightheartedness in favor of even more gravitas given the story.

Po's flashbacks were simply heartbreaking. The decision to go with cell style CGI when he had only impressions of what happened was a great choice and then the switch to "regular" CGI when he remembers everything. The character designs in these films have been a triumph as they're able to wring so much emotion out of their faces. Enough to get me the slightest bit choked up at the flashback.

This movie was ridiculously good looking. Saw it in digital 2D. Po's POV looking up at a rainy sky was breathtaking. And the opening and closing credits were beautiful with gauzy weird pastel colored images in and out of focus. Very dream-like.

By the way, Guillermo del Toro's name came up in the end credits as some kind of consultant. I don't remember whether creative or visual.

You better keep this up Dreamworks Animation. I'm actually starting to expect good things from you (even though I'll skip Puss 'n Boots).

[Henry Gale]

By the way, Guillermo del Toro's name came up in the end credits as some kind of consultant. I don't remember whether creative or visual.

You better keep this up Dreamworks Animation. I'm actually starting to expect good things from you (even though I'll skip Puss 'n Boots).

These two bits kind of clash since Del Toro is very involved in Puss In Boots, even to the point of being the voice of one of the characters as well as being an executive producer on it. Dreamworks seems to have really brought him on heavily as one of their go-to story people. People who have been shown the opening bits of the movie seemed very impressed. Plus, him and Justin Theroux were similarly credited on Megamind as "creative consultants", so I'm guessing that's what he was listed as on KFP2 as well.

Everything I've seen of Dreamworks' output since the first Kung Fu Panda has been solid (with the exception of Monsters vs. Aliens), so yeah, they definitely seem to be getting their shit together. Kung Fu Panda 2 and the Hangover sequel seemed to have come up out of nowhere, but now that they're both in theatres I can say I'm definitely more excited to see this out of the two.

[Morris Schæffer]

The original was a one-joke premise for me. Thoroughly unfunny. Mind, I usually shut down during toons when there's an excess of talking animals pretending to be funny. Usually, not always though for I liked the original Ice Age.

[lovejuice]

I still love the energy, the world, and the characters, but the story this time is kinda crap. After Po became super Kung Fu fighter in the first movie, they seem to run out of idea what to put in front of him, so they just throw in more, more and more stuffs. The movie is linear, with obstacle A followed by obstacle B, C, D and so on.

[

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Funny enough, I have the same issue as I do with Tangled. The conflict is Po coming in term with how he is adopted. I can't gather much sympathy for that. The suspense is also nil since we have learned (or guessed) the big secret from the very beginning way earlier than the protagonist.

Especially I don't buy the idea of cannons being able to stop Kung Fu. In pirate movies, we don't see people use cannons to fight off rapiers very efficiently. (Though that happens in the ridiculous climax of Cutthroat Island.)

]

[Watashi]

I still love the energy, the world, and the characters, but the story this time is kinda crap. After Po became super Kung Fu fighter in the first movie, they seem to run out of idea what to put in front of him, so they just throw in more, more and more stuffs. The movie is linear, with obstacle A followed by obstacle B, C, D and so on.

[

Show Spoiler

Funny enough, I have the same issue as I do with Tangled. The conflict is Po coming in term with how he is adopted. I can't gather much sympathy for that. The suspense is also nil since we have learned (or guessed) the big secret from the very beginning way earlier than the protagonist.

Especially I don't buy the idea of cannons being able to stop Kung Fu. In pirate movies, we don't see people use cannons to fight off rapiers very efficiently. (Though that happens in the ridiculous climax of Cutthroat Island.)

]

The movie feels like an old school Jackie Chan film where you know Jackie Chan is going to come out on top, because well... he's fucking Jackie Chan. I love how both Kung Fu Panda films are just a love-letter to kung fu cinema and how Po is just amazed at how awesome everything is around that he's being a part of this crazy adventure. There is no real tension, because Po and the Furious Five are the biggest badasses in the entire kingdom. The whole cannon storyline just represents the classic technology invading the ancient arts that's been a staple of kung-fu cinema. It's a shame that people have a predetermined bias against "talking animal" cartoons, because here the animals make sense and aren't there to look cute and silly.

[

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The adopted angle isn't suppose to have any suspense because they even joke about Po's father being a goose in the first film. I loved the film's message about how your family doesn't come from blood, but those who accept you. I thought the final scene between Po and his father was extremely touching. And then there's the final shot.

]

[Spinal]

I will probably see it sometime next week.

[lovejuice]

The whole cannon storyline just represents the classic technology invading the ancient arts that's been a staple of kung-fu cinema.

I think what was invading ancient China is more westerners rather than just technology. Gunpowder was discovered way back in the 9th century, so China perhaps develop both the technology and martial arts along the same time.

I know I am digging too deep into this, but we have the baddest-assed tiger as the villain in the first one, so I was looking forward to what they will introduce here.

[Watashi]

Saw this again last night. It's probably my favorite DreamWorks film (yeah, not saying much). I liked it better than Toy Story 3. I don't think I've been moved deeply over a Panda doing Tai-Chi in the rain more than this film.

Gary Oldman deserves a thousand Oscars for this film.

[Russ]

I am really looking forward to this, Wats.

[Spinal]

Ambitious ... artistic ... sincere ... dark ... inspiring ...

Those aren't words that should be associated with Kung Fu Panda 2, a sure-fire money making sequel from the studio that once brought us Bee Movie, and yet, surprisingly, they all fit. I mean, I don't think there was even one fart joke in the whole thing. The film functions as both an origin story and a continuation of the previous tale. And the key to the film's success is that the filmmakers actually take this absurd Jack Black-voiced character seriously.

Don't get me wrong, it's still pretty goofy. I simply mean that the writers provide Po with a rich back story and deep emotional stakes. They recognize that Po is not simply a hapless buffoon. He has always had a gift that complements his fellow warriors, his elasticity and his ability to bounce back (often literally). This quality, juxtaposed against Tiger's hardiness, is explored in a captivating tale that is actually worth telling, a rarity for a sequel.

If anything, the film is almost too mature, losing some of the deep belly laughs from the previous film. But the sum total is awfully enjoyable and ends with a pretty solid message for the kids. Well, for adults, too, actually.

[Watashi]

My only teeny problem with the film is...[

Show Spoiler

the final shot revealing that Po's father is still alive. While it's a powerful ending on its own, it kinda contradicts the previous scene with Po acknowledging Ping as his father. If they do make a third film, it will be interesting to see where they go with this.

]

But yeah, Spinal's on the money. I love how all the humor comes from visual gags or parodies of genre conventions and not pop references. A lot of the jokes are surprisingly subtle which is a rarity for DreamWorks.

[Spinal]

Jennifer Yuh Nelson is the first woman to solely direct an animated feature from a major Hollywood studio.

[EyesWideOpen]

Ok, I rewatched the first one. I'll admit I was wrong. I must have just not been in the right mood my first viewing. It was quite an enjoyable movie. I wouldn't put it close to my favorite Pixar stuff but still quite good.

[TGM]

This movie lived up to my expectations. It's pretty much on par with the first. It's a very beautiful film, much more so than I remember the first being, and I especially loved the switch between 2D and 3D styles at certain times.

I think this movie benefits tremendously by not being saddled down with an origins story like the first, so they're able to jump right into the action. And the furious five actually play an active role here, rather than merely existing like they did before. Our villian here, played wonderfully by Gary Oldman, is also a real treat, and similar to the furious five, we're really able to spend some time with him and learn more about him, whereas last time we were just told about him until we finally meet him in the end.

The film definitely brings the humor, and one particular line by Mantis may be the funniest thing I've heard in a movie in years. But, as I discussed with my friend I went to see it with, they sometimes placed their humor in inappropriate spots. It only bugged me a little, but my friend took a much bigger issue with it, so I suppose it just comes down to taste.

Overall, I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. It's funny, and at times it's heartbreakingly powerful. Dreamworks definitely has a successful franchise on their hands, and I more than look forward to the next installment.