Marval Movie

What is happening? How could a movie called Kung-Fu Panda be so entertaining and smart? How could it then happen that Kung-Fu Panda 2 is even better than the original? And now, with the third movie being released that it continues to climb the ladder of greatness.

Po (Jack Black) the fat panda with a kind heart is living his dream by being a living Kung Fu legend of his village. Along with his friends the Furious Five, Tiger (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Crane (David Cross). All is well, they get praise for being them and defeat bandits to get some action in. But this is not meant to last, because their master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) tells them that he will no longer be teaching them. Now that Po is a fully qualified Dragon warrior what is left for him to do? Well, pass on what he has mastered, he must become a teacher.

The character journey that Po has been sent through on these movies is one that has been well thought-out and brilliantly executed. So many times in movies the characters reach their peak in the first movie and whatever conflict and/or character development that they deal them are just cheap. But these writers and creator understand how to take what was leftover with the last movies lessons and build on them and expand and continue to give the characters something to learn and overcome. In the first movie, he became the Dragon warrior, in the second he mastered being it. Now he must pass-on his teachings to others.

All-of-a-sudden a mysterious stranger beats Po's dumpling eating record, this strangers is also a Panda. This is Li Shan (Bryan Cranston), after a funny scene where the two gradually deduce that they are father and son they embrace. This however doesn't go down too well with Po's other father Mr. Ping (James Hong). From this point on Po is torn between how he has been raised and how his peoples culture operates. This is a smart metaphor for children that are adopted that meet their biological parents or people that are from a different culture to the one they were raised in.

Meanwhile though, the yak Kai is approaching, wielding two blades attached by chain. He doesn't just fight in the physical plain, he fights by manipulating chi (life energy) so once he defeats someone he transforms them into little jade ornament that then become his minions. Kai is a very entertaining villain. His origin is interesting, as well as ties into the mythos of Kung-Fu Panda, he is appropriately threatening as well as funny, frustrated because people don't know who he is. J.K. Simmons is able to portray all of these elements of the character very skillfully. Throw in a rather good design and once again we have ourselves and villain that does all the things an antagonist should do in a children's animated movie.

These movies have such striking beauty is isn't fair. They are like lush paintings come to life. The striking colors and imagery that they are able to imagine in the concept art stage of production and then bring to life through the movement of animation is the kind of things that widen your eyes and sends your mind to a higher place.  From the skillful use of colors and inventive transitions, it radiates energy from the screen. And of course being that DreamWorks is a powerhouse of animation the sharp, crisp image is a delight, from the snowflakes that fall, the fur on all the animals fur, just screams talent.

Again like the last movies, there is the fun. There are real stakes so we are invested but the situation, characters and the visuals are so much fun. Po himself also realizes that this is fun so while in the midst of battle he is having fun and it becomes infectious to the audience.

Han Zimmer's score for these movies continues to be a fun, bombastic, heartfelt, rousing score that is recognizable and versatile enough to move from one emotional scene to comedic then right into seriousness.

All these movies continue to expand on visuals, characters, jokes and theme of martial arts. They so clearly have smart, talented people working behind them and they have so much imagination and ideas that they cant be contained in one movie. How far will they continue to go with their escalating greatness? I don't know but I will be happy to follow them there.

Rating: 4 stars out of 4