More Merry Martial Arts: ‘Kung Fu Panda 2’
Po, that immensely huggable martial arts hero, is back. Kung Fu Panda 2 is directed by Jennifer Yuh, who stepped to the helm here after being storyboard artist for the original Kung Fu Panda. Jack Black’s voice is again perfectly cast as the ungainly panda, joined by a host of other actors whose names and faces are as well-known as their voices, among them Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen and martial arts master himself, Jackie Chan.
“This movie is so awesome. All the characters from the first movie are back, along with some new faces. The animation is phenomenal and Jack Black does an exceptional job as the voice of Po!” says KIDS FIRST! film critic Raven Devanney (age 13). And fellow KIDS FIRST! film critic Gabriella Chu (age 14) shares, “Watching this movie in 3-D felt so life-like, espcially thte action scenes. There are so many action sequences and they all are very intense.”
Check out Raven‘s and Gabriella‘s reviews on YouTube, and read their full reviews below:
‘Kung Fu Panda 2’
Reviewed by Raven Devanney
The lovable yet ferocious panda is back in Kung fu Panda 2. Po and the Furious Five are here to save China, and things get a little crazy!
This movie is so awesome. All the characters from the first movie are back, along with some new faces. The animation is phenomenal and Jack Black does an exceptional job as the voice of Po!
My favorite character is Tigress, played by the brilliant Angelina Jolie, because you get to experience the softer side of Tigress.
All the battles in this film are amazing because they are not only action-packed, but are also hilarious. This movie should be viewed by ages 5 and up because this movie is a lot more emotional and sad than the first film and there is a little bit more death.
Overall, I give Kung Fu Panda 2 two thumbs up!!
‘Kung Fu Panda 2’
Reviewed by Gabriella Chu
The Kung Fu Panda is back with more adventure! This movie is an irresistible action comedy that’s pure fun. In case you have not watched the first Kung Fu Panda before, the protagonist, Po, is a panda who transforms from noodle-shop employee to kung fu master, joining the Furious Seven (a group of heroes who fight villains). In this sequel, Po finds himself conflicted with his past. He starts to question where he has come from and why his father is a goose instead of the panda. He also has to defeat evil Lord Shen, a peacock who plans to use a secret weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. Will Po be able to defeat Lord Shen even when conflicted with this past? You will have to watch this movie for yourself!
Watching this movie in 3-D felt so life-like, especially the action scenes. There are so many action sequences and they all are very intense. My favorite sequence is the one where Po finds his inner peace because the movie is in slow motion and incorporates scenes of his past as well as scenes from Master Shifu’s technique of inner peace. The slow motion emphasized Po’s technique, and made the scene much more interesting. I also thought the humorous voice of Po, Jack Black, is perfect for his role as a lively and entertaining panda. The movie also has inspiring messages, such as: Look to the future instead of the past, and discover who you are. However, I did not think this movie was as good as the first one. I did not find the story as touching and upbeat. I also didn’t find the voices of the characters recognizable, except for Po and the Tigress’s voice. In addition, the colors of the movie were not very vibrant. They did not fit the comical mood of the movie so much.
Overall, though, I think this is a great animated family comedy. I would recommend it to children ages 8 and up because younger kids might not be able to follow the storyline. You should definitely go see this if you are into adventure!
Photos: Kung Fu Panda 2 poster (top), Raven Devanney (middle), Gabriella Chu (bottom)
