Kung Fu Panda 2 Review

http://youtu.be/YdaMGcOyfjM

When I watched the first Kung Fu Panda, it was in a home theater on bluray and HDTV goodness, and my friends had to pause the movie in the first five minutes because I was laughing so hard I was crying. We couldn’t proceed until I had calmed down (about 15 minutes later). Needless to say, it was instantly one of my all-time favorite movies. I love kung fu and kung fu movies, and here was movie about a martial arts geek manifested as a large panda infused with Jack Black’s soul. Pure genius.

So for Kung Fu Panda 2, I had to experience it on the big screen and in 3D awesomeness no less. Definitely worth it!

Non-spoiling details after the jump.

This time around in Kung Fu Panda 2, Po has to face an evil peacock instead of an evil snow leopard, and he also has to face his own dark past. Overall, the plot is definitely not as tightly crafted and short and sweet as the first installment, and the themes are a tad darker, but it definitely gives audiences a more expansive experience of the Kung Fu Panda universe.

The first Panda flick pales in comparison to the sequel in terms of the environment created for our beloved characters to romp in. If you thought the gorgeous renditions of the Gui Lin mountains and the kung fu palace fashioned after the Wu Tang temple were breathtaking, you’re going to love the journey through the gorgeous world that Dreamworks created for Po to be awesome in this time. As Po would say, don’t go blind from over-exposure to pure awesomeness!

The crowning jewel of this movie is the exquisitely timed comedy that not only re-establishes Po’s quirky, anti-climatic personality but also pokes general fun at martial arts movies in general. It’s a real plus for Martial Arts Nerds (or M.A.N.) everywhere. Be a M.A.N. like Po!