Friday, May 27, 2011
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Friday, May 27, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW
Kung Fu Panda 2
Inner Peace Not Indigestion, For A Hungry Panda
Warrior
Jack Black as Po and Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu in Jennifer Yuh Nelson's
"Kung Fu Panda 2".
Dreamworks Animation
by
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
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Friday,
May 27, 2011
Cuddly, sweet fun can be found in Jennifer Yuh Nelson's "Kung Fu Panda 2", the
sequel to the 2008 animated smash hit that I didn't see. Jack Black
returns as the voice of the title role, as does Angelina Jolie voicing the wise
Tigress, among other cast members. The film opened yesterday across the
U.S. and Canada.
Po's new mission is to stop Lord Shen (a peacock voiced by Gary Oldman) from
controlling and claiming China as his own. Along the way Po has to uncover
his own origins before vanquishing the threat Shen poses to China and for that
matter, Kung Fu itself.
As written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger the story is functional enough to
marry the exploits and personalities of the eclectic parade of animals with the
drama, action and themes of family, discovery and coming-of-age, and does so
well. There's enough in the script to resonate and hold our interest, and
the film's zeal, energy and cheerful spirit is one of the best reasons to see
"Kung Fu Panda 2".
Children will laugh and have fun with "Kung Fu Panda 2" and Mr. Black, who does
enough to make Po amusing. The other voices from the all-star cast do
well, including Dustin Hoffman as Shifu, who tutors Po in the ways of discipline
and inner peace. The music by Hans Zimmer and John Powell is sweeping and
vibrant, and doesn't clash with or disrupt the film's rhythm, tone or visual
splendor.
I enjoyed Ms. Nelson's film immensely, and as its director she gives the
proceedings a neatness and tidiness that makes "Kung Fu Panda 2" fresh, fun and
entertaining. The visuals are impressive, first-rate images bursting with
color and imagination. Seeing this film in 3D, as I did actually enhanced
the film's decor and beauty but the images will be sterling regardless of the
dimension you choose to view it in.
"Kung Fu Panda 2" is a film for all the family, and but for one or two images
it's a film for all age groups. If you enjoyed "Kung Fu Panda" -- or even
if you didn't see it -- you will be taken and delighted with this new film, a
quieter, warmer alternative to the rough, rugged blockbuster fare that will
dominate the summer across all ends of the earth.
For one of the few times this year in a mainstream Hollywood film -- or any film
-- I sat right through to the very end of the closing credits to enjoy the
visuals that accompanied them. It was a joy to do so.
With the additional voices of: Jackie Chan,
Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Michelle Yeoh, James Hong, Danny McBride,
Victor Garber, Dennis Haysbert, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Paul Mazursky.
"Kung Fu Panda 2" is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association Of
America for sequences of martial arts action and mild violence. The film's running time is
one hour and 33 minutes.
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