Kung Fu Panda 2

Review:

DreamWorks has returned with the coolest panda in the history of animation! Kung Fu Panda 2 picks up the story from where the first movie left off; Po (Black) is happily living as the Dragon Warrior and protector of the Valley of Peace with the Furious Five. But a turn of events leads him to ask questions he never thought to ask. Where did he come from? How did he get there? Why is his dad Mr. Ping, of all things, a goose?

It all begins with the arrival of Po’s new nemesis – Lord Shen (Oldman), the heir of the ancient peacock clan that ruled the Gongmen City of China. The exiled Lord returns with a deadly weapon to overthrow the Kung Fu Council and rule China. Master Shifu (Hoffman) instructs Po that to defeat Shen he would have to attain inner peace. When setting out on this mission, little does Po know that Shen is more than just a villain that he has to defeat. In his quest for inner peace Po discovers his past, his real parents and also the reason why he’s the only Panda around. And most importantly, he discovers a devastating truth about Shen!

Kung Fu Panda 2 is not only as cool and hilarious as its predecessor, but surpasses it in terms of emotional impact; whether it is Po and Tigress’s (Jolie) bonding scenes or Po’s discovery of his past and his confrontation with Mr. Ping. The action gets bigger and better, and the animation is exceptional in its deep textures and subtle lighting effects. Flashback sequences unfold in rich, comic-book style, and the climax sequence where Po dodges deadly canon-balls is the most visually arresting set-piece to be seen in an animation film recently.

If you're after a rollicking adventure packed with action and laughs then it's time to get ready. Set. Po!

Ashita Agarwal