by Surya Tej Borra
Movie Review
After the excruciating compres repeated trips to the multiplexes is a logical trend life tends to take, however these trips were hardly worth all the trouble. They were just screening one crappy movie after another. Then came 26th May and came a visual extravaganza from Dreamworks Animation KungFu Panda 2. I can confidently say that this movie has wiped out all the clichés that animated films are strictly for kids below 14. People irrespective of age were laughing till their heads off. True to its genre, KungFu Panda 2 had close resemblances to a Jackie Chan’s film which has madcap action. KungFu Panda 2, the second installment of the five films planned is the most beautiful CG films till date on celluloid in my opinion.
The story of "Kung Fu Panda 2" picks up right where the first one finished. The Dragon Warrior Po (Jack Black) has learned to harness his Kung Fu skills and now fights alongside the Furious Five battling the forces of evil. Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), banished prince of Gongman City, has returned with a new and dangerous weapon that will make all of China bow at his feet. When the Kung Fu master, Master Rhino, falls victim to this new and powerful weapon, Po and the Furious Five are called in to action.
In his quest to defeat Lord Shen, Po discovers a terrible truth about his past. Orphaned as a child, Po learns that his parents were killed by Shen, who sought to kill all the pandas of China after the Soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh) informs him that his demise would be at the hand of a warrior of black and white. Po uses this terrible truth to find inner peace with himself, defeat Shen and save China. Creating ever-more compelling villains always represents a challenge for ongoing film series, from James Bond to Batman, so the introduction of a slim peacock who not only claims that, “China will be mine!” but also intends to eliminate kung fu, represents a real force to reckon with. One aspect of the film is really appreciable. The Dragon Warrior looks hilarious and ravaging in action sequences and like a cuddly toy in the others. Screenwriters have nicely used the title character’s search for his real father to provide a little depth and poignance to a character whose initial rowdy behavior was a bit grating but which has now been mellowed with a measure of self-reflection on his childhood. Coming to the characters and the celebrities who have lent their voices, everything is flawless. Jack Black as Po, the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five comprising of Angelina Jolie as Tigress, Jackie Chan as Monkey, Seth Rogen as Mantis ,Lucy Liu as Viper, David Cross as Crane make it an engaging watch all through. In the first movie the action was a bit late, however in this edition characters are throwing fists at each other with 15 minutes. The increase in action sequences kept me glued to my seat. There is enough amount of time to small-fry-friendly bumptious slapstick and silliness, which feels generically mandatory. But it all moves along briskly, with a degree of visual grace and a solid feel of 3D effects. The settings were absolutely stunning, especially the sunsets, and the attention to every little detail, from the fur of Tigress to the feathers of Lord Shen, make it a visual masterpiece.
The visuals in the film were the most outstanding aspect of the whole production. Hans Zimmer’s score is an asset the and the perfect icing on the cake are the end credits, which employ a beautifully designed flipping lantern technique accompanied by wittily ever-accelerating music. In a nutshell, Dreamworks has outdone itself with this masterpiece.
The visuals in the film were the most outstanding aspect of the whole production. Hans Zimmer’s score is an asset the and the perfect icing on the cake are the end credits, which employ a beautifully designed flipping lantern technique accompanied by wittily ever-accelerating music. In a nutshell, Dreamworks has outdone itself with this masterpiece.
