Comments on: DreamWorks Countdown 22: ‘Kung Fu Panda 2’

By: Haley Gilbertson

Haley Gilbertson — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 16:44:00 +0000

I honestly love Kung Fu Panda 2 a lot more than the first…!!
I just love how so much darker and deeper they get into the elements of the movie, like the villain and his ties to Po, Po’s own backstory which still brings a tear to my eye!! And OMG BABY PO AHHHHH!!!! I seriously can’t get enough of this little gem! :DDD

By: Manuel Orozco

Manuel Orozco — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 14:52:00 +0000

Both installments are equally awesome! This sequel does what every second installment should. It raises the stakes in scope, emotional depth, action and visuals. The animation’s frequent art shift to hand drawn is nothing short of mind bending. KFP 2 was my favorite animated film of 2011 tied with Cars 2 and Puss in Boots!

By: Q-A the Authoress

Q-A the Authoress — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 13:43:00 +0000

I enjoyed KFP2 but it still took me years to watch it after KFP for some reason.

By: Karl "Karlamon" Smith

Karl "Karlamon" Smith — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 00:14:00 +0000

As someone who didn’t get that much into the first movie, the sequel blew all my expectations to shreds. The animation is so striking, the choreography executed so brilliantly, and the development of Po is so engaging (and even emotional), that I rank it as one of my favourites from DreamWorks Animation. Easily one of the best animated sequels ever created in my view.

By: Alex Beezley

Alex Beezley — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 22:15:00 +0000

I didn’t like this film quite as much as the first, but I still think that it is very enjoyable. The action sequences are exciting and brilliantly executed, the animation is impressive, and the story is paced very well. My only real problem with Kung Fu Panda 2 is that there is not as much time allotted for slower scenes as in the first film. I believe that this is one of the best animated films of 2011, even if it is not quite as strong as Puss in Boots or The Adventures of Tintin.

By: Jerrico

Jerrico — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 17:50:00 +0000

I think 1 & 2 break even for me. For example, I preferred Tai Lung to Shen. Both have “daddy” issues, but Shen was unrelatably crazy before those issues unlike Tai. (On that note, why are there no lady villains after 3 movies? Use the cat sisters from the animated short, I liked them. Especially if you can tie that into Tigeress’s story. Or Viper, if someone has a dark past, it’s probably her.)

Anyway, Shen’s problem wasn’t mommy didn’t love me so I turned evil. Shen’s problem was I was evil so mommy was afraid of me, which I can’t really blame her for. I also found Tai Lung to be more awe inspiring. Going from his prison escape to Shen who spends most of his time commanding other people to do everything was a bit of a disappointment. (Powerhouse vs Management) If Shen had been an anti-Po with his own Furious Five, it would have been different, but he was often a loud mouth bully (Which matches peacocks who are loud and attack anything that is smaller than them). Though I loved the parts where Shen was involved and liked their personalities evenly.

I also don’t care for the redemption fake out trope, which hurt the ending for me.

But there’s a lot I liked about #2, like the themes and darker tones. I was hoping the Five would be developed more, each movie about on a different character, but we’ve gotten three movies mostly about Po so far. However, silly as it is, the montage with Po and Shen that ends with Shen on the top of the tower is one my favorite scenes (visuals and music) in all three movies.

By: Jeremiah

Jeremiah — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 17:24:00 +0000

Whee, sogood, sogood, sogoooood. Touching, and beautiful, and exciting, and fight, fight, fight, whee!

By: CarFan

CarFan — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 06:16:00 +0000

I agree with your analysis. I liked Panda 2 over the
first one and liked how this one was much darker
and deeper, while still having charm and some fun.
In addition, the animation in it was simply stunning.

By: Screenhog

Screenhog — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 05:30:00 +0000

In my mind, this movie vastly improves upon the first one. I love this as a film, and more as a sequel.

Here’s one example why: The first film ends with Po being the Dragon Warrior who is to lead the Furious Five. Now, Dreamworks could have gone the easy route of making Po incapable of leading the Five by being a goofball instead, or they could have made Po suddenly change character and be a great leader. Instead, they walk the tightrope and create in Po a goofball who has fantastic leadership skills. In the opening battle, Po is able to give solid direction to the Five, while the Five are able to anticipate how Po will need help in the situation and assist him. That got my attention, and the rest of the movie didn’t disappoint. (Wow, that villain. Most frightening peacock you will ever see.)