Kung Fu Panda 2
Director: Jennifer Yuh
Cast: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, James Hong
When an old adversary rises from the ashes to reclaim power, the Dragon Warrior Po, aided by the Furious Five, must overcome the shadows of his past to save Kung Fu. Will Po find the inner peace he needs to save China or will battling the malevolent Lord Shen bring about the demise of the Dragon Warrior?
Inner peace is a powerful theme in Kung Fu Panda 2. In the beginning, Master Shifu tells Po that in order to truly understand Kung Fu, he must first understand inner peace. Although he is called to be the Dragon Warrior and protect China from the villainous Lord Shen, the visions Po has of his mother abandoning him as an infant leave Po distracted and unable to conquer his fear or his enemies. It is only after Po learns the truth of his parents’ fate that he is able to understand the visions of his past and find the inner peace he so desperately longs for.
Love is also a strong theme in this film. Po’s mother performs the ultimate act of love when she hides her infant son from Lord Shen and his wolves to protect him when they come to destroy the pandas. Her willingness to sacrifice her own life so that her child could live illustrates the power of a mother’s love.
While Po’s mother was willing to give him up so that he could live, Po’s father, Mr. Ping, adopted Po when he was a baby and raised him as his own son. Although they are not bound by blood, the love that Mr. Ping has for his adopted son is that of a father for his child. While his wish was for Po to carry on the tradition of running the family business, Po’s father is understanding and even proud of his son when he chooses to follow his own path and embrace his destiny as the Dragon Warrior. In the end, the love shared between Po and his father is the catalyst which allows Po to realize that Mr. Ping is the missing piece of his heart that he was so desperately searching for.
Love is not only illustrated between Po and his parents; it is also very much present in his relationship with the Furious Five, particularly with Tigress. As Po and the Five embark on their quest to defeat Lord Shen, there is a moment when Tigress tells Po to stay behind with the Kung Fu Masters in the prison rather than face Lord Shen in battle. Although she understands Po’s pain and even attempts to help him come to terms with it, in the end, Tigress’s reason for leaving Po behind was not due to her lack of belief in his ability, but rather her love for him. She didn’t want to see her friend get hurt. Po reciprocates this act when, after he and the Five are seemingly defeated, he goes to Tigress to ensure that she is still alive after Lord Shen attacks them.
“Kung Fu Panda 2” is a hilarious and heartwarming film that not only equals its predecessor but surpasses it. The casting is perfect, particularly for Jack Black and Angelina Jolie who breathe life into Po and Tigress. The animation is absolutely breathtaking, and the story not only equals the emotional tone and strength of the original but it allows the audience to have a deeper appreciation for both the characters and the journey that they are embarking on. If you enjoyed the original “Kung Fu Panda” then this is a film worthy of your time.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Jennifer Yuh
Cast: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, James Hong
When an old adversary rises from the ashes to reclaim power, the Dragon Warrior Po, aided by the Furious Five, must overcome the shadows of his past to save Kung Fu. Will Po find the inner peace he needs to save China or will battling the malevolent Lord Shen bring about the demise of the Dragon Warrior?
Inner peace is a powerful theme in Kung Fu Panda 2. In the beginning, Master Shifu tells Po that in order to truly understand Kung Fu, he must first understand inner peace. Although he is called to be the Dragon Warrior and protect China from the villainous Lord Shen, the visions Po has of his mother abandoning him as an infant leave Po distracted and unable to conquer his fear or his enemies. It is only after Po learns the truth of his parents’ fate that he is able to understand the visions of his past and find the inner peace he so desperately longs for.
Love is also a strong theme in this film. Po’s mother performs the ultimate act of love when she hides her infant son from Lord Shen and his wolves to protect him when they come to destroy the pandas. Her willingness to sacrifice her own life so that her child could live illustrates the power of a mother’s love.
While Po’s mother was willing to give him up so that he could live, Po’s father, Mr. Ping, adopted Po when he was a baby and raised him as his own son. Although they are not bound by blood, the love that Mr. Ping has for his adopted son is that of a father for his child. While his wish was for Po to carry on the tradition of running the family business, Po’s father is understanding and even proud of his son when he chooses to follow his own path and embrace his destiny as the Dragon Warrior. In the end, the love shared between Po and his father is the catalyst which allows Po to realize that Mr. Ping is the missing piece of his heart that he was so desperately searching for.
Love is not only illustrated between Po and his parents; it is also very much present in his relationship with the Furious Five, particularly with Tigress. As Po and the Five embark on their quest to defeat Lord Shen, there is a moment when Tigress tells Po to stay behind with the Kung Fu Masters in the prison rather than face Lord Shen in battle. Although she understands Po’s pain and even attempts to help him come to terms with it, in the end, Tigress’s reason for leaving Po behind was not due to her lack of belief in his ability, but rather her love for him. She didn’t want to see her friend get hurt. Po reciprocates this act when, after he and the Five are seemingly defeated, he goes to Tigress to ensure that she is still alive after Lord Shen attacks them.
“Kung Fu Panda 2” is a hilarious and heartwarming film that not only equals its predecessor but surpasses it. The casting is perfect, particularly for Jack Black and Angelina Jolie who breathe life into Po and Tigress. The animation is absolutely breathtaking, and the story not only equals the emotional tone and strength of the original but it allows the audience to have a deeper appreciation for both the characters and the journey that they are embarking on. If you enjoyed the original “Kung Fu Panda” then this is a film worthy of your time.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.