Carl the Critic: Reviews "Kung Fu Panda 2"

Experience/Expectations: Forget everything I said about "Rio," "Kung Fu Panda 2" seems to be the big Oscar ^TM Contender this year. I really liked the first, and was disappointed when "WALL*E" won because I liked "Kung Fu Panda" more. But oh well we can't dwell in the past, "WALL*E" is still a great movie [_{even if I think "Kung Fu Panda" was better}] But hey it's okay, we still have "Kung Fu Panda 2," and I am possitive that it will at least be nominated for the Oscar ^TM if not win. As for "Rio" and "Rango" better luck next year guys. And now I need to see "Cars 2" in order to be certain that it can not be a contender. But now let's talk about the story.

Story: The story begins talking about how peacocks invented fireworks. There is this one Peacock, named Prince Shen, who wants to use the fireworks for evil, but when a soothsayer predicted that if Shen continues his evil plan, a warrior of Black and White will come forth and destroy him. Well the only animal that is Black and white in China is the Panda so he sends his team of wolves to massacre a village of Panda to ensure that the prophesy would not be fulfilled. After he does this his parents banish him because this is a big no-no. Little does he know that a little Panda was rescued and was found in a box of radishes by a Duck who owns a noodle shop.

And now a couple years later we meet Po again, the Panda who is the "Dragon warrior." He wants to learn about his past because he figures out that there is no way that a duck could be his real father [tell you the truth I'm not surprised it took him so long.] He learns about his past and must find inner peace in order to defeat the evil Prince Shen.

Critique: You want to know how I know this film will win the Oscar ^TM? IT MADE THE AUDIENCE CRY! And I'm not saying just the mothers cried, like with "Toy Story 3," I'm saying everyone [except me obviously (well maybe a little but SHUT UP!)] Anyways the film was touching, emotional, strong, and powerful. Dialogue was virtually perfect, and the chemistry between the characters is quite good. It's definitely one of the best films of the year, by far.

There is a few things that I have to question though, because you don't hire a Garbage man to redecorate your house, and you don't come to me to hear why the movie is very good (there are other people who can tell you this.) But from the moment when they said "peacocks invented fireworks," I had to think about this for a minute. How can a Peacock have the knowledge to create a fire work? To me it's like saying Betsy Ross was a Bald Eagle and had created the American Flag.

There is a questionable romance between Po and Tigress, they seemed to be closer in this film than the last one, but again this took me out of the film to think about what their children would be like. They would be either orange and black pandas or they would be snow leopards (or just tigers with black and white spots.) But then again maybe there isn't and I'm just paranoid, but there is a stronger connection between Po and Tigress, then Po and Master Shifu. Speaking of which, you see very little of him which is kinda disappointing, because he was one of my favorite characters.

Another problem with "Kung Fu Panda 2," is there are too many characters, who have very little dialogue. David Cross and Jackie Chan are the main examples I can think of where they have almost no lines in the entire film. This was a reoccurring problem from the first movie except David Cross said even less in the second film. This of course is for those who care about Jackie Chan and David Cross [Which I do! (more for Jackie Chan than for David Cross)].

The biggest problem I had was the use of the term "hard core." Although I shouldn't be too surprised that they used this word, this is Dreamworks, the company that is famous for having animals making modern day references. But the thing is the word sticks out like a sore, dismembered thumb in an ice cone.

These are minor critiques and so anything I didn't mention is alright, which is why I should mention that there is a cliff hanger ending. Why? Dreamworks didn't you learn from "Shrek?" Eventually the movies will get worse and worse.

Although these critiques are not to be taken too seriously these are things I think about when I watch a movie and think from the perspective of a film critic who hates the film, but really it is quite good, and I hope you see it cause it will make you cry, and if you don't you have no soul!

Overall: This film gets a 9.6 out of 10 which means I liked it that much, and I hope you do too.