#like I mean I'm used to reviewers not noticing the gay vibes sure I get that kinda

[minijenn]

Jen Tortures Herself With Every Dreamworks Animated Movie Ever: Kung Fu Panda 2

Full disclosure, I haven't seen this movie or Kung Fu Panda 3 in years so I was excited to revisit the entire franchise again! And with good reason, because Kung Fu Panda 2 is fantastic! But... is it as legendary as the first movie? Well... let's get into it.

We pick up with Po, now fully settled into his role as the Dragon Warrior, when he and the Furious Five set off to Gongmen City to stop the evil Lord Shen from using a deadly new weapon to take over all of China. Along the way, Po discovers the secrets of his forgotten past and must find inner peace despite the pain that past may bring.

The story here is even more simple than the first, very much carrying the vibe of an adventure movie more than establishing this world and characters like the first film did. And I do like that about it, I like that we get Po and the Furious Five being together as a team for most of the movie, getting to see how they all play off each other now that they're an established team. But... I think this movie is a touch more... spectacle than its predecessor was. More fight scenes, more slapstick, more... things happening instead of getting to know, say any of the other Five (besides Tigress, who is still the most in focus among them) better. It's all done very well, but it still feels like the movie is padding itsself out with that just a touch.

The characters are all still great though. We get some really great development for Po here, along with his genuinely tragic backstory and how he learns to overcome the anguish losing his family at such a young age may bring. The Furious Five are also all still very fun, with some really great friendship moments between Po and Tigress in particular. As for our new characters, we have the Soothsayer, who is a really well-done wise elder type character who also lays the sass down on our villain. Speaking of which...

I'm just gonna say it. I think Lord Shen may be one of the greatest Dreamworks villains ever. Holy shit ya'll, this goddamn peacock is just... insane. He has a tragic backstory too, but it's of his own damn doing, he's utter unhinged and bloodthirsty, hilarious in his own haughty way, and his design is so fucking great, like how Dreamworks made a peacock of all things so sinster, I'll never know, but they sure as hell did.

Once again, the animation here is top notch, with even more beautiful stylization than the first. The colors pop so vibrantly and the kung fu scenes are an absolute feast to the eyes, as are the set pieces. The score is also utterly beautiful, a returning trend in this franchise, I've noticed, with both strong, punchy action tunes and stirring emotional melodies alike.

The humor here is still pretty strong, but I think it takes something of a back seat to the emotions. And golly, this story does have them, it's probably one of the heaviest movies Dreamworks has made yet (it opens on recounting a literal panda genocide, I mean). But it's message, about not dwelling in the past and that what matters is who you choose to be now is absolutely on par with the simple, beautiful wisdom of the first. And at the end of the day, it's a message I think Po and the audience learn in a perfectly poetic way.

So yeah, Kung Fu Panda 2 is absolutely wonderful. I still think I like the first Kung Fu Panda just a little more, mostly because I think its message (beliving something is special is what makes it special) strikes a cord with me just a little bit more. Even so, this was a great second step in what's one of Dreamworks' best franchises. I'm very excited to see what the third (and the upcoming fourth) have to offer.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Verdict: Killed by a gay peacock and his big boom boom canon

Previous Review (Megamind)

Next Review (Puss in Boots)

#jen watches #dreamworks watch #jen tortures herself with every dreamworks animated movie ever #kung fu panda #kung fu panda 2 #dreamworks

[spaceytrash]

Never getting over the fact that the first ever interaction between the Goblin and Doc Ock in the Spidey films was in No Way Home and it was that fruity. Like they acted like long lost ex boyfriends who still pine for each other I can't deal with this it's too good

And no reviewer even mentions it. Or at least I haven't seen a single one do. I mean c'mon Goblin calls Otto honey I'm never getting over this how can you not mention it.

#spiderman nwh spoilers #spiderman nwh #spiderman now way home spoilers #spiderman no way home #octogoblin #like I mean I'm used to reviewers not noticing the gay vibes sure I get that kinda #but how noone I've watched has mentioned that Otto and Norman lit never interacted or mentioned each other before in the movies is so funny #and then to act like they've known each other for ages in nwh #don't get me wrong I really don't mind I LIVE for it but still it's wild #I still think whoever wrote the script just played the ps4 game before and said yep we make them act like exboyfriends who pine just cause #or alfred and willem just said fuck it let's do it for the gays #either way I'm grateful #mystuff