Way of the Panda: Kung Fu Sequel Hits Beijing!

Cinema-goers have endured too many 3-D farces over the past year, but Kung Fu Panda 2 finally brings the joy back to wearing those ridiculous plastic glasses. In this sequel, DreamWorks present some of the best action scenes we’ve seen in recent times – masterful one-on-one fights, massive group encounters and wicked chase scenes – totally surpassing all expectations of what an animated film can accomplish.

At the same time, the movie pushes all the right emotional buttons: nothing too complex, just simple themes of love, hate, friendship and the Taoist theory of inner peace. (OK, the last one might go a bit over some viewers’ heads.) Those key points set the audience off into bouts of laughter applause and tears.

While Chinese audiences have tended to take a dismissive attitude towards kung fu-themed Western action movies, the first Kung Fu Panda proved to us how much the writers understood the spirit of the tradition. The sequel at times gets a bit overly “American” in its handling of the genre but as somebody who grew up reading kung fu novels, I applaud the writers for retaining the essential themes and spirit.

(SPOILER ALERT!) In this installment, while on the path to becoming a real kung fu master, Po finally finds out why he has been calling a goose “Dad” for all those years. He might end up finding out who his real parents are, but if there was a “best father and son” award for the movies, my vote would definitely go to the goose and panda double act. The second half of the story might remind you a little bit of Harry Potter and Voldemort, but to be honest, Po makes the feats of the teenage magician look like a joke.

I also loved the original soundtrack – Hans Zimmer and John Powell have done as impressive a job for the sequel as they did on the first movie. Symphonic pieces cross over with traditional Chinese tunes played on instruments like the guzheng and erhu, setting the perfect backdrop to the on-screen action.

It may be that I like this movie too much. I realize I’ve only written good things about it, and I actually do think it would be tough to make a better sequel than Kung Fu Panda 2. I won’t apologize for that. But if you’re less impressed, the Panda may well have four more chances to win you over, according to this interview DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg gave last year. Another four? Can’t wait!

Kung Fu Panda 2 is now being screened at cinemas around town.

Photos from Douban.com