Kung Fu Panda 2 follows Po and the Furious Five as they fight against the biggest threat they have ever faced. This threat is a Peacock called Shen and his destructive weapons that no kung fu can stop. Along the way Po enrolls the help of two legendary kung fu masters and they fight against the hordes and hordes of goons and villains under the control of Shen. Throughout the film Po becomes curious about his true origin and finds pieces of the puzzle as the film progresses.
THE VOICE ACTORS
Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Angelina Jolie, Gary Oldman, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Michelle Yeoh, the list goes on and on of this fabulous voice cast and all of them are pitch perfect. The only problem i have is that some members of the Furious Five do not have a lot of lines, which is a slight let down.
THE ANIMATION
The animation in this movie is superb. The mix of CG and traditional 2D animation is tastefully done and is perfect for this film. The detail and texture of the scales, fur and feathers in this movie is excellent and an improvement over the previous film. The landscapes are rich and detailed and facial expressions are on point. The animation in this film makes china an absolutely gorgeous place and definitely helps the story for being so much more intricate and precise so that nothing is out of place.
CONCLUSION
Although not as good as the first movie, it is definitely a close race, Gary Oldman makes a peacock menacing, Jack Black is the best he has ever been, the story is more intricate with hints of real heart weaved within the story. There is more action and a better story, however it is lacking something which made the first movie so magical. If you loved the first movie, do not fear, this does not ruin the first movie, it is in fact recommended for the back story on Po as well as the character development of the Furious Five and Po.
MY SCORE
7/10