The rare occurrence of a sequel living up to its predecessor has happened here, because this one truly impressed me. The narrative worked really well, and I found myself laughing throughout; moreover, they incorporated something I thought was lacking in the initial installment—Po’s background and his relationship with his father, who is a panda and a goose. While the antagonist's plot felt somewhat recognizable, it h…

Following his unexpected triumph as the “Dragon Warrior,” “Po” was looking forward to some downtime. However, events aren’t allowing him that ease as a vengeful peacock named "Shen" appears with ambitions of global domination. A short look back reveals the origins of his resentment and suggests a shared history between him and “Po,” which might shed light on their backgrounds. The problem is that "Shen" has created a…

Kung Fu Panda 2 delivers an abundance of visual gags and physical comedy, though many feel familiar by now. The characters engage in a great deal more kung fu action than they did in the first movie, with the Furious Five repeatedly striking down Shen’s wolf army. Master Shifu's staff appears at just-right moments during the final fight, and there are numerous animal characters using martial arts skills. It definitel…

I have to say, I didn't really connect with the initial “Kung Fu Panda.” It wasn’t bad, but it was simply passable. The gags centered on his size and awkwardness wore thin pretty quickly; they even felt like they skirted close to making fun of kids’ weight. “Kung Fu Panda 2” feels a lot like repeating what's already been done. You see the same characters, follow a familiar storyline, and hear the same jokes. There…

It's rare to encounter a sequel that surpasses its initial installment, but this film manages to do just that. The storytelling demonstrates increased intelligence, complemented by a strong narrative and truly remarkable animation quality. It makes for an ideal choice when planning time together as a family.