"Kung Fu Panda 2: The Kaboom of Doom" Talkback (Spoilers)

But you already have Jack Black in the main role. So what is the point of getting JCVD to play a Crocodile martial artist with 5 lines or Lucy Liu as Viper and David Cross as Crane? I doubt they make much more difference with the marketing and overall box office.

Plus this is a strategy that tends to fail with animated movies more often than not.



I think Haysbert and Yeoh were fine with what they were given. Yeoh's character actually had some significance to the story. But having all these big names as such incidental minor characters is pointless and honestly a waste. JCVD playing a crocodile martial artist should be fun and exciting. It let me down.

Just for example, you don't sign Geoffrey Rush and Michael Clarke Duncan up for Tomar Re and Kilowag in the Green Lantern movies so they will play characters that only have about 5 lines that won't be doing very much.
 
Does anybody know if Michelle Yeoh will be playing the same role for the Cantonese dub of "Kung Fu Panda 2"? I've checked high and lo for any info regarding the Cantonese dub (coming out to Hong Kong in July) and nothing confirmed except for the already established voice cast for the first film returning.
 
I went to see this movie with the rest of my Kung Fu class on Saturday, and although I suffered from the typical apprehension that one has before watching a sequel to one of their favorite movies, I was absolutely not disappointed. "Kung Fu Panda 2" was a wonderful movie. As usual, I loved Jack Black's performance as Po and the many humorous moments in the movie had nearly our entire class cracking up multiple times. (Good thing we were pretty much the only ones in the theater.) Not to mention that Tigress was still completely and utterly awesome, and even more likable now that she's less of a jerk. (Guess who my favorite character is. c: ) But still, this movie, like the first, was a perfect blend of comedy and action. Plus Lord Shen was a great villain, maybe not quite as good as Tai Lung, but still great.

This movie also made me ship PoXTigress.
Durnit.
 
Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. ;)

ramona-flowers-hammer-small.jpg


As for Kung Fu Panda 2, I pretty much loved it, although I agree the "cliffhanger" tag at the end was totally unnecesary and squashes some of the emotion of Po's reconciliation with Mr. Ping. :shrug:
 
Saw this yesterday.

It was good, though obviously not reaching the stratosphere of the first (which is almost on the level of Pixar's best), it certainly did not disappoint. It was darker than the first one, as I felt that Shen was much more of a brooding and complex villain than Tai Lung. Again, the furious five and the other celeb voices seem like a huge waste, and even more surprising is how little screentime Shi-Fu had. What was it? One scene at the beginning... and... did he even SPEAK during the climax? What a weird waste of Dustin Hoffman.

Po's search for "who he is" (which is a much more mature way of saying "who are my real parents", which I fully expected DW to do) was really masterfully and nicely done. The last scene between Po and Mr. Ping was shockingly tearjerking, though this isn't Toy Story 3 levels here.

And then there's last "cliffhanger" scene. Ew. Why?

It reminded me of this season of "How I Met Your Mother". In the second episode of the season, Barney realizes that he now wants to know who his true father is. At the end, his mother offers his name, but he rejects it because he doesn't need a father, because he always had a great mother. Very sweet ending.

And then some episodes later he finds out the identity of his father. Oh. Don't get me wrong, those episodes with John Lithgow were very moving, but it kind of nullified the sweetness of that particular episode.

Same here, though this is on a grander scale since we just viewed an entire movie propelling this arc. Po finds out who he "truly" is, why is it dramatically necessary for his parents to be alive? To further the EXACT SAME ARC in another movie?! Why? Whhhyy?! So pointless, yuck.

Due to that, I'd say an 8.5/10.
 
From the artistic perspective, I agree with you. I'm just repeating what I've been told by people on the acting and the production side of the house. The justification for the stunt casting is that the PR people think the bigger names will sell more tickets. It doesn't take a whole lot to show that this just isn't true in animated films (or even live-action ones, IMO), but Hollywood is all about latching onto the easily-defined quantity over the harder-to-define artistic one.

I would also say that this strategy doesn't fail, but just that it doesn't help as much as the people making the decisions thinks it does. DreamWorks has built up a solid list of box office performers on this strategy, long after the general public has begun to realize that a lot of those big names get 5-6 lines and you can barely tell who they are anyway (did anybody really recognize or care that it was Brad Pitt voicing Metroman in Megamind? Did anybody NOT know he was going to be in the movie, though?). However, if one of these movies flops at the box office, it's not going to be because the worst word of mouth someone could deliver about it was, "And Bigtime Actorguy was listed in the credits, but he only got 4 lines!"

My last point on this is that I'm not sure whether any of the supporting cast is a really big-name actor that can command a massive salary in their own releases. JCVD hasn't had a hit movie in years, Jackie Chan has never been able to build up much traction in the US, and Lucy Liu's profile has dropped sharply since her heyday when she was on Ally McBeal. Of the rest, you've got Jack Black and Angelina Jolie, and I can't help but notice that it's Master Tigress who got the most lines of the Furious Five. I figure they were going to kind of get their money's worth.

On a completely unrelated note, the same Chinese artist who protested the first movie is protesting this one, too, although to seemingly the same effect (which is to say none). I think his anger is directed at entirely the wrong target, but I think he's aiming at something that he can get a fix on rather than attempting to address the REAL issue, which is that the Chinese film industry is moribund and stuck in the same creative rut that it's been stuck in for decades. However, you can't address that issue without pointing out that artistic expression is hampered when there's an entire bureaucracy of people ready to say, "No," and shut you down (if not have you thrown in jail) for little to no reason. That same bureaucracy is going to throw YOU in prison for saying so; he's described as an "avant-garde artist," which means that he probably gets by because nobody in the bureaucracy understands his art. But protesting American imperialism, cultural or otherwise, is something they'll never yell at you for so that's what he'll go with. I don't know (or, honestly, care) if he really believes this is true, but I can at least sympathize with bits of what he's angry about.
 
I just came back from seeing it and I thought it was good. Not as good as the first but certainly was a worthy effort. It was way more emotional than what I was imagining it to be.

Also what was up with the sequel hook? Are they being serious when they say that they are going to make five sequels?

EDIT: I have to say that the 3D was nice. It gave a nice in depth look to the movie.
 
9/10 for me this is a sequel that rivals the original as there is more action, more stunts and of course suprises despite the ending which leads up to another movie but a good twist no doubt.

Baby Po was adorable in this movie in the flashbacks and i love how it combined 3 different animation techinques in the film. what is also cool is to see a cinematic god like Guillermo Del Toro involved as consultant.
 
Why does this have 'Kaboom of Doom' in the title? That was dropped.

Anyway, I saw it in 2D first, and plan on seeing it again in 3D.

I liked it, though I admit I didn't like it as much as the first, but I knew a lot about this one before I saw it. It feels like it was rushed and they could've used more time to work on it, and I understand they did spend three years to make it instead of four. Overall, I think some moments were great, and some moments seemed hollow.

SPOILERS!

The good:

-The 2D flashbacks, the shadow puppet look (and Oogway replacing the DreamWorks fisher guy)
-More locations, more animals.
-More Mr. Ping, more of the Five. And I don't mind that the Five and the new characters stay on the side, having celebrity actors do a voice doesn't mean they can't have minor roles. And these are a lot of characters to cram into an hour and a half.
-Po showing a deeper and more serious/ spiritual side, but not at the expense of his clumsy goofiness.
-Shen's design. His fighting was also awesome to watch, and I especially liked his character moment talking with the Soothsayer before he frees her.
-Baby Po: cuteness, (and worth a mention: young Mr. Ping's crazy hair)
-Tigress being more involved. They handled her toughness and nicer side well enough.
-Mr. Ping cashing in on Po's fame at the restaurant.
-The adoption talk between Po and his dad.
-The 'inner peace' scene in the cave, and Shifu getting the 'death vision'.
-Po trying to talk on the building and no one hears him, and he tries to throw the hat and fails.:p
-Jack Black voicing the mom and dad panda in the radish dream.
-End battle where Po stands up and offers himself to be shot while the others are wounded in the water. Epic.
-How Shen goes down: letting himself be crushed by his own weapon.
-When Po returns to his dad.

The not-so-good:

-I didn't welcome the explanation of Po's dad being a goose, it makes for some character exploration, but I think, if they really are planning on making more of these films, this could've waited.
-The opening peacock story gives too much away.
-Po seemed to mature a little too much a little too fast for the second KFP. Maybe the series will help here?
-Less Shifu, though this is understandable to give more spotlight to Tigress and the rest of the Five.
-And Tigress herself: she just isn't as good a secondary character as Shifu, and 'tough with a soft side' is pretty much all there is to her.
-Mantis' overkill of the 'eaten head' joke.
-Shen has his moments, but was lacking as a villain, he just didn't feel like he had strong enough motivation, and he's yet another villain who gets a shot at changing his ways but refuses (a trend I'm tired of... ahem, Lotso...)
-Overly crazy flashy scene of Po throwing the cannonball, looked like something from a videogame.
-The end scene: actually I've got mixed feelings about it, but it does seem to potentially fracture what the film worked to do with Po seeing Mr. Ping as his father. Did the filmmakers mean for this, or was it suppose to be a hopeful scene?
-Not really from the film, because I just don't think hugs are proof, but speculation of a possible Po and Tigress romance: please don't, DreamWorks. Please keep it as a friendship/ brother/ sister thing. This isn't Madagascar.
-Credits sequence weren't as cool as the first movie's.
-Soundtrack seems largely a rehash of the first film's music, but is decent nonetheless.

Quibble:

-I remember a scene from the Holiday Special dream where Po tries to add beets and his dad slaps them away and says "No beets!" Po says "But I like beets..." Wouldn't it have been a nice touch if they were radishes instead? Or the reverse, Po being found in a box of beets. Just a little thing I think was a missed opportunity.;)
 
I'm usually A-OK with most sequels, so I wasn't surprised I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Acting was great, animation was fantastic, 4-out-of-Furious-5 still severely underused, but overall a lot of fun and good ol' heart string-tugging.

I do find it incredible how this is the second straight time I felt even a twinge of sympathy for the villain. The guy enacted genocide on fluffy pandas for crying out loud, and yet it was still possible to feel a modicum of regret for his position with his parents and how it literally killed them to throw him out. Gotta give props to the writers on that one.
 
Saw it today and overall was very impressed and I found it to be as good as the first. A solid 4.75/5, however they made this story much more empathy driven, which is good, but the humor wasn't as good as the original.
 
Okay, I'm really saddened that this had to open against Hangover 2, cause this was the better film, though I am not a fan of the Hangover series and haven't seen either.

This film is a step up for Dreamworks, who seems to take two steps forward and three steps back. I saw Megamind and HTTYD and for me neither was great, but HTTYD was a lot better for its technical advances. KFP2 is similar as the animation is a heckuva lot better than the original, but the story advances forward and goes back. I would say it is the Empire Strikes Back of Dreamworks Animation films.

Cool fight sequences that really seemed to be choreographed well.

More character development for everyone but Sifu.

Funnier than the first film.

Acting (if you can call it that) was a lot better. Gary Oldman stole a lot of scenes.

As for stunt casting, I usually stay away from spoiler reviews and even advertisements as much as I possibly can, so I went into this only knowing the broadstroke plot of the film and that's it. All in all, I look forward to a sequel, and I really enjoy all the references to Chinese culture that they make. I think it is actually honorable and respectful, but I'm on the outside looking in. There is an Asian woman on staff and two in the cast, so . . .

I expect more Asian mythological animals to show up. And I think someday, that Dragon statue is going to be significant.
 
I am a huge Kung Fu Panda fan. I've seen the original no less than 25 times. So naturally I was very concerned about the sequel. The trailers and spots had me very concerned but as I walked out of the theater from seeing the sequel my fears were put to rest.
I loved Kung Fu Panda 2.

Ups:D
- Animation. Holy piss. The original wasn't bad in 2008 but the animation in the sequel is phenomenal. Recently acquired 'The Art of Kung Fu Panda 2' and I guess the team had to literally erase the 2008 CG character rigs and make new ones with the new technology. The Scenery Porn was back full force in the sequel. In 3-D it felt like I was looking out into an expansive valley. crazy.
- Artistically and style-wise the sequel was everything I wanted to see if you know what I mean. Every movement, every flourish, every color was just perfect to me. Just little things like how when Shen reveals his cannon in the beginning he hops on top and bows as it is lowered. And that scene where we see Po and the Five in the desert stylistically shown next to Shen sparring and training. The art here is incredible. Such a joy to watch.
- The VAs are still mint. Jack Black is incredible. I don't like him as an actor, but he does such a good job as Po. Same with Jolie. Oldman was amazing as Shen. Multiple chills. I don't approve of the stunt casting but at least they all do a decent to excellent job.
- Po is a total badass now! Badass Adorable, but definitely badass. The crowning moment for me was when he returns to the valley and appears in the archway of the noodle shop with the turnips. I said "Wow, Po has come so far." It's great because he's genuinely kind and pure but now he's also a complete martial arts beast.
- PoGress Ship Tease? I forgot to anticipate this going into the sequel, but I actually enjoyed it a lot. Now I'm honestly not a big ship person. From the beginning I felt Po and Tigress should just be close friends. I said 'If they pair Po and Tigress they better take it slow and make it realistic." and thankfully that's what they appear to be doing.
I mean most of their interactions could be taken as platonic. The only ones that seemed more-than-friendly were when Po went to her specifically and held her hand and then when she pulled the Futile Hand Reach afterwards. I can't believe they got me shipping PoGress, but if they're going to do this they better do it right. I don't want them living happily ever and having kids in the next movie. Take it slow and make me believe it.
- The emotional scenes retained the quality from the first film. Particularly I loved when Tigress realizes people see her as cold and heartless and the scene where Soothsayer confronts Shen about the futility of his efforts. I cry every time I see the flashback of Po's mother leaving him. So effective.
- The sequel is so much darker than the original. This could've been good or bad, but I enjoy it. I was surprised by the deaths though I have to admit. Thundering Rhino's death was poignant. The first victim of the cannon. He stood up to it because how could he know what it would do. But man, Wolf Boss. Shen's most loyal servant and follower killed, just like that. Geez.
- The sequel continues to balance humor and drama well. Sometimes I found it jarring, but overall I think it just serves to accentuate Po's character. He's a rolly-poly joker one second and a cannon-ball deflecting badass the next. Sequel had some hilarious moments though. Loved the jail scene and Po ineffectively yelling to Shen toward the end.

Downs :(
- Furious Five? It was such a bummer to me that of the Five only Tigress gets any substantial screen time. I mean I love Tigress, but Crane's my favorite of the Five and... there was nothing there. A consequence of having so many characters I guess. Hopefully the series will be able to give the Five some more character growth.
- Sequel Hook. As a personal snafoo I hate sequel hooks especially ones that are this blunt. I think there are more creative ways to induce a sequel.
- Trailers and spots Oh Dreamworks, why do you do this? Maybe the TV spots are aimed to kids, but damn I think DWA is shooting themselves in the foot with them. The official trailers for the movie aren't bad, but the TV spots are piss-poor. Most of them are still pushing Po's slapstick and similar cheap humor. The spots ignore everything that makes the movie great. Not to mention they spoil SO MUCH. Will DWA ever learn?

Afterthoughts:confused:
- They did a great job with the sequel. I really love it. But I feel like they've got some huge challenges for the next one. After besting Tai Lung and stopping Shen's huge force and cannons what could be next? Topping the heights of the first two movies in a quality way will be a huge challenge.
Also I'm wary of introducing the pandas. I feel like having Po meet them could easily turn cliche and overdone.
Lastly there's the PoGress thing. If it's going to go down, they better treat it right.
- I wonder how much the series will effect the sequel, if at all.
- Mr. Ping is a great character and James Hong is a great actor/ VA.
- I love that as technology gets better and better the animation will get increasingly amazing.
- Ahhh. Still can't believe Wolf Boss was killed off like that.

Phew.
 
Saw it, enjoyed it immensely.

It was everything the first movie was, and more!
And by that I mean they up the ante on everything, more action, more comedy, more emotion!
Does it make it better than the first? Not by much really. But I really like the first one, and the second one was fun too.

In terms of the ending, that caught me by surprise. I wasn't thinking of that as a sequel hook when I saw it, and I hope it won't be. I just saw it as means to show that there are still pandas around China somewhere.
I hope the sequel will focus more on the furious five this time around, we don't need to explore more of Po's past anymore.

Still, I love the movie, can't wait to rent it!
 
That didn't strike you as a sequel hook? Because it was the most blatant example of one I've seen in a while. Hoping that there is a sequel I imagine the pandas would be playing some role in the story.

I'm with you though. I'd love a little more input from the Furious Five. I imagine the series will be an ideal medium for exploring the Furious Five if the next sequel neglects to. I don't think we'll need to be seeing much of Po's past anymore. This sequel did a nice job of bringing Po to terms with it I think.
 
I saw it a few weeks back, and I like the fact that it's more action packed. It was a solid follow-up and, to be honest, I didn't care about how the very end happened.

I do, however, liked the touching moment when
Tigress hugged Po.
 
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