Kung Fu and Animation return in style.

Rating: 8/10 (2 June 2011)

KUNG FU PANDA 2 marks the return of Po and the Furious Five as they embark on a new adventure to stop a weapon so powerful it threatens the very existence of kung fu itself. Now the Dragon Warrior, Po is tasked with the responsibility of destroying this weapon, before the evil Lord Shen uses it to conquer all of China.
The first KFP was a pleasant and heart-warming surprise for most people, myself among them. To see the film actually respecting the culture they are portraying, and imbue it with multiple levels of philosophy while remaining hilarious and kid-friendly, is a dream come true in this age of trashy movies where money comes before quality and everything else. KFP 2 retains that sincerity, and delves even deeper into the little profound life messages that surpasses it's predecessor in every way.
Po is now enjoying his new life as a hero and a kung fu master, but is suddenly faced with the mystery of his dark past, and must deal with his inner demons as the truth slowly unravels. This leads to the character being far more emotive than in the last outing that affects those around him as well, giving this sequel a tone that is far less bright than it's predecessor. It offers the film a more emotional side as Po's investigation of his heritage and his new hero role causes ripples in his relationship with his Dad, and the father-son relationship serves as a powerful core to Po's inner conflict. His opponent this time, the albino peacock Shen, also contains far more character depth than Tai Lung in the first movie, and his ambitions more sinister and larger in scale. Both creatures of black and white compliment each other perfectly as the paths they choose are destined to meet and determine their eventual fate.
The references to Chinese culture and old kung fu movies are there yet again, with the dumpling fight in the original film succeeded by a terrific battle with Chinese musical instruments, playing to oriental music that evokes a vibe of several movies, Zhang Yimou's Hero among them. The action is fantastic with the Five having their distinctive styles, while Shen's thin limbs, sharp weapons and ferocious feather-blades come in stark contrast with Po's free flowing, soft-over-hard Tai Chi style.
As mentioned, the philosophical content, which I had previously feared would be toned down, gets full blown instead with many layers slid in. Po embarks on a quest to find inner peace, to create harmony within himself and "let things flow", as it is revealed that only when one's heart is unclouded with doubt and grudges can one tap into his or her hidden potential and, most importantly, attain true happiness. That is the main powerful message of the film and it is so brilliant in it's simple logic that makes it accessible to all races and religions. There are tons of other references to the theory of yin and yang throughout the movie that made me gasp and impressed with how much work the makers of the film have put in yet again.
Kung Fu Panda 2, as expected and anticipated, is touching, full of heart, awe-inspiring at times, hilarious in others, and constantly filled with meaning. It is a film that can entertain and capture a child's imagination, but also tug the heartstrings of adults and give them something joyous to think about when the credits roll. And it made my fist hungry for justice.