Awesomeness times two.

Rating: 9/10 (29 December 2011)

Dreamworks is at it again! "Kung Fu Panda" was one heck of a big hit and when news of a sequel came up, I was fairly excited. Most of the same cast is back and are thrown into an adventure unlike any other. Get ready to feel the thunder because this is Kung Fu Panda 2.
Po the panda is now officially the new Dragon Warrior and is currently living the dream. However, a new threat bigger than Tai Lung has emerged and threatens not only the existence of kung fu, but also all of China. That threat is Lord Shen, a deadly albino peacock (Gary Oldman) who leads an army of wolves and gorillas, has possession of a weapon the world has never seen, and shares a mysterious and traumatic link to our hero's past. Po and the Furious Five (Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Crane, and Viper) must find a way to stop the evil Lord Shen from taking over China once and for all with all the skill and awesomeness they have.
It's great to see the old gang come back like Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Lucy Lui, etc. Likewise, we have an all new group of actors coming into the fray: Gary Oldman (Lord Shen), Michelle Yeoh (Soothsayer), Jean-Claude Van Damme (Master Croc), etc. There's a lot more action going on and it's pretty intense. The jokes are still a load of fun, guaranteed to make you laugh at least a few times. The story is actually more complex and a little darker than what we're used to from these kinds of movies, with emotions from some the characters being conveyed quite well.
Lord Shen has become one of my favorite movie villains of all time, being fairly complex and having a deadly combination of both brawn and brain. Being an albino peacock makes him seem like an unlikely threat, which helps to hide his sinister nature. What makes even more great is his connection with Po, which is something that is sure to shake things up a little bit and raise the stakes for our heroes.
I would have liked to see characters like Master Croc have a bigger role in the plot, but there's nothing I can do. Overall, this is one of those sequels that surpasses the originals. Wonderfully done and I look forward to more sequels. Check it out. Skidoosh!