A sequel done just right!

Rating: 7/10 (30 July 2015)

You don't do a sequel unless its created by Dreamworks Animation and directed like Kung-Fu Panda 2.
That could be the bumper sticker for the movie theaters. Seriously.
Many times, sequels just throw a couple of new villains and force us to like the characters, eventually fail in that. Here we have a sequel which runs more like a prequel and uncanny for a Animation movie. The movie has got lot of story to it, you do not expect that at all
Granted it's got the Po moments and a Mission Impossible style mission to save Kung-fu. But it's likable. The more difficult part in sequels is people have a frame of reference to compare, and it's hard enough to satisfy that when the first movie was just a huge success. The bars are set really high and reach them would be a big ask, but if that's done the movie will succeed. Most times sequels are rated down because of this fact alone, in this franchise this movie reaches the predecessor success but is scared to take it further.
Positives about this movie: I like how the story unfolds and how the movie has got a lot more purpose than just creating another animation movie.
A lot of unanswered questions are looked at, which is nice. You might not have wondered about it in the first one as it was way too mind-blowingly awesome, but the director has taken a second reading at that script and addressed those open ends, Good work.
Colors: One word -Fantastic. Yes the fight with Tai lung was epic, funny and to up the ante in this movie, the movie writers have taken colors as a option and it has made wonders. It looked so good in the theaters that i wanted to see the movie again.
Negatives: Well, there were some and i did not expect them in this franchise 1. The villain, yes he creates cool weapons but not menacing enough as Tai Lung, he is a Peacock and the fact that worked for the movie was a tough ask, but again doesn't look villain enough 2. Too many cooks, the finale was supposed to be peacock versus panda, but bringing in Shifu, the other fighters just shows the directors is not confident about the script.
There are a couple of more negatives but not worth mentioning, i guess more of these come on board because the first movie was so good, Other sequels such as Madagascar, Ice age have been rated better than its predecessor because they got better with sequels. Here the director has matched the success of first movie which was a huge ask, but the movie feels a bit dragged by legacy sometimes, nevertheless a must watch fun movie by Dreamworks, i would be glad if they stop with this, but i guess they are not going to, let's see the next one pan out