Kung Fu Panda 4: Vessel of Fire

Kung Fu Panda 4: The Vessel of Fire is a 2024 computer-animated wuxia film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is the fourth installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, and the sequel to 2016's Kung Fu Panda 3.
The film was directed by Tom McGrath and co-directed by Stephanie Ma Stine, and written by Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio. Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, David Cross, James Hong and Jackie Chan reprise their roles from the previous films with Danny McBride, Michelle Yeoh, Dennis Haysbert, Jean-Claud Van Damme and Randall Duk Kim reprising their roles of Wolf Boss, The Soothsayer, Storming Ox, Croc and Master Oogway also from the previous films. They are joined by Jim Sturgess, Forest Whitaker, Jeremy Irons, Gerard Butler and Zoe Saldana in the roles of Liu, Chow, Minister Zhao, Kang and Fan respectively. Also, Stephen Root reprises his character Junjie from the television series Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.
The film takes place four years after the events of the third film, and features Po dealing with new responsabilities as Supreme Master, while embarking on a journey with Furious Five to find the legendary "Vessel of Fire", which contains the power of the sacred beast known as Phoenix. They meet a white tiger named Liu and a black swordsman cat named Chow who can help them. But they want to find the Vessel of fire which is kept by legendary beast known as Phoenix. They need to protect it from Kretor, leader of Zou Liu Clan who captured Xiao, new empress of China, breaks the timeline summoning multiple heroes and villains from the past and other dimensions and wants to use this legendary object to defeat Phoenix release Crow - demonic being and use it as dangerous weapon. When Xiao is captured, her long missing mother Ro-Chi had to replace her. However group suddenly got separated from each other and everybody had to rule his story by himself.
== Synopsis ==
These are times of change for China. Spring season is coming, and Kung Fu has just received its new "Supreme Master", the Dragon Warrior, in which lies the responsability of guiding and molding a new generation of heroes towards a new dawn, as the old and cracked way of the Old Masters comes to an end. Meanwhile, the nation faces a crisis in the face of the fall of the Long Dinasty after the death of the Emperor.
In a constantly changing world, a great war is approaching that will determine the course of the nation, and the destiny of Kung Fu, forever.
== Plot ==
=== Prologue ===
After Po defeats Kai the Collector, he becomes the new leader of Chinese Guard where he also invites his old friends and together, they become undefeatable. Xiao, new empress of China becomes very proud of them and promises them to have a huge value of money or other prize for every mission. However suddenly Xiao gets captured by Kretor who wants to conquer. Soon Po hears, that emperor's throne will be led by Xiao's mother Ro-Chi who was revealed to be alive.
=== Chapter 1: Times collide (Entire team) ===
After short fighting training, Po and friends talk about everything they wanted in next fight. Suddenly, they felt that somebody is coming in and saw Hwang-Young who wanted to avenge is master Lord Shen. They have defeated him easily and come to the empress's palace to judge him. Suddenly Kretor uses his power to break time where he summons many villains from the past (Tai Lung, Scorpion, Boss Wolf, Fenghuang, Junjie, Kai and... Lord Shen) but something goes wrong as he summons many heroes from the past (inc. Master Cobra, Hu Master Shark, Mei Ling, Thundering Rhino, Woo and... Oogwai). They had a huge fight until Klaus and Veruca Dumont suddenly appear and call every villain in the portal to escape. Shifu then appears and tells his feelings about everything happening and soon Ro-Chi orders Po and Furious Five to find the vessel of fire, defeat Kretor and save Ro-Chi (he gave the map to Mantis). They need to find the legendary beast known as Phoenix and protect it from Kretor who can defeat it and release the demonic Crow. But during their journey, group was suddenly attacked by Fenghuang and his army and when she used her blast, members flew away in different directions getting separated. Army lost their way feeling that they're dead. Now Po, Tigress, Viper, Monkey, Mantis and Crane should find Xiao and Kretor and by themselves alone.
=== Chapter 2: "Dragon spirit will lead me" (Po) ===
Po asks his dragon spirit how to use his new power and to find empress. However spirit answered that Po has a lot of power to find the way and told that he is never alone. But he should use his power for right deeds and Po promises to control it.
=== Chapter 3: Reminding the past (Tigress) ===
During her journey, Tigress enterd the mystical forest where she accidentally got trapped in the ancient temple hidden in the tree. During her way, she discovered the group of ninjas who tried to protect themselves. However their leader, Master Lion guesses that Tigress is Shujiao Huang whose he met in the orphanage. Lion was happy to see Tigress again and asked, what is she doing here. Tigress said that she wants to defeat Ro-Chi and realised that group she discovered had the same goal. They reunited alltogether and started making some plans, how to find the way out.
=== Chapter 4: Destined for greatness (Viper) ===
The hunt for Kretor had led Viper into the lost village in the desert. While she was walking down the street, she met a couple of old snakes. They called her by her real name Mingxia Linghu. Viper realised that couple was her long missing parents Zhijian and Yumei. As she ran to them she was surrounded by her sisters and everyone was happy to see Viper alive and proud of her for being powerful and famous.
=== Chapter 5: (Monkey) ===
During his journey, Monkey reached the lost temple in mountains which he believed, was a vessel of fire. Once he entered the temple, he saw the shining statue which was protected by various traps. Monkey managed to avoid them all and reach it. However when he tried to take it with him, he was attacked by another monkey warrior who was suddenly noticed that he was his long dorgotten brother Changrui. Changrui called Monkey by his real name Guoqiang Shui and asked what is he doing here. Monkey said that he wanted to find vessel of fire to stop Kretor and asks his brother for help. Changrui agrees and shows the short way to vessel of fire.
=== Chapter 6: (Mantis) ===
After getting separated from the group, Mantis used the map he had throughout the journey to find the vessel of fire by himself.
=== Chapter 7: (Crane) ===
=== Chapter 8: "I'm always here" (Shifu and Oogwai) ===
Oogwai suddenly felt that something would happen to Po and Furious Five and told Shifu that they got separated during the journey. Shifu was a bit scared for this because each other can be taken down much easier than when they're together and told Oogwai that they need to follow them.
=== Chapter 9: (Po) ===
=== Chapter 10: (Mantis) ===
=== Chapter 11: (Monkey) ===
=== Chapter 12: (Crane) ===
=== Chapter 13: Continue the existing (Viper (and Crane)) ===
While Viper had happily lived with her family for one day, she said that she has to go away because she needs to find vessel of fire to save the empress and defeat Kretor. Zhijian says that he has two go with her but Yumei and Viper want to stop him with no avail. Before leaving the village, they were attacked by Scorpion and Boss Wolf who had to defeat them. During the fight when Fenghung catched them both, Crane suddenly appears and attacks her. Viper joins him but suddenly gets hit and crushed with Crane by the tree leaving Zhijian to fight alone. He suddenly gets catched by Boss who stabs him with his sword to Viper's horror. Soon Yumein comes to them and sees the horror happened outside. Viper fastly runs to her father trying to help, however Zhijian at the end of his life says that it is pointless to try to save him and also says that Viper is much better and skilled than him and she should continue his legacy. Viper bursts into tears (because she thought, she was responsible for her father's death) and gets comforted by her mother and Crane. After relaxing, she gets fueled with rage and decides to stop them and avenge her father. Crane and Viper them continue their journey.
=== Chapter 14: (Tigress) ===
=== Chapter 15: (Shifu) ===
=== Chapter 16: (Oogwai) ===
=== Chapter 17: (Viper and Crane) ===
=== Chapter 18: (Monkey (and Mantis)) ===
=== Chapter 19: (Tigress (and Shifu)) ===
...
When Ro-Chi looks at the Gongmen city, Kretor suddenly appears and captures her.
=== Chapter 20: (Po) ===
Po reached Zou Liu Clan's lair. Panda warrior entered through the hidden passage. Then he had luck to secretly hear Kretor's speech with imprisoned Xiao and, surprisingly, Ro-Chi. After hearing it, Po felt that Ro-Chi doesn't seem to be so scared what would mean that she knows him or she is allied with him. When everybody left empress, he came to her to save, however while he was releasing her, he was discovered by Lord Shen, Kai and Minister Zhao. Po fought well against them, but was overpowered by them because somebody paralyzed him from the backside. When he was set in the cell with Xiao, he saw Kretor and Ro-Chi who was revealed to plan all this journey to destroy him and Furious Five and set a new "perfect" empire in China. After everybody left him. He saw that he was locked in the same cell as Scorpion and Hwang-Young. Latter said that they both were betrayed by their masters for losing to Mantis and sent to rot here. Scorpion said that she and Hwang-Young are ready to join Po. But suddenly they heard the noice from the outside like somebody was breaking the cell's roof...
=== Chapter 21: (Oogwai) ===
Feeling very easy with his power, Oogwai ultimately reached the vessel of fire. Suddenly he saw Thundering Rhino, Storming Ox and Croc coming to him. Cros said that Shifu secretly ordered them and other warrioirs to follow everyone if something dangerous will happen. They entered and saw Phoenix himself and tried to find the way how to protect him from corruption. While he tried to use his magic to fuel Phoenix, he got interrupted by someone coming in the temple. It were Kretor and Junjie. Oogwai fastly realised that Phoenix is Red Phoenix who was one of Four Constellations. Phoenix succeeded to rebirth as a spirit (just as most phoenixes rebirth from the ashes), keeps the vessel and wants to revive his comrades White Tiger, Blue Dragon and Black Tortoise. Oogwai also told others that Red Phoenix keeps the Crow, demonic creature that can be used as a dangerous weapon. They decided to look on Kretor and Junjie and attack them in right moment. Croc saw that Kretor breaks the time with his cybernetical arm and wants to summon the most dangerous threat (Ke-Pa, Jindiao and White Bone Demon) to defeat all guards of the world and let their boss rule the planet.
=== Chapter 22: Saving Po (Shifu and Furious Five (and Po)) ===
When Shifu and Tigress reached Zou Liu Clan's lair, they saw that somebody tried to enter in it by climbing on the roof. But suddenly they were almost attacked by Viper and Crane who thought that they are enemies at first. Everybody told what happened to them and Crane noticed that Monkey and Mantis were climbing on the roof and they decided to follow. When they reached the duo, Monkey and Mantis tried to attack but they all fell in. And surprisingly, they appeared at the Po's cell. Shifu said that they came to rescue him. They decided to leave the cell by building a tower by themselves. However, Ro-Chi herself discovers them all and locks the roof of the cell (which leads to Scorpion and Hwang Young to escape successfully to others' disappointment).
=== Final Chapter: Battle of worlds ===
Ro-Chi, Lord Shen, Boss Wolf, Klaus, Veruca, Fenghuang, Wu Kong and Zhao lead chained Po, Xiao, Shifu and Furious Five to the vessel of fire. However, when they enter, Ro-Chi meets Kretor and talks to him about everything "good" happened here while Oogwai sees that Ro-Chi was always with him. Soon everybody enters the room with vessel of fire with Red Phoenix inside. Oogwai orders his comrades to attack not to let Kretor summon Ke-Pa, Jindiao and White Bone Demon, but they were suddenly attacked and stunned by Zhao. Kretor starts summoning 3 demons outside the vessel. However Red Phoenix uses this opportunity to steal the power from Kreot and revive White TIger, Blue Dragon and Black Tortoise as powerful spirits. But when all Four Constellations assembled, Lord Shen tried to kill heroes one by one but suddenly, they got interrupted by Liu, Chow, Hu and Woo from one side; Hwang-Young, Scorpion and Tai Lung. There were also other fighters of China. Huge battle for the fate of worlds began.
Ke-Pa, Kai, Jindiao and Baigujing (known allied as Four Demons) fight with Four Constellations while Po fights with Kretor, Tigress fights with Shen, Shifu fights with Jinjie, Oogwai with Tai Lung, Viper fights with Boss Wolf, Monkey fights with Changrui, Mantis fights with Scorpion, Crane fights with Fenghuang, Xiao and Thundering Rhino's squad fight with Hwang-Young and others with Shen's soldiers, Kai's jade zombies and members of Zou Liu Clan. Boss Wolf almost gets burned in vessel of fire but Viper saves him (even if he killed her father) making Wolf redeem himself.
After Four Demons were defeated by Four Constellations, Ro-Chi runs to the vessel and successfully releases Crow. She then uses her magic amulet to fuse with Crow and get his power and after it, she betrays Kai with other demons by vacuuming their powers and souls in her amulet and stealing them (Baigujing's armor fell down while being still stable). Now turning into one huge and demonical being, she pushes everyone to stop the fight. Lord Shen and Kretor start accusing her for treason because "Shen or Kretor should have ruled this world but Ro-Chi needed to serve them" (both wanted to rule by themselves). Ro-Chi fights with them for short time and knocking them down and consuming their souls with life, leaving Shen's and Kretor's burned skeletons with remains of clothing (although Shen and Kretor begged for mercy and said that they will obey her).
== Cast ==
* Jack Black as Po
* Angelina Jolie as Tigress (later revealed to be named Shujiao Huang)
* Lucy Liu as Viper (later revealed to be named Mingxia Linghu)
* Jackie Chan as Monkey (later revealed to be named Guoqiang Shui)
* Seth Rogen as Mantis
* David Cross as Crane
* Jim Sturgess as Liu
* Forest Whitaker as Chow
* Imelda Staunton as Ro-Chi, the old empress, Xiao's mother {main antagonist}
* Gerald Butler as Kretor, robotisized Leader of The Zou Liu Clan, who can control time {one of two secondary antagonists}
* Jeremy Irons as Prime Minister Zhao/The Crow (demonic creature) {one of two secondary antagonists with Kretor}
* Lacey Chabert as Xiao, young empress
* Zoe Saldana as Fan, Chow's cousin
* Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu
* Randall Duk Kim as Master Oogway
* Gary Oldman as Shen {central antagonist}
* Ian McShane as Tai Lung
* J. K. Simmons as Kai
* Stephen Root as Junjie
* Bryan Cranston as Li Shan
* Alfred Molina as Ke-Pa
* Steve Blum as Jindiao
* Elisa Gabrielli as White Bone Demon/Baigujing
* Danny McBride as Wolf Boss
* James Sie as Wu Kong
* N/A as Changrui, Monkey's brother
* Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Zhijian, Viper's father and great snake master
* Sumalee Montano as Shi Long
* Judy Dench as Yumei, Viper's mother
* Lauren Tom as Ming
* James Hong as Mr. Ping
* Kate Hudson as Mei Mei
* Wayne Knight as Hom-Lee
* Michelle Yeoh as The Soothsayer
* Ken Jeong as Woo
* Susanne Blakesless as Mei Ling
* Lynn Milgrim as Scorpion
* Will Arnett as Hwang-Young, the hyena servant of Lord Shen who survived his last battle
* Wendy Malick as Fenghuang
* Chris Geere as Klaus Dumont
* Della Saba as Veruca Dumont
* Michael B. Jordan as Master Lion, a lion african
* Victor Garber as Master Thundering Rhino
* Jean-Claude Van Damme as Master Croc
* Dennis Haysbert as Master Storming Ox
* Ryan Reynolds as Master Cobra, a cobra african
* Jason Bateman as Master Shark, a great white shark