The Film
Sequels are rather tough to get right. Disney/Pixar has managed to get stronger with every Toy Story film, but that's rather rare if you ask me. Cars 2 was significantly weaker than the original and DreamWorks got a tad lazy with all of the Shrek sequels. Kung Fu Panda was a fun film (one of the few Jack Black films I've ever enjoyed) and the story certainly cried out for another chapter. Much to my amazement, I enjoyed Kung Fu Panda 2 even more than the original and while my children are overjoyed to watch the new television series on Nickelodeon, I suspect that the series will cause them to be less excited when the next film is released in a few years.
Kung Fu Panda 2 continues the adventures of the most unlikely of heroes; the forever eating Po; (Jack Black) the dragon warrior and leader of the Furious Five. Po may not may the sharpest pair of chopsticks in the land, but his awkwardness is quite endearing and it's hard to argue with a panda bear who can eat that many steamed dumplings and still do Kung Fu. Po faces two obstacles in the story; defeating the evil Chen (Gary Oldman), a cunning and dangerous peacock who wishes to bring all of China to its knees, and his own past. When he suffers a flashback during a battle, he begins to question his origins and decides to press his father (the wonderful James Hong) about where he comes from. Po struggles trying to establish his identity, but also solidifies his relationship with the rest of his comrades; especially Tigris (Angelina Jolie) whose respect for the bumbling panda bear she once ridiculed has grown immensely.
What makes the film work so well, aside from the great action sequences, is the genuine emotions that all of the characters exhibit throughout. Po struggles to deal with his past, while Chen wishes to erase similar feelings of rejection by killing all those who would dare get in his way. Black and Hong have some tender moments in the film and it lends this "kids" movie a level of maturity that is often non-existent in animated films; it's often missing in adult dramas as well, so DreamWorks should be congratulated for such a fine script.
Toss in a beautiful looking image and some tremendous audio and you're left with one of my favorite films of 2011. See what our editor Chris Boylan thought about the film in theaters in his Kung Fu Panda 2 movie review.
The Picture
The 2D Blu-ray does not disappoint at all, offering the same levels of detail and color saturation. Initially, I felt that the black levels were a tad mediocre (viewed on my trusty Samsung 40" LCD in the bedroom), but when I viewed the film a second time on a Panasonic 3D plasma, I realized that the Samsung was the culprit and not the Blu-ray transfer. The black levels could be a tad deeper, but the level of detail present (look closely at Po's fur) is quite astounding. The image is quite sharp but without the edge enhancement on other animated films that often makes them look like a video game rather than a film. Kung Fu Panda 2 doesn't have the visual pop of Toy Story 3, but it works just as well.
The Sound
Dolby TrueHD 7.1 surround mixes are generally too over-the-top for my ears, but DreamWorks did a marvellous job on Kung Fu Panda 2. The dialog is crystal clear (one of the few times I actually care to listen to what Jack Black is saying) and the overall presentation is just completely enveloping. The Chinese music seemingly floats all around you on this lossless mix and it really just adds so much to the overall viewing experience. The kung fu sequences have adequate low end punch and it was nice to not have to turn the subwoofer down for a change. Reference quality audio in every respect.
The Extras
DreamWorks has been busy converting their more succesful films into animated television series, so it was only a matter of time before Kung Fu Panda made the transtition to the boob tube. The new animated series on Nickelodeon; Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, is already a huge hit (my kids are addicted) but for those who have yet to watch it, the pilot episode is included on the Blu-ray release.
The bonus content included in the Blu-ray release is comprehensive and extremely well put-together. The new animated short; Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters, is offered in 1080p and Dolby TrueHD 7.1 and had my children twirling around the room trying to locate the point of origin of all the great sound effects. DreamWorks went all-out with these original short films.
The overall selection of bonus material is excellent; especially the commentary with the production crew. The kids may not find it that interesting, but the two animated adventures will surely get a lot of repeat viewings.
Final Thoughts
While not the domestic box office juggernaut that critics expected it to be, Kung Fu Panda 2 may have been the most enjoyable and touching animated film of 2011. DreamWorks has seemingly found the right cast and production crew because this film fired on all cylinders and was one of the most impressive looking films from any studio that we had the chance to review. The Blu-ray is gorgeous to behold and a must-own for the kids this holiday season. Highly recommended.
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