Kung Fu Panda Movies - Nostalgia Critic
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
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With a fourth film announced, Nostalgia Critic looks back at the film series that truly does teach you not to judge by appearances. Let's take a look at the Kung Fu Panda franchise.
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Kung Fu Panda is an American media franchise that originally started in 2008 with the release of the animated feature film of the same name, produced by DreamWorks Animation. Following the adventures of the titular Po Ping (primarily voiced by Jack Black and Mick Wingert), a giant panda who is improbably chosen as the prophesied Dragon Warrior and becomes a master of kung fu, the franchise is set in a fantasy wuxia genre version of ancient China populated by anthropomorphic animals. Although his status is initially doubted, Po proves himself worthy as he strives to fulfill his destiny. The franchise consists mainly of three CGI-animated films: Kung Fu Panda (2008), Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), and Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) with a fourth film in development for release in 2024.
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What's your favorite DreamWorks film?
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All three of them.
The next time Doug decides to review DreamWorks films he needs to talk about the Madagascar trilogy.
Monsters vs. Aliens
The "how to train your dragon trilogy" review that critic!
Monsters vs. Aliens, Megamind, Madagascar series, etc.
Monsters vs. Aliens needs more love and franchise.
Can you review Escape from Cluster Prime and Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius?
Doug: the Villain is ok, but he doesn’t have that many memorable lines
Tai lung: Finally a worthy opponent, our battle will be legendary
I don't say this a lot but, Thanks Internet!
I mean, that line wasn't really a good example. It was a very generic villain line. The only reason I do remember it is because I've seen the film so much.
@@oliviarogers2808 Generic yes, but it became memed, and thus remembered by millions
@@JDWalker495 that's the meme doing all the work, not the writing.
“What are you gonna do, big guy? Sit on me?” 👀
I'd have to disagree with the take that Tai Lung's scenes lack emotional weight, especially in his fight with Shifu - it's not just the flashback to him as a child. The dialogue throughout that entire scene is killer, and practically every line is a gut punch. Like, here's just an excerpt (and trust me, it works even better in the full scene - the action and the voice-acting really amp up the intensity):
"You knew I was the Dragon Warrior! You always knew...but when Oogway said otherwise, what did you do? What did you do?!
-NOTHING!"
"You were not meant to be the Dragon Warrior! That was not my fault!"
"NOT YOUR FAULT?! WHO FILLED MY HEAD WITH DREAMS?! WHO DROVE ME TO TRAIN UNTIL MY BONES CRACKED?! WHO DENIED ME MY DESTINY?!"
There's a real sense of years and years of pent-up anger, bitterness and aggression coming out all at once.
I do think those scenes work, but I also see Doug's point that it's hard to get invested in Tai Lung's side of things since he was locked up for half the movie and we mainly saw the backstory through Shifu's eyes and spent the most time with him.
Which actually shows the strength of tigress as well. Po literally landed in front of her when she was supposed to be chosen and does she get angry, a little, but does she hurt anybody or demand the scroll or really do anything that mean too Po, who she views as an imbecile who stole her position? no. Because she does not want to be like Tai Lung, whom she probably knew as a child based on the timeline. I mean it is kid of implied that she came after Tai Lung but that doesn't actually make sense given her backstory. I mean if you just had a feline child who you raised stab you in the back and get hauled away to prison I don't think you would be popping into an orphanage to adopt a little tiger girl who is established to have anger issues anytime soon so she had to have been adopted before the incident.
He just wanted to make Shifu proud!!!
I also think the meaning behind the words makes the interaction more powerful. Shifu and Tai Lung are not just throwing around one-liners and comebacks, there's a meaningful ebb and flow to their interaction. Time for an absurdly long response designed to give this scene the laurels it deserves!
From moment one of this fight, Tai Lung is digging at Shifu; and for his part, Shifu is trying to shut out his feelings so that he can fight Tai Lung effectively (remember, he lost their first fight because he couldn't keep control of his feelings). Shifu offers brief, curt retorts to Tai Lung's bloviating: "This is no longer your home, and I am no longer your master." .... TL: "So, that is how it's going to be?" S: "That is how it must be."
In their next exchange, Tai Lung is venting his frustrations at Shifu, first on the surface level that he did not stand up for him about the Dragon Scroll ("I rotted in jail for twenty years because of YOUR weakness."). And what does Shifu do? Deflect. "Obeying your master is not weakness!" He's passing the blame to Oogway, essentially saying "There's nothing I could've done." They both proceed to double down on their stances, Tai Lung feeling cheated and Shifu deflecting blame (this time to The Universe, "You were not meant to be the Dragon Warrior, that was not my fault!").
Now we get a level deeper. "NOT YOUR FAULT? Who filled my head with dreams?! etc..." Again, Tai Lung is venting his frustrations, but this time they are beneath the surface. TL is not just blaming Shifu for not standing up for him; he also blames Shifu for driving him so hard in the first place. And how does Shifu respond to this admission? "It was never my decision to make!" DEFLECTING. Again. He is completely unwilling to acknowledge his part in corrupting Tai Lung's heart. Again, to be fair, Shifu is trying to block that out so he can fight better, but the movie shows that this hesitance is only marginally helping Shifu in this fight. Especially when TL drops a bomb that shifts the entire tenor of the battle:
"It is (your decision) now." OOF. All of Shifu's excuses are gone. If he wanted to, he could grant TL the Dragon Scroll. Again, Shifu and TL double down on their stances: TL "Give. Me. The Scroll." S "I would rather die!" (Though it's not fully relevant, Oogway's staff breaking is a great emotional moment, too; a beautifully symbolic image to summarize how Shifu believes he has failed his Master). Thus begins Tai Lung and Shifu's final intense melee.
It's clear at this point that the gloves are off. They are both done toying around, it's time to finish this. It is in this final exchange that Tai Lung lets out his final rant. "ALL I EVER DID, I DID TO MAKE YOU PROUD! Tell me how proud you are, Shifu! Tell me! TELL ME!!!!!" Great delivery from Ian McShane on that final line. The words hit as hard as the punches we see on screen. Tai Lung is finally unleashing all his anger, and Shifu is overwhelmed by it. You can tell that TL is getting a ton of karmic gratification from saying those words.
"I have always been proud of you." And at last, there it is. Shifu finally releases his feelings. Even after all this time, he is proud of the student he taught. His affection ran deep for Tai Lung; so deep that he did not see what he was doing to his prize pupil and, for all intents and purposes, his son. And he apologizes. By taking responsibility for how TL turned out, Shifu begins to release the burden of guilt he has carried for all these years. That line was more effective than any punch Shifu threw in that fight. It also represents the last moment TL could have turned back.
Of course, we know how the rest of the movie goes. As much as Shifu played a role in Tai Lung's condition, the pupil is still ultimately responsible for the crimes he committed. And remember TL's obsession with improving? I think Tai Lung is unhealthily driven by accomplishments and accolades, not by satisfaction with self. That is why, when he finally opens the dragon scroll, TL can only look at his reflection with disappointment disgust. Po learns to accept himself, Tai Lung does not. Part of that is Shifu's fault, but most of that is TL's own character flaws. By refusing Shifu's apology, Tai Lung fails to reach his own inner peace, and his fate is sealed.
👏👏👏
Well said!
Fun fact, Tai Lung's roars and growls were done by legendary voice actor Frank Welker! It is insane how accurately that man can do animal sounds!
Wait what for real
Yup! Frank Welker is amazing!
Or surprised but I still love due to the fact that Peter Cullen himself was the voice of the predator
If there's an iconic animal in an animated movie there's about an 80% chance he voiced it.
Oh heck yeah! From Abu in Aladdin to Max in the Little Mermaid to the freaking Gremlins from Gremlins! Alot of people don't realize what a big part of their childhood Frank Welker was!
I think one of my favorite moments from 2 is after Po punches Tigris’ hand and she talks about how she feels nothing. Po just says how cool it is and she grins. To me that small moment makes their friendship seems so real. She’s not friends with him now because it’s the 2nd movie. She’s friends with him because she longed for that love and approval from her master and never got it. Now there’s someone who hypes up all of her hard work and talent and she appreciates it
Wow, I legitimately never realized that....
I love this bruh
So true
Also her backstory from the animated series where all of the other kids and even the adults were afraid of her monstrous strength which Shifu taught her to control. Po is legitimately impressed by it without fearing her.
*“It’s your parting gift. In that, it will part you. A part of you here, a part of you there and part of you waaaaay over there STAINING THE WALLS!!”*
Darkest line in a kids film ever. Shen was a twisted villain.
Yea the stuff he did was horrific.
But Shen seemingly believed that the end result would make what he did worth it "Happiness should be taken, and i'll take mine".
I did get the feeling he was potentially aware of how horrible what he did was and i think Soothsayer was right that ruling China would not fill his cup which in other words it would not grant him happiness (maybe even make him feel awful now he has nothing to work towards to justify the horrors he did)
@@jammygamer8961 💯💯
Such a compelling villain
I mean, he literally committed genocide (or at least attempted too), That's pretty damn dark.
That's what made him such a great villain. Kai & Tai Lung, sure they hurt people, But Shen actually killed a Master (albeit with a weapon) and was willing to wipe out an entire race.
I love when these kinds of movies aren't afraid to go dark like that.
Also has a triple pun. Using "parting" three different ways, leaving, killing and separating.
I think Tai Lun's conflict was really deep. After spending so many years training for something he wasn't destined it's very devastating
It's also just cruel. I really feel for the guy. It's like when Mobius told Loki he only exsited to cause pain and suffering and death so that others could achieve the best versions of themselves.
Tai Lun was banished, but I always felt a good movie would have been Po and Tai Lun being forced to team up and Po teaching Tai Lun what he should have learned all along. I envisioned it as Tai Lun having to help Po because Po's kids were kidnapped and he couldn't control his emotions well enough because it was too personal but Tai Lun was actually the hero of the story going on a journey being guided by Po. Would have been a great way to come full circle and show him that he did, in fact, have the power of the Dragon Warrior all along. Missed opportunity.
@@andrewblissett2211 i thought you said morbious
@@BRHency po having kids is not something i see likely happening. But say one of his close friends, tigress for instance? Yea that i could envision. And i know tigress getting kidnapped is about as likely as cheese not being made into a wheel, If there is cheese there is a wheel of it, if tigress is involved she's likely to kick ass, but if there were an enemy she couldn't handle and could possibly incapacitate her per se, then kidnapping her would be more feasible, obviously dont make her go down like a clown, show it being a real struggle, for her and the villain but the villain gaining the upper hand and winning. Or if you want to go with someone less capable of fighting, could be Po's dad (goose dad not panda dad) being taken.
It's like going to medical school, but then NOT becoming a doctor when it's what you have been wanting and have been preparing for.
Also worth mentioning that KFP2’s director Jenifer Yuh Nelson was not only directing a KFP movie for the first time, it was her first time directing PERIOD. And she did so well! So well in fact that for several years KFP 2 was the highest grossing movie to be directed by a woman.
@@ARCtheCartoonMaster Right? Why would we ever want to celebrate a woman's accomplishment in a male dominated industry? /s
In the past month, Doug has covered:
-The Shrek Movies
-Brave
-Diary of a Wimpy Kid
-And now the Kung Fu Panda Movies
This truly is a Gen Z dream come true!
Genzdznuts
@@fiasypiage952 Perish in the eternal flame of hell
@@ivrxr8693 jesus christ
A dream for a mellainal as well lol.
I love that you can TELL that Gary Oldman is having a good time as Lord Shen.
And he’s barely recognizable! That’s truly a great performance!
Lord Shen is one of animation’s greatest villains (outside of Disney of course). He is a MONSTER who commited mass genocide against pandas & probably left a permanent phsycoloical scar on Po for the rest of his life. Yet I’m impressed that he didn’t let his dark past define him.
When I saw it in 2011 with friends, people were crying at our screening when baby Po (he’s soo cute) was put in the basket & abandoned by his mom for his safety, & those voices didn’t exactly sound like kids, but FULLY GROWN MEN SITTING BEHIND US! When we walked out after the end of “Kung Fu Panda 2”, we were over the moon while people who came out of a screening of “The Hangover: Part II” were very angry with how that film turned out & they claim to regret not seeing “Kung Fu Panda 2” instead. I still ADORE that movie, it is essentially the “T2” or “The Dark Knight” of the “Kung Fu Panda” series.
@@hunterolaughlin I’d say the only time Gary Oldman went into a voice similar to Shen’s before Kung Fu Panda 2 was back in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. There were some moments of dialogue where Serius Black (Gary’s character) did sound similar to Shen. The one line I remember being most notable for sounding similar to Shen is when Serius tells Snape to run along back to his chemistry set.
Of course, Gary Oldman did use a voice similar to Shen’s after Kung Fu Panda 2 when he voiced Lord Vortech in LEGO Dimensions. And it’s a really great voice because Gary Oldman made Vortech as fun a villain as Shen.
@@georgeeastwood6930 Funny thing is, Gary Oldman was also in "The Dark Knight."
"So, you are playing an evil peacock who wants to take over China and fights a panda voiced by Jack Black..."
"You had me on evil peacock!"
Fun Fact: Dustin Hoffman's contract included a stipulation which allowed him to do additional voice recording sessions without hindrance, should he be unsatisfied with his performance. Beyond the contract, Hoffman also tutored Jack Black on his performance in the nighttime stairway argument scene.
Man, that’s interesting that Hoffman tutored Jack Black, considering the characters they were voicing.
WOW that's awesome. Maybe that explains why there were some lines from Jack that were just gut wrenching. And he really brought the emotional side to these movies out so well. Not that Jack Black is a BAD actor far from it, BUT he is more known for his comedic takes. But here he was heartfelt too. And I love a good full circle moment too. That's cool.
That scene was already deep, that deepens it by triple at the very least
i LOVE lil facts like this, ty so much!
That’s really cool! The more you know
I think why the second movie had the strongest villian is because its someone Po had a direct connection to. First villain was Shifu's prodigy. The third villain was someone that fought along side Oogway, while being intimidating villain's they don't have any actual connection to the main character themselves and in turn makes the stakes feel a bit disconnected. We are having to give reasons for Po to actual care about something he really has no stakes in. The second villain being the man who attempted to genocide an entire race and being directly linked to why po ended up the way he was at the beginning of the first movie gives the main character motivation without needing to force the main character to well care about a problem that isn't his. I enjoyed all 3 movies don't get me wrong but I feel also that is why the 2nd one is the strongest.
That and Shen was more badass than Tai Lung and Kai put together. Shen had some of the best dialong in the entire franchise while I struggle to remember any lines from the other two.
"It's a parting gift, in that it will part you. Part of you here, part of you there and part of you waaay over there STAINING THE WALL!" Goosebumps.
My favorite thing about Shen was the fact that he doesn't accept that his parents loved him so much that they didn't want to banish him. When I first watched this as a kid, I never understood storyline. But now, hearing the goat lady tell Shen this made me feel bad for Shen. For some reason...
The thing about Shen is that out of all three villains, he is the one who is evil to the core. No remorse and no sympathy. A maniac with no mercy and a terrifying presence to match. Tai Lung, you feel bad that he worked so hard and was rejected still, despite his work. Kai, you feel bad that he was killed/betrayed by very person he wanted to protect. Shen was authoritative, power hungry and more selfish than the other two villains.
@@luigipowdemo6458 I will always feel bad for shen, actually i kinda relate to him.. being so unhappy with your life you are trying anything to be happy despite deep down knowing you will just stay miserable forever..
Tbh i think Shen was one of the most interesting characters from this franchise.
Fun fact: Soothsayer is Shens nanny which is why he tolerated her in the film
and he was ostricized by his parents due to being a white peacock, which draws inspiration from real world white peacocks who are unable to find a mate and apparently not the most healthy, so him trying to appeal to his parents ironically lead him down the path to his own demise. I rly wished they showed more of his backgroundstory in the film instead of very roughly teasing it.
@@Evilriku13 correct however me and the others feel as it was based on a earlier version of the movie.
However the only evidence for this belief of ours is Soothsayer saying Shens parents did love him.
So what most likely happened was that Shens parents weren't around for him that much making him understandably feel the need to get good at martial arts and try to continue his parents work in attempt to become worthy of his parents love.
When in truth Shens parents did love him however this happening allowed for Shen and Soothsayer to develop the relationship they have now.
OR Soothsayer was lieing to his face which is just sad.
OK if shen is the villan then why dose he tolerate the nanny.i mean he is supposed to be a menace towards his former navy and soothsayer
@@haileycostello4961 He might be the bad guy but he does have have his limits to his horribleness.
Another example of him having a limit is him minimising the harm he causes in the process of achieving his plan.
Which we see at the films beginning when he first asks the masters to leave, which they end up doing the first blow. When Shen found he couldn't defeat them in a fight he then went for the lethal option.
But than rather kill the other two (which would of made his plan more likely to work but its not actually needed) he just had them imprisoned. He did threaten the attack the city if they escaped but Shen wouldn't of needed to make this threat if he didn't want them alive.
That's not canon @@Evilriku13
I don’t know about anyone else besides Doug, but I honestly consider Kung Fu Panda 2 to be one of those sequels that’s better than its predecessor, which is already an excellent movie that I love so much. I think it deserves to be recognized as such. I just feel that it takes the story, action, villain, and character of Po to the next level and the result is a top-notch sequel. I would also put it right up there with some of the other best animated sequels like Shrek 2 and Toy Story 2. It makes me laugh, it gives me the feels, it gives me joy, and it puts a smile on my face. It’s not only my favorite movie in the Kung Fu Panda series, but it’s also one of my favorite movie sequels and one of my favorite DreamWorks movies.
It has moments that are better and then moments that I just find boring, but it's still a great movie.
you do realize that EVERYONE loves Kung Fu Panda 2 the most, right?
Can definitely agree with that.
Shen was such a good villain
I also see it as the best in the trilogy.
It showed us that its not afraid to dive down deeper into the darker stuff. Po's back story alone is visually gorgeous, represents po's journey in the film philosophically beautifully!
Here's a little fact. These films did such a great job on representing Eastern philosophy and specifically Chinese culture that it caused a national debate within China on how Western filmmakers did a better job on making movie about Chinese culture and they (China) ever did.
It’s sounds made up but it’s true, which is hilarious and pretty embarrassing for china
@@surferOS101 Yeah. But on the other hand how good did these filmmakers felt after hearing that.
It’s not really that surprising considering how much the Chinese government has such a stranglehold on their media due to their strict stipulations and censorship requirements, not to mention China doesn’t invest on their cinematic productions nearly as much as the USA does. Not saying Chinese media can’t be amazing, just saying there’s a lot of steps to overcome in comparison with USA media.
Well it's not that it's really authentic, (the architecture is pretty stereotypical dragon pagodas that resembles Chinatowns which were designed by white Western architects, not Chinese or Asian architects) more that the movie professes a real genuine love of China and Chinese culture at a time when lots of Chinese cinema hates being associated with China, at least when it's not nationalist propaganda in the style of Hollywood actions movies anyway. So that is what amazed Chinese audiences, that it doesn't necessarily have to conform its art into a Western Style to be acceptable or even good.
@@fluidthought42 Ooook
Idk about you but the line read "He's a panda. You're a panda." is the funniest thing in the whole movie. The utter shock and hilarity of it just works so well to me, I fucking love Tia Lung
Same hes my favourite kung fu panda villain his performance was also very great
I am glad they decided to treat the premise seriously. Can’t even imagine how insufferable the movie would be if it went the self aware route.
Self-aware is the bane of many modern movies and series. They should tone it down, or rely know what they're doing.
Being self-aware isn't automatically a negative. It's not about what you do, but how you do it. The Princess Bride, Scream, Fight Club, Adaptation, Everything Everywhere All at Once, etc... are all self-aware.
@@jp3813 Yeah, self-aware could be very familair with thw pros and cons of the genre and make fun of the cliches, but I doubt Dreamworks was going to make fun of own its reliance on celebrity voice overs or PG-rated humour.
@@jstevinik3261 They don't have to.
@@jp3813 Indeed. I think it would hypocritical of Dreamworks to mock bad comedies/martial arts films.
My favorite detail about the first movie, is that the Dragon Scroll is not actually empty.
It shows the reflection of the reader.
"There is no secret ingrediant. It's just YOU."
"For something to be special you just have to believe that it is special"
Like how a blank paper was thought to hold the secret to limitless power just because everyone thought it did, and Po can be the dragon warrior if he believes he can.
Masterful story telling
And Tai Lung looked at his own reflection and said “it’s nothing!”
@@Moakmeister which was a perfect contrast to Po seeing it for the first time and saying:
"It's blank!"
@@ChampionMarx That's one of the few things about the 1st movie that bugged me; since there's no power in the scroll beyond the lesson, then why does everyone bend over backwards to protect it? After Po understood what it was, there was no reason for him to fight to keep it from Tai Lung.
@@Regfife He was toying with his emotions
The way they were still able to make Po feel like a actual human being should act like and instead of not like a jerk who's also the protagonist and you have to like him or a smartass, or even a dooch. They actual instead use real emotions and it just makes the whole experience of watching these films so much better than if they hadn't.
Yes I cannot stand when they make the "funny" characters( Main or not) completely unlikeable just the biggest Deuce/ jerk but you're 'supposed' to like them because they're "funny~"
FYI, its spelled douche
you can thank Jack Black for that. Po was originally GONNA be a jerk and he insisted on him being more of a likeable goof
He’s a good model for what a protagonist should be, good traits, flawed, and reliable.
One of my favorite moments in KFP 1 is when Shifu earnestly apologizes to Tai lung, owning his failure as a mentor and a father, the damage he did to his son by giving him false hopes and failing to see what he was doing to him in the process. And you can see in Tai Lung's face that he's genuinely shocked by this. You can even see him struggling with the idea of forgiveness, before he doubles down and dooms himself. It's such good characterization.
I love how each movie dealt with mastering a different section of Kung fu. Mastering your Body, then your Mind, and then your Chi. These movies were masterpieces and deserve respect. I hope they remember that for the fourth one.
Honestly these films just show how dynamic and talented Jack Black truly is
He’s a fantastic actor
I respectfully disagree, he was just perfectly cast. Sometimes a recipe requires a rotten apple, doesn't mean the apple is good, just that it is what's necessary to make the perfect dish.
@@linkewitsch Jack Black is okay. He did a goof ball character, but not always directed to be over the top, which what I expectes back in 2008.
@@chasehedges6775 Jack Black is to Po Pu Ling, what Jason Alexander is to Duckman. NOBODY can play Po. Jack Black was BORN to play Po.
Beside "The Prince Of Egypt" being my all time favorite DreamWorks Animated Movie, I really consider "Kung-Fu Panda" as my most all time favorite DreamWorks Animated Trilogy!
No lie, Prince of Egypt is a masterpiece
@@shainaelise2694 You got the right one of the greatest masterpiece of the entire decades.
Prince of Egypt is without a doubt the best Dreamworks movie. I go back and forth between Shrek 2, How to Train Your Dragon 1, and KFP 1 and 2 for the rest of the Top 5.
@@TheImaginator972 💯💯💯. One of my favorite animated movies
@@matthewmazzatto8003 Agreed wholeheartedly
Actually Doug, "Kung Fu Panda" actually ended up grossing move then "The Hangover Part 2", but only by a little.
Hangover 2 made $586.8 million, whereas Kung Fu Panda 2 made $665.7 million.
Everyone still liked Kung Fu Panda 2 better than Hangover 2 nonetheless.
@@joshmontemayor1212 Indeed.
It made more movie overseas but Hangover 2 beat it at the domestic box office opening weekend
Almost $100 million more than Hangover is a little?
@@cadendicky1855 It's about relative value, not absolute value. It got 13,45 % more, so for every 15 Hangover 2 made, Kung Fu Panda made 17.
I find Po to be one of the most pure hearted heroes in an animated film of recent times. He comes at everything with a positive attitude, always wants to build up everyone around him, and has a selfless devotion to helping others. Even when the villain that was responsible for the destruction of his village and the near genocide of his people is mortal danger, Po tries to save him.
Po is kinda like luffy from one piece if he has brain cells working
But let's be honest, who was expecting a peacock to the most intimidating villain of the franchise?
Love kung fu panda 2!
Especially after Tai Lung was so badass
He’s even the worst one of them at kung fu!
When I saw a white peacock in real life, I immediately thought of him!
Depends on how "evil" you think NBC is.
(a Peacock is their logo.)
one of the most intimidating movie villains, esp coming from Dreamworks. And one of the darkest/most tragic due to the selffullfilling prophecy and him trying to proof to his parents that they can be proud of him.
Honestly these were the film that skyrocketed Jack Black into that kind of famous comedian you could use for some minor roles into this power house comedian star which honestly kind of awesome to see
The entire trilogy is just immaculate! Every entry has something great to offer and the momentum never dies down. I hope you continue with this DreamWorks kick. Also, her name is "Viper."
These movies had such a dedicated color palette that they stuck with and used pretty FLAWLESSLY. Gold for heroism, red for power, green for wisdom, blue for tragedy, and brown for hard work and humility. When you look at things like characters’ eye colors (Shifu’s inner turmoil, Tai Lung being the hero of his own story), clothing (I think Po’s patchwork pants tie in with the concept that he’s still figuring WHO he is), and the color keys of certain scenes (when Shifu fights Tai Lung, the normally green palace is awash in the blue tragedy of their story, hence everything being TEAL), it’s one of the heckin’ coolest uses of color I’ve seen in film. Maybe THE best.
This trilogy was SUCH a pleasant surprise. The concept is silly but WOW do they handle everything so seriously and it is so much better than they had any right to be.
Doesn't it say a lot that the Kungfu Panda trilogy did better at teaching lessons of inner peace and self-worth than the live action Mulan film.....
@@TheMidnightillusion 💯💯
I just hope the 4th film is able to be as good as these ones were
@@koneheadcokehead4981 Im cautiously optimistic....But i'm also VERY worried
Tbf, this TECHNICALLY isn't the 4th movie, seeing how they have a few specials, and a Netflix film now. Your concerns are warranted nonetheless, since I had them with the 3rd one
I love how they choose to make a emotional story in these films without making it feel rushed or not needing it to be there they choose to put a story in their and man does it work so well in these films
Kung Fu Panda 2 has a very special place in my heart. I really love how well made it is and specially how Tigress is written. The way she cares about Po, and specially when she kinda gave up after thinking Po was death. I really love that film.
Lord Shen had the greatest lines of all the villains and Po's 'Shadoosh!' at the end when he throws the cannonball is the best in the trilogy.
Oh yeah, and when the first movie hit China, the government literally launched an investigation into their film industry trying to figure out how an American company made a better movie showcasing Chinese philosphy, culture and history than any of theirs could...or so I've heard.
The animation on these was so good, and honestly probably one of the better action animations out there
Fun Fact about actual real life Pandas: An adult female panda weighs 200 pounds. Pandas can climb as high as 13,000 feet and are also very good swimmers.
For being fat I'm surprised Pandas can swim with ease, what else can they do other eat bamboo and climb 13,000 feet.
@@Forsoothious count the muscle too🙌🙏
Facts*
Also have chemicals in their stomach so they can eat bamboos bamboos are very hard and poisonous also pandas have a very special thumbs
The fact that Po never asked or cared that he was adopted says a lot about what a Great Father Figure Ping was.
Honestly, I am one of the people who always tears up when they show how Pos mother saves him from the wolves. It's just beautifully done
The fighting choreography is also amazing in the series. The Furious Five actually fight like the discipline they are based off of. Mantis uses Mantis style and Crane uses Crane style, etc. And they didn't over anthropomorphize the characters. Like they could of easily made Tigress into a sexy tiger lady with tits and ass. But she looks like an intimidating Tiger. Crane got to keep his wings, Viper was still a snake, and Mantis has all his legs.
The fight scenes in all the movies-especially the first 2-are some of the most creative and intense I’ve ever seen in any movie.
Indeed. Especially the second film.
I also like how there's a theme between the three movies of body, mind, and spirit. 3 big philosophies of martial arts
I really want How To Train Your Dragon to be my favorite trilogy of Dreamworks as I love the Viking theme, the dragons, and the design, but Kung Fu Panda’s writing, characters, animation, and philosophy left a major impact for me, especially Kung Fu Panda 2, giving me the chills and adrenaline. Like, no animated movie in Dreamworks has ever done that.
Yeah I agree, as much as I love the HTTYD series I will admit that Kung Fu Panda had better writing and more memorable characters
For me my favorite DreamWorks films that have fantastic everything are the Kung Fu Panda movies and The Prince of Egypt!
10:33-10:40 Behold! A quote on par with “I’m surrounded by idiots.” Heck, both quotes came from characters with British voice actors, both of whom did a spectacular job.
Out of all the villains from this franchise, Shen had to be my favorite. He was just so unique looking out of all of them that it made the third villain look kind of pale in comparison.
Have to disagree with Tai Lung having to go full evil, full sympathy, or full funny - I really think they had a good balance. Tai Lung didnt come across as a typical "evil for evils sake" character, he was driven to it after years and years of harsh training and being lead to believe its his destiny to be the dragon warrior. The disappointment from losing it drove him to be evil, but also not turn cartoonish.
Part 2 was the best of the trilogy - everything felt more mature, and had good adult themes and storytelling to support a fantastic villain in Shen - equal parts comical and terrifying, with a great performance from Gary Oldman.
Part 3 however was a major letdown. Felt like the series went to cartoonish comical, after the more serious tones of part 2. Weakest of the trilogy easily.
while part 3's emphasis on slapstick was a little disappointing, the movie absolutely did not skimp on the characters, story, or worldbuilding. it's almost on par with the first two.
JK Simmons did a good job with the bad guy (can't even remember his character's name) but the villain came off as a boring invincible villain. I liked a lot how he was defeated (Po + all the people that loved him) but the the bad guy didn't feel like he earned anything at all. Tai Lun had a much more interesting story and was nearly stopped by the Furious 5 and Shen really wasn't much of a fighter, but he was a brilliant tactician. But then into a guy that points-and-clicks his way into gobbling up everyone's power? No thanks.
Part 3 was honestly my favorite because of how each character grew as people and honestly seeing Po find himself was beautiful.
The villain to me wasn’t the problem with part 3. He had a good backstory, was sympathetic/tragic to an extent (wasn’t pure evil) and had a clear motivation to destroy Oogway’s legacy and prove that his discipline was better. The only thing is that he was treated as a joke. Tai Lung and Shen weren’t, that’s what made them great villains. Kai is great too, but the jokes at his expense brought him down a bit.
I think one of the best moments is him looking directly into the reflection of himself in the Dragon Scroll and proclaiming there's nothing there. I think that's the one line that defines his present and past.
Kung Fu Panda 1 was awesome and funny.
Part 2 was sad af and heart whelming.
Part 3 was good overall.
A really good trilogy. 💛
I dont know why they're doing a Part 4 but I hope it really exceeds all of its predecessors.
There will be 6 Kung Fu Panda movies altogether, including the 3 that we already have.
I wish Po would fight an evil Panda, sort've his dark opposite, and not just a Chameleon who steals his image for the 4th movie. Go the nature vs. nurture route with the 4th movie and show what could've happened to a panda who didn't have the love and support Po had; one who struggled alone and became bitter and hateful, becoming a crimelord and tyrant rather than a protector. That's the "mirror image" villain I want to see. The new Chameleon villain is just combining what worked in KFP 2 and KFP 3, the mastermind and spiritual villains, which we've already seen.
13:47: "It was pretty adorably cute. I mean good God, there's baby pandas in _every shot!_ It's like a million Puss In Boots faces filling the screen."
The filmmakers were totally panda-ing to the audience here.
Honestly Jack Black hard work can never be understated how much he works to make a film, or a song, or a video, or a joke just make it feel so good while also still feeling like its original at the same time.
All while staying true to himself. He can be serious and heartfelt or anything else but still be the wild comedic goofball he always has been.
I can't praise Shen enough. One of my favorite movie villains.
Jackie Chan has used many of the animal styles of kung fu in his 1970s films: tiger, crane, snake, leopard, dragon, etc... Hence, Tekken's Lei Wulong (who's based on JC) also uses these styles. I'm not sure if Jackie ever used praying mantis (though he knows it in real life), but he had some of his opponents use it against him. I remember him briefly referencing the monkey style in the original Drunken Master (1978), but that's about it. Though his former classmates, Sammo Hung & Yuen Biao, used it in one of their movies (Knockabout). The scene where Po & Shifu get into a chopstick fight is also a homage to a similar sequence in Jackie's The Fearless Hyena.
Gotta say Kung Fu Panda is up their with Toy Story as one of the best film trilogies in animation cinema period
Toy Story 4 is also great in my opinion, even though it's definitely an add-on to the existing trilogy.
both are my favourite animated sagas
@@coolnerdlll6053 IMO, 4 ruined almost everything. It ruined Buzz by making him dumb, it ruined Woody by making him selfish, and it ruined Bo Peep by making her "EMPOWERING FOR FEMALES".
The story is weird, Woody betrayed Andy to stay with Bo Peep, and the villain sucks. But opinions are opinions.
I love how they make you understand all of Po struggles but also teaches you that just because there roadblocks does not mean they will end when you get to the top it's a cool thing to have in a film series like this
brought to life by the great Gary Oldman!
I agree. Shen for me was a GINORMOUS upgrade to Tai Lung. He had a bit of a backstory where he saw progress, everyone else saw death. Not to mention he's a disabled albino(he’s not albino, he’s something else I can’t remember the exact name sorry) peacock. I think he has the metal claws because he has some feet deformities and to overcome them, he trained and made weapons and turned his features to his advantage. KFP2 IS MY WHOLEHEARTED FAVORITE. I am really proud if that movie
thank you Doug for acknowledging the sheer superiority of Shen as a villain, he's incredibly compelling and sinister. if I hadn't looked at the voice cast after I first saw the movie I would've never thought Gary Oldman was the voice behind him, but the man can voice act just as well as he can act and its just awe-inspiring.
I will always see Long as a top tier sympathetic character in movies. He worked hard and tried to keep his father's approval and love.
If he didn’t turn to the dark side (no Star Wars reference intended) I can see him being friends and working with the Furious Five.
I always wanted to see Tai Lung come back, humbled and realizing he was wrong.
yea but he only lost the approval when he had the meltdown of the century
With how quickly Critic is working through the DreamWorks catalog, it's only a matter of time until he finally hits MegaMind.
I still think he should do "the Indian in the Cupboard" and "Fly Away Home"(aka: Flying Wild)
I can just see him making tons of jokes in each one.
He should review Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
Holy shit, cant wait
Woah, woah, woah!!! Tai Lung’s “are you proud” line is degrees of epic, and the break in the voice delivery is jus masterful.
Oogway’s quote about the present and the secret ingredient soup scenes are both super poignant scenes I love to think of. Both are simple but powerful lessons that I really admire being shared so well in an animated comedy aimed for families
The way they were able to craft Po into this emotional badass who can make mistakes sure but also isn't perfect is a bit of a fresh air judging by how many new Disney live action remake just want to say your perfect and there's nothing wrong with you.
oh don't worry, the feminist version will be here soon
Cinderella from Cinderella 2015 was not perfect she did have A struggle with losing her father and she learned to have courage and be kind even if her step mother and step sisters were we’re treating her like shit
@@jdsartre9520
That's not what feminism is or asks for, that's what lazy writers do to frame their female characters in a narrative without having to do the work to flesh them out.
For example, the original Ballad of Mulan is an ancient poem meant to illustrate how equality is shown through action and that bias blinds us to that reality. Meanwhile traditional Chinese writing conventions demand a training sequence for a character, or to illustrate to the audience that the spiritual or physical strength of a character is brought about and maintained by training.
The original Disney Mulan, for all its inaccuracies, manages to hit upon that idea not through imitation but from understanding that it is a good arc to follow a character through. The Disney remake on the other hand, like too many remakes, assumes that training arcs aren't interesting if you see them again. Meanwhile if you look at the Rocky series, you will see a constant message of training and improvement being reiterated, to varying degrees of success but it's not that the training and improvement is boring it's that the writers for the Mulan Remake lacked the confidence to write about it. So they dodged the problem by just writing real training out of the story.
Compare to a very female positive show like Arcane, which allows its female characters to get hit and be hurt even as children, and subsequently showing that their outward strength is a reflection of inward strength by being able to take a beating and continue fighting. They still make mistakes in the middle of a fight, but they show the ability to recover and improve despite those setbacks. This is because the writers had the confidence to write a story not only where women not only were rounded out into being complex characters but also show that they have agency and are able to act out their agency in a more meaningful way because of their flaws.
Tl;dr cope and seethe about feminists ruining your fun
And you better like the Disney live-action heroes or else Twitter is gonna label you every buzzword in the book.
"Never judge a book by it's cover" some good advice. Because of that, i'll gave that movie a chance and it deserves it. And the sequel was even better.
One thing you forgot to mention is the soundtracks for all three movies are some of the best for any animated film franchise. So many emotional moments hit a lot harder due to the score being really strong. Oogway’s theme in particular is definitely the most well known, but for me personally, the music that plays when Po is finding out about his past in the second movie is one the best musical pieces I’ve heard in any film, animated or not.
Hans Zimmer and John Powell are musical geniuses.
Kung Fu Panda 2 belongs in anyone's list of the greatest animated films of the 21st century. Not only are the characters great (especially that villain, holy shit), the visuals are *amazing*.
I don’t know about any of you, but I feel like the 1st one is “worthy” of being preserved into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
It is aesthetically pleasing, even inspiring animation in general to look more beautiful & really elevated DreamWorks to expand beyond “Shrek” or “Madagascar”.
I feel the same way about The Little Mermaid and yet that hasn’t been selected even though it ought to have been a LONG time ago. The Library of Congress had the perfect opportunity back in 2019 as a way to honor its 30th anniversary, but they stupidly didn’t.
Any other movies that should be preserved?
@@georgeeastwood6930 Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Doctor Zhivago, The Social Network, Inception, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers & The Return of the King, Back to the Future Parts II & III, Finding Nemo, Carrie, Gremlins, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Way Down East, Hell’s Angels, Aladdin, Spider-Man and The Secret of NIMH. There’s like many more, but these are the ones I want to see the most inducted into the Registry.
@@hunterolaughlin Don't Forget The Shawshank Redemption,Boyz In the Hood, Back To the Future,South Central, Face/Off, The Lion King, Zootopia, Be Kind, Rewind, Taken, The Founder,Loving, The Passion of The Christ, Avatar,RANGO and Wreck It Ralph.
To quote the late great Norm Macdonald and something i'm sure Jack Black might think about sometime is "With the ambitious, the failure of one expedient is the suggestion of another; but with the irresolute, defeat usually occasions abandonment of purpose.”
Po: “I just found out my day isn’t really my dad”
Tigress: “Your dad the GOOSE?”
Po: (nods)
Tigress: “………………..that must have been quite a shock”
Po can enter and leave the spirit world whenever he wants.
That's right, the funny cartoon bear voiced by Jack Black is frickin' immortal!
This trilogy of films is absolutely incredible. I hope that the fourth movie will turn out to be also great. They didn't have to make the fourth movie though
i heard somewhere where the director said it's supposed to be a series of 6 movies in total.
See also: Toy Story
@@TheSchaef47 😂 good one! My wife and I absolutely loved how toy story 3 ended and cannot stand that they felt the need to make a fourth one when Andy gave away his toys to the girl. What's next after toy story 6 the girl gets too old and gives her toys to another younger kid? Ridiculous!
The second one is my personal favorite. Shen is one of Dreamworks greatest villains. And the revelation of Po's backstory and how his mother was killed in a genocide is more heartbreaking than Lion King imo
I really like this trilogy, the animation really holds up yrs later, the jokes are funny and there are alot of emotional moments that feel organic.
Plus, it also gaves two of the best cover of kung fu fighting
Being adopted
I’ve just returned from visiting my birth country and meeting my family for the first time in 38 years
These movies hit differently now and some of the dialogue feels like it’s written to speak to me
Honestly when Jack Black is on his game it shows and man is he on it in this film series
While Kung Fu Panda 2 is the sharpest, I still love the first one and the third one. There are great scenes in both. Overall a great trilogy!
These movies are a treasure. Jack Black is just such an entertaining actor, and his boundless enthusiasm and infectious energy leaps off the screen every time
I honestly I think Megamind should have gotten its own trilogy,It probably would have been the best DreamWorks Trilogy besides Kung Fu Panda
The director of the second movie is Jennifer Yuh Nelson.
Her episodes of Love Death + Robots are definitely worth checking out. My favorite probably has to be Kill Team Kill.
She also directed The Darkest Minds which was a box office and critical failure.
I love so much how they didn't just decide to make Po the jerk that was also the good guy.
As well as not making Po insanely annoying like having him be loud & obnoxious.
Also give credit to Kung Fu Panda that they didn't do the "Villain Reveal at The End" gag or the "Liar Reveal" gag used in many animated movies.
The tragedy of that line about this franchise not ending on a lackluster note. So sad they had to make another one
I'm also a little hesitant about a fourth Kung Fu Panda movie, but if they get Jennifer Yuh Nelson back to direct (and I have a strong feeling Dreamworks will do their best to ensure that), I'll lean more on the optimistic side.
Honestly these films are some of the best films to show how well you can build a story up to the point that your kind of sad when it all ends
I also think it's great how everyone basically forgets that Panda bears are BEARS. Can you imagine how OP a bear would be if they knew kung fu?
Funnily, they're closer related to raccoons than bears.EDIT: they are NOT! This is old information, it's been proven without a doubt they're squarely in the bear family so ignore this comment now.
@@otakon17 Giant pandas were proven to be true bears through molecular studies. So no they're not related to raccoons. The red panda however is closely related to raccoons but also mustelids and skunks.
Like the OP said, people have forgotten that giant pandas are bears and there have been cases where people have been mauled by them.
@@goku-san huh, well I'll be. My info is sorely out of date it seems.
There is a Master Bear in this series. Check the third movie when Crane and Mantis find Kai's hideout.
@@adilrahman6881 yeah, but we don't really get to see him in action. Plus, no one forgets that a grizzly is a bear. So my point still stands. I think.
It's crazy how Dreamworks managed to create 2 separate but still fantastic Trilogies.
Kung Fu Panda & How To Train Your Dragon are perfect examples of how trilogies should be done.
Kung Fu Panda, especially the first two movies, will always have a special place in my heart. The music and visuals are just hauntingly beautiful and create a sense of nostalgia that's just chef's kiss
If only Po hadn't sniff Glue that one time and then decide to chug 15 cans of Red Bull while laughing at Mel Gibson
Kung fu Panda is one of my favorite movies ever. I watched it a lot as a kid. It was so goofy and because I was into dragon ball at the time the martial arts made it even more appealing
the flow of the movies are also all based on the virtues of martial arts, and each villain is reflected by what they each taught po in their battles.
Tai Lung-physical
Learning the foundation of Kung Fu and honing one’s body
Shen-mental
Finding peace within yourself to master your mental focus and memories
Kai-spiritual
discovering true mindfulness to connect with the flow of energy of the universe.
6:53 In the original dub Tai Long's speech doesn't sound too emotional, it was "kinda tragic" as Doug said. But if you can understand spanish you should check the latin spanish dub, it is considered an example of excellent dubbing due to the effort put into the scene by the voice actor. Anger, sadness, pain, dissapointment, you can listen all those emotions showing during the fight.
Man i really need to stop getting into a fight with a person over the last Fortune Cookie
Fun fact. The Panda that Ben Stiller's character killed in Tropic Thunder was made to look like Po. On commentary Jack Black said how could you be f'ing with my livelihood.
And now I want Nostalgia Critic and the team to review Tropic Thunder. Just trying to think of who will play Robert Downey Jr.'s character sounds hilarious.
What really impressed me about the second movie was the bad guy/peacock, Shen (sorry if I spelled his name wrong).
While I watched him, I kept waiting for his actions to make sense after his parents banished him for his cruelty.
I thought he would be more ruthless, but he wasn't as ruthless as I thought he'd be. He didn't really go out of his way to kill anyone, especially with the water buffalo that was the "wise woman" that advised the family for many years.
I kept waiting for him to make sense, and waiting, and waiting, and then I realized...
He was literally on a suicide mission.
He would do what he knew best, but he had lost everything, including his parents. He didn't expect to really survive at the end. And you see it when he accepts his death/defeat at the end.
It clicked because I've seen more than one person go through similar events, but in my case, one got the help and support that they needed, and the other one got lost.
It broke my heart, and made me realize just how good the writing was for the second movie.
This is just my interpretation though.
What I like most about Tigress is that, unlike everyone else, her problems with Po being the Dragon Warrior have nothing to do with him being a panda or fat
1. She says that the Dragon Warrior should know self-defense. This makes sense because the Dragon Warrior is supposed to be the protector of the Valley
2. She says that the Dragon Warrior should be able to survive on nothing but dew and the weight of the universe alone. A lot of people take this as a criticism towards Po’s weight, but, according to the creators, what Tigress is actually saying is that, as the Dragon Warrior, Po should be more aware of what’s going on around him and needs to take things more seriously
I love how i can rewatch these films and for the most part they still don't feel old or out of touch
Two aspects of the series i think should be discussed more is how it was able to avoid grossout humor or a forced romance. the closest to grossout humor it gets is shifu making a one off body odor joke which was just a setup for a later joke about po misunderstanding the pool of sacred tears. and tigress is friends with po without being anything more. its very refreshing and something that doesnt get discussed often enough.
Kung Fu Panda trilogy is a masterpiece. Each film hits you differently, but in rhe best way. All the visuals are great
I was invited by my uncle to see this movie, and was expecting it to be very painful. But I REALLY liked it. It was my favorite for a while. I like the sequel even more. I honestly don't remember much about the third one, I'd have to see it again. I remember it being enjoyable at least. Saw all three in theaters.
Honestly Jack Black was the best choice for Po, he just brings so much emotion to the role that would of never been their if he hadn't decided to do these films in the first place
Honestly when Jack Black chooses to be funny he's is so funny kind of like Adam Sandler in that way
A cool detail I discovered: the song that Shifu plays on the flute before being ambushed by the Five is Tai Lung’s theme.
6:35 I'm sorry but "Finally A Worthy Opponent. Our Battle Will Be Legendary" is memorable quote that became a meme and still used till these day.
I love the Kung Fu Panda movies!
They are enjoyable to watch from start to finish.
Masterpieces.
Master Pieces
So this is why Walter White didn't want to tell us his secret he had about Giant Pandas and though it could end the world as we know it
“Tai Lung is only kinda sympathy”
You’re kidding? The part where he’s ranting at Master Shifu “But when oogway said otherwise what did you do? Nothing.” “Who filled my head with dreams? Who trained me till my bones cracked? Tell me how proud you are Shifu!”
And then Shifu tells him how much he loved him and how he was wrong and he was sorry, you see the look on tai lung’s face. It breaks me every time. And you see the sunk cost fallacy take over and he chooses the scroll. It’s a lot like lord Shen where the villain is destroyed by the choice they made in the past that they can no longer see a future for themselves.