Movie review: Kung Fu Panda is back!

The extra-large hero is back in cinemas, so come and enjoy some extra fun!

Nothing like a panda pool party! ©Dreanwork
Nothing like a panda pool party! ©DreamWorks

Before the lights fall and the film starts, give yourself some time to get ready. Forget that you are a serious adult and prepare yourself to reconnect with laughter. All done? Now you can enjoy  Kung Fu Panda 3!

I loved it from the start.

Inside the spiritual world where everything is floating, master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim), the great Kung Fu creator according to the franchise,  rests under the flower tree. Peaceful. But, as in any good animation film, the calm is quickly broken by the arrival of a new enemy.

Po (Jack Black) returns as the main character, facing his biggest challenge yet. The round and proud panda needs to learn how to master ‘chi’ to defeat Kai (J.K. Simmons), an ancient spiritual enemy.  Of course, the key to master ‘chi’ is to understand who you really are. You might find it is a simple question, but how often do you really think about it?

Follow Po on his journey to watch him learn the answer is following his own heart and being true to himself. With a little help from his friends, he masters ‘chi’ and becomes a real dragon warrior.

Yes, it is a story about how Po saves the day again, but its biggest charm is that it uses a simple story to tell a simple truth often ignored by us: Be yourself.

In life, we all have role models that we would like to follow, like master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) to Po. Although those models are wonderful, we can never become them. We can take inspiration, but in the end we have to find our own path and accept it won’t always be easy.

Everyone feels confused at some point in their lives. Once we reach a certain stage, we feel too comfortable and satisfied to go further and take risks. This film shows life never lets us stay still. We have to be ready.

So? The film is hilarious, fast, quick, visually stunning and made me leave the cinema full of confidence in being myself. Kung Fu Panda honours the charm of animation films and children and adults will love it. Watch it.

Rating: 4/5

Also, the use of Chinese calligraphy in this movie is spectacular!

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