KUNG FU PANDA 3

US, 2016, 95 minutes, Colour.
Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, J.A. Simmons, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Kate Hudson, James Hong, Randall Duk Kim, Wayne Knight.
Directed by Alessandro Carloni, Jennifer Yuh.

It is eight years since we were introduced to the large and jovial Panda, Po. He delighted audiences all round the world, he and his extended family, with some action and adventures and drawing on some Eastern aspects of martial arts as well as religious reflection. Three years later, he and his friends all returned for another comedy and action about.

There must be a great number of fans of the Kung Fu Panda out there, children eager to see him again – and children who are now older but still have fond memories. They will not be disappointed with this third time round.

By this stage, Po is fairly well established and well respected in his community. However, he is away from his village and, to his surprise and delight, his father comes to visit and takes them back to the village full of pandas - quite a comic lot. That would be enjoyable in itself, with lots of comic touches and, especially, with a rather large cast of celebrity voices who are all back again, Dustin Hoffman as Mr Shifu the tiny instructor, Angelina Jolie Lee as the tigress, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong, Jackie Chan…

But, of course, this would not be a Kung Fu Panda entertainment without some battlelines being drawn. The mystic Oogway returns and is confronted by the villain Kai whom he had conquered and confined to the other world 500 years earlier. This monstrous type, resembling a giant and sinister ox, is determined to take over the whole world. Kai has in his power, minute green creatures whom he carries on his belt, the forces whom he has subdued – and he proceeds to subdue a whole lot of creatures from the village, including Mr Shifu, turning them all green, depriving them of their personalities and making them all fighting machines.

Po, of course, has to confront this sinister and powerful enemy, supported by his family and friends in the village, although discovering that his father has rather exaggerated his own powers.

For those who enjoy the battles, they are extraordinarily choreographed, exciting for the younger audiences (though Kai is particularly fierce, looming and frightening perhaps for the very young). Adult audiences who admire the skills of animation (done in the United States, in China and in India) will be captivated by the extraordinary detail of action and movement.

While Po is a valiant warrior on his own, he is in danger of defeat unless his father and the whole village combine with each other, eliciting their inner Chi, turning their combined energy and force on Kai. Po is a delighted victor but faces the question of whether he stays in eternity or returns to his family. Really, no question at all.

Jack Black is back with his comic energy as Po, and J.K. Simmons is truly a sinister Kai.

And, with the atmosphere of eastern mysticism, the exercise of inner Chi, complimentary forces in Yin and Yang, and the strength of the inner self, the film ends with an exuberant dance of life.

1. The popularity of Po, pandas, the other characters, the range of animals, the comic forms? A new sequel?

2. The characters, Po, the pandas, friends and helpless, Po’s father? The blend of the serious with the humorous?

3. The celebrity voice cast and the variety?

4. The Asian setting, pandas from Asia, the other animals, forming the community, forming the family? Experiencing conflict?

5. Po and his past, initially overweight, awkward, being transformed, the role of Mr Shifu, his growing, the martial arts, his becoming a Master, the training, his success? The nature of his adventures? Relationships?

6. The older Po, wiser, the visit from his father, his happy reaction, reunited, travelling to the village, discovering all the pandas – and the humorous range of shapes and sizes, holding young, comic and serious? Is being welcomed back? The importance of the goose who adopted him?

7. The village, the characters, living in harmony, Po idolising his father?

8. The appearance of Kai, the confrontation with Kwai, rivalry, the 500 years of defeat, Kai rising again, issuing a challenge? His size, appearance, voice? Dark and menacing?

9. Kai, the energy of the creatures he had transformed, green, compact, on his belt? His using them as weapons? His transformation of characters from the village, including Mr Shifu, becoming warriors and weapons?

10. Po’s father, admitting the truth, that he did not have the answers? The responsibility going back to Po? The preparations for the attack, the slapstick comedy with training the pandas and their particular techniques, even from the kitchen?

11. The attack, Kai and his viciousness, the green warriors, the confrontations? The elaborate fights, the range of choreography?

12. The buildup to the confrontation between Po and Kai, the immortal who cannot be destroyed, Po and his attempts, failure? His realisation, on to Kai’s back and repeating the formula that would make him disappear – he would sacrifice himself and go with him?

13. Po, the fight in the other world, the defeat? Po’s father, asking everybody to combine, their inner energy, holding up their paws, radiating the energy, saving Po, his final confrontation with the defeat of Kai?

14. His energy, his becoming the dragon warrior, the visualising of the lights and the dragon?

15. The discussions with Ooglay, whether he should return or not? His becoming Ooglay’s heir, the staff? The decision to go home,
everybody welcoming, everybody transformed and restored? Mr Shifu asking Po for instruction?

16. The Eastern background of Chi, Yin and Yang, inner strength?

17. The finale with everyone participating in a dance of life?