The Film
It's been a while since we've seen Po and his band of furry warrior friends. However, the Kung Fu Panda franchise is alive, well, and still raking in the dough. That's because Kung Fu Panda 3 still has enough chi in the tank to entertain its target audience.
This third installment brings back Po (voiced by Jack Black), Master Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Master Mantis (Seth Rogen), Crane (David Cross), Mr. Ping (James Hong), and several other familiar creatures. New to the party is Kai (J. K. Simmons), an evil yak who is looking to steal the chi of every kung fu master in the realm. Po needs to save the day (and the chi), but first he must learn to teach kung fu so Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) can retire. Teaching doesn't come naturally to Po at first, but maybe it's because he's distracted by the sudden appearance of his biological father Li Shan (Bryan Cranston) and a visit to the super-secret, super-cuddly panda village.
Yeah, that seems like a lot to cram into one movie, but that's how the franchise works best -- at lightning speeds. Kung Fu Panda 3 doesn't have the type of pace and depth you'd expect from Pixar. However, it does manage to tug at the heartstrings, all while being fast, filled with colorful characters, and still pretty funny.
The Picture
As you'd expect, the computer-animated characters of Kung Fu Panda 3 are razor sharp. Fur, feathers, and scales are all very evident throughout the film. The salt-and-pepper fur on Li Shan is especially impressive, as are the incredibly detailed rocks, glaciers, streets, sandy deserts, and other background scenery. Even the detail on the paintings featured in the film looks wonderful. The 2.35:1 image also packs in pretty much every color of the rainbow, which should be pleasing to all ages. While this movie can be fast-paced to the point where you may feel like your head is spinning, it's hard to find one thing wrong with the imagery being displayed here.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track included with this track is just as animated as, well... the animation on-screen. Even with the insanity and all of the famous voices, dialogue is always crystal clear. Of course, the action is really key here and this track is pretty much a non-stop barrage of surround sound. There is really never a dull moment here, with the fight scenes and general chaos moving around the room quite nicely. Also worth mentioning is Hans Zimmer's score, which packs a nice punch as well.
The Extras
Final Thoughts
Despite a lengthy lapse between films, Kung Fu Panda 3 is a welcome return. Is it the best kiddie flick? It's probably not even the best one in this franchise, but it won't leave you wincing either. It's got a sweet story with plenty of funny lines and a kick-butt AV presentation.
Product Details
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