Kung Fu Pandais an odd duck, or goose as the case may be, among Dreamworks' many animated franchises. It’s never been as financially successful asShrekor as critically acclaimed asHow to Train Your Dragon. The first outing delivered a few of the best-animated fight scenes this side of anime, but its sequels gradually shifted the appeal toward the omnipresent comedy.Kung Fu Panda 3seemed like a conclusion, but the next stage of the Dragon Warrior’s journey is on the way.
Kung Fu Panda 4inspired impressive fervor after its announcement. The franchise never meaningfully went away, surviving through TV appearances that have continued throughout the last eight years. The next outing is set to borrow more from anime and introduce new technological techniques in its presentation.Awkwafina will jointhe cast as a potential successor to Jack Black’s Po, prompting disbelief and outrage from many.
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How doesKung Fu Panda 3end?
Kung Fu Panda 3follows Po as hefaces the mighty ox, Kai, and reconciles his relationship with his long-lost father. As expected, the film will end with Po defeating the villain and ascending to the next level of martial arts wisdom. His plan to best Kai requires bypassing a deadly army to catch the ox in the same Wuxi Finger Hold he used to defeat Tai Lung in the first film. He must train his fellow pandas and adoptive father, Mr. Ping, in kung fu to help them face Kai’s forces. Po teaches the pandas techniques mirroring their daily chores. He reaches Kai and attempts the Finger Hold, but Kai’s spiritual essence prevents its effect. Po applies the maneuver to himself while holding Kai, launching them into the Spirit Realm and saving the pandas.
Kai begins stealing Po’s chi. If he succeeds, he could return to the Mortal Realm and leave Po stranded. Li Shan, Po’s biological father, realizes that the secret to chi is finding one’s true self. He and the other pandas donate their chi to Po, notunlikeDragon Ball Z. Po uses his newfound power to destroy Kai. With the threat handled, Po finds Master Oogway in the Spirit Realm. His dead master explains that he selected Po as the Dragon Warrior because only a panda could combine kung fu and chi. He also guided Li Shan through a posthumous sign to his son. Oogway promotes Po to his old position, naming him the Grand Master. He gives him his staff,which lets Po returnto the Mortal Realm. Po reconnects with his family and the surrounding village. He accepts his new job and begins training the villagers in kung fu and chi.
Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni
Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger
January 29th, 2016
Available to Watch On:
Netflix, rental on Apple TV, Vudu, or Amazon Prime Video
Kung Fu Panda 3is about fatherhood, purpose, and determining one’s true self. Po begins the film excited about his new position. Master Shifu, the red panda who trained him, retires and names Po his successor. Tragically, Po’s first attempts to educate the Furious Five end in disaster. Shifu advises him to devise a new style and to stop imitating his old master. This coincides withPo’s first encounterwith Li Shan, causing an internal crisis in the panda, who grew up believing Mr. Ping was his father. Mr. Ping becomes indignant, trying to drive a wedge between his son and his biological father. While Li Shan brings Po into the fold to learn a panda’s relaxed lifestyle, Kai steals the chi from every kung fu master. Pandas have a natural connection to chi, discovered by Oogway years before he met Po. Po’s internal confusion comes to a head as he struggles to face Kai’s assault. It’s a charming family comedy blended withtraditional martial arts action.
What isKung Fu Panda 3’s Rotten Tomatoes Score?
Kung Fu Panda 3has an 87% positive score from 179 critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Its audience score is 79% positive from more than 100,000 viewers. The film ties the originalKung Fu Pandain critical acclaim, falling only four points behind its audience score. ItdefeatedKung Fu Panda 2in both metrics, the middle chapter commanding only an 81% positive critics' score and a 74% audience score. All three entries are Certified Fresh by the aggregator, andKung Fu Panda 3competes with the original entry for critical appeal.
Kung Fu Panda 3was a suitable end for the franchise, but there’s always more room for Po to grow. The upcoming fourth entry is set to establish Po’s search fora new Dragon Warrior, taking on the same task Oogway once accepted. Fans will have to wait and see whetherKung Fu Panda 4will upholdKung Fu Panda 3’s standard of quality.
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