Reviewed: Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

PG - 90mins - Animation/Action/Adventure - 10th June 2011

Po (Jack Black) returns in another kung fu animation adventure which sees our ever hungry panda face up to a new and devastating threat in the form of angry albino peacock (Gary Oldman) Lord Shen. Having been cast out by his parents years before for his atrocities, Shen has been biding his time returning with a new technology that threatens to enable him to conquer China.

Po is joined once again with the Furious Five as well as a few new characters to try and save not only the local people but also the very fabric of kung fu and all that it stands for. Aside all of this, we also learn about the childhood of Po and how he came to be at the doorstep of Mr. Ping (James Hong) and his noodle restaurant.

This film definitely takes on a darker feel when compared to the first and will surely give the younger kids in the audience something to keep them awake at night. It also has more packed into its story with extra depth and variety than the first did not necessarily have ie. lineage and upbringing and the effect that has on us as adults.

The animation is fantastic and despite not hitting the heights of a Pixar movie is up there with some of the best that I have seen to date. My favourite scenes are the fighting scenes in particular one where they are assaulting Shen's stronghold. The combination of action with the impressive visuals drags you right into the fight alongside the characters.

Po can get a bit annoying/repetitive at some points as the Jack Black from within is released and a torrent of 'awesome' and similar such catchphrases are rattled off one after the other but this did seem to be toned down slightly from his usual self so I began to think of Po as Po rather than Black in a panda costume.

I think this is a case of the sequel running the original very close and I would be hard pushed to say which one I preferred. Whereas the first was original and purely a kids flick this builds strongly on the first opening it to a wider audience with more of a slapstick feel to it which has me just siding with this one as the better of the two. Why don't you make up your own minds as it's definitely worth a watch on the big screen.

Rating: 7.2/10

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Kung Fu Panda Vs REAL Martial Arts

Kung Fu Panda is a movie about a lazy panda, named Po, who is the biggest Kung Fu fan around. However, this does not really come in handy whilst working in his family's noodle shop. Po's dreams become reality when he is chosen to fulfill and ancient prophecy and join the world of Kung Fu and study alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five (Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey) under the leadership of their guru, master Shifu. However, the vengeful snow leopard Tai Lung is heading their way, and it is up to Po to defend everyone in the Valley of Peace from the oncoming threat. Po puts his heart and soul into the task and the unlikely hero finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths.

Martial arts techniques are not magical, as some movies may lead you to believe. It is believed by many beginners that black belts can in fact jump over four cars whilst taking out three attackers along the way before they hit the ground. However, in reality these 360 degree kicks etc that are seen in films like Kung Fu Panda are fun to watch on the big screen, but are very often not the most effective self-defense techniques in reality based combat.

General Martial Arts Techniques include:

* Blocks

Blocks are undertaken in order to stop an opponent from striking, usually with the arm. However, it is possible to use other limbs when blocking.

* Footwork and Stances

Martial artists work on their footwork and stances to a great extent. Stances are imperative to both sport and traditional martial arts. One example of a stance that is used in more traditional martial arts styles such as Kung Fu and Karate is the Horse Stance.

* Strikes

Striking in martial arts typically refers to the stand up offensive game. In other words, punches, kicks, elbows, headbutts, knees, and the like. Of course, it is also possible to use strikes in ground fighting.

* Submissions

Joint locks and choke locks are referred to as submissions. There are generally done on the ground, even though it is possible to execute submission whilst standing. Of course the idea is to get your opponent to submit, and if they do not submit when a hold is employed, serious damage can be caused to them.

* Takedowns

This refers to taking your opponent to the ground. This can be done using wrestling moves such as a single and double leg takedown or throw.

* Throws

Throws are a specific type of takedown which is more defensive in nature. These are typically defined as martial arts maneuvers or techniques whereby a practitioner locks up with someone and uses their strength to take them to the ground.

In the movie Kung Fu Panda, The Five battle Tai Lung, but they are eventually defeated. All except Crane are paralyzed by a special nerve-striking technique. There are no secret magical combinations of touch that can in fact cause a person to become completely immobilized. However, after saying that, there are places on the human body where nerve crosses bone and artery crosses muscle that can cause intense pain or unconsciousness when the correct amount of pressure is applied.

During the movie, Po attempts to explain the wisdom of the scroll to a frustrated Tai Lung. However, Tai Lung uses his nerve attack on Po and fails due to Po's amply-padded stomach. Emboldened, Po counter-attacks, and uses the Wuxi Finger Hold, which is a technique whereby Po flexes his pinkies and lets out a golden shockwave that radiates over the entire village and destroys Tai Lung. Of course, there is no such technique in martial arts.

In Mandarin, the giant panda is called "Da Xiong Mao", and even though there are many different styles of animal martial arts that have evolved over the past 1500 years, there is no panda style, until now!

Andy Janis

Creator of http://www.complete-martialarts.com

Film Review of Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Spinning panda bonzaa death kick coming your way...Yeah, this movie does sound ridiculous - imagine karate kid but with an endangered species as the protagonist, and you're half-way there.

Belief seems to be a common theme amongst animated moves; we have seen the green monster who learns to love and the rabbit who teaches himself to slam dunk, but a fighting panda has, until now, been left alone.

Here we have your average everyday panda (aptly named Po), slightly podgy around the edges but loveable all the same. Jack Black does the voiceover for the movie and whilst perfectly executing a few quotes that will be reeled off in kid's playgrounds up and down the country, he doesn't really take full advantage of his wild side that we have seen in his previous appearances.

Po is a noodler (is that a word? He works in his father's noodle shop, anyway!) and when he isn't slaving behind a hot stove, he dreams of becoming a rather 'scaled-up' Bruce Lee Kung Fu hero! Unfortunately for Po, his kung fu moves leave a lot to be desired; imagine a cross between a black and white dancing elephant and bambi in a head band. An unfortunate occurrence results in Po being entered into the toughest Kung Fu competition in the world, where he will be fighting against the most feared contenders known to Pandas and other species alike: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Crane (David Cross), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Viper (Lucy Liu), and the most feared of them all, the Mantis (Seth Rogen); just the sound of them strikes me with fear.

So Po heads up into the mountains to be transformed into a lean mean fighting machine by kung fu guru, master Shifu.

This is a good family movie, although probably a cut under the cream of the crop (films such as Finding Nemo still hold that accolade in my opinion) and teaches kids a great lesson about believing in yourself even when the odds are stacked against you. As you would expect, there is ample punching, kicking and other moves that have never been attempted before but it is all very mild, as is the language content, so parents you should have no worries about letting your kids watch this film from about the age of 5.

I'm pretty far outside of the target audience, being 23, and this film still kept me entertained and chuckling here and there. I almost get the impression that every now and then an 'adult' line is purposely chucked in for our entertainment, flying miles high above the heads of our juniors.

SpittinFlicks.com is a new Film Forum and Film Reviews (http://www.spittinflicks.com/filmreviews) site that is trying to bring together a community of film lovers.

Kung Fu Panda 2 Party Ideas

With the new Kung Fu Panda 2 movie being released on May 26, 2011, this will be a popular theme for a party planned for this summer or fall. It will be the perfect theme for a birthday party for a girl, boy, or even a toddler. Invite a few friends to attend the movie with your child and have a party after the movie... maybe even a sleepover! Below are a few ideas for your party decorations, activities, food, and dessert.

Party Decorating Ideas:

Use paper Kung Fu Panda 2 party plates to make your clean up easy! Using themed tableware makes decorating easy. Another way to add extra decorations is to use any Kung Fu Panda toys your child has and set them around the room. Frame a couple of movie posters for decoration, and your child will love them in their room later!

Party Activities There are several options for party activities, depending on the age of your child:

1. A younger child might enjoy dressing in a panda costume, pretend playing, and simple games or story time.

2. An older child might like dressing in a karate uniform, practicing their "Kung Fu moves", watching a Kung Fu Panda movie, and playing party games.

Party Food Ideas: There are several options for food ideas, depending on the age of your child:

1. For a younger child, the party food could consist of small size fruit pieces and cheese cubes, sandwiches cut with a bear shaped cookie cutter, jello cubes, animal crackers, and fortune cookies.

2. For the older child, make the party food easy by ordering Chinese Take Out! Or, make your own Chinese food. Have the kids help prepare the food. Serve with chop sticks to make it interesting! Don't forget the fortune cookies!

What's for Dessert?

Dessert for any age: Homemade Panda Bear cupcakes would be fun, or themed birthday cake. Make your own cake or order from your local grocery store or bakery.

The Kung Fu Panda 2 movie is sure to be a hit with the kids, and inspire a party for any occasion. Birthday Party, End-of-School, Summer Fun Night, Movie Night, Sleepover Party, Costume Party, or any time you just want to party! All ages love the Kung Fu Panda, so everyone can enjoy this theme party!

There are many party ideas for a fun party. Use your imagination or ask your child.

Faye Rutledge, also known as the Party Buzz Bee, buzzes around her website, www.partypantry.com, with lots of party ideas and party supplies for all occasions, including Kung Fu Panda 2 Party Supplies. Be sure to visit for all your party needs.

Kung Fu Panda Teaches Self Confidence

Kung Fu Panda makes some great common sense points about self confidence. Po the Panda, is a martial arts geek. He wants to be a Kung Fu legend, but he is too roly poly and uncoordinated. Then he accidentally becomes anointed as the famous Dragon Warrior. This turn of events helps him learn that warriors believe in, and take responsibility for themselves.

When he is first given the coveted dragon scroll, he is dismayed to realize that it has no writing, only a reflective surface. It takes Po a while, but then he gets it. All he has is himself. Armed with this insight, and the confidence gained from training with the master Shifu, Po battles the evil Tai Lung and triumphs. If the story line sounds like an entertaining, animated kid's movie, that's because it is - albeit one with a moral.

Po's story of failure to triumph highlights all three characteristics of self confident people. Po, the Kung Fu Panda, learns to be optimistic and to believe in himself and his abilities. He also faces his personal fears, and triumphs over them, allowing him to triumph over Tai Lung. Finally, he surrounds himself with positive people - the furious five: Tigress, Viper, Monkey, Crane and Mantis; along with enlisting the Shifu as a mentor.

Isn't it amazing how one animated children's movie, can send such a strong message to our younger generation. The importance of self confidence to success shines through the movie brilliantly.

The common sense point here is simple, and timeless. You have to believe in yourself, and take responsibility for yourself if you want to succeed in your career and life. Kung Fu Panda makes this point in a very entertaining manner.

Susan Denny has been happily married for 38 years, has 4 adult children (all married) and 6 grandchildren. She has many years experience with families and relationships and has been involved in the Self Development industry for nearly 20 years, starting with one-on- one training with Bob Proctor in 1990. She has since attended many seminars hosted by world renowned Gurus in the Self Development and Internet Marketing areas.

Go to: http://allaboutselfconfidence.com to check out her site.

How to Download "Kung Fu Panda" Full Movie Safely Online

Downloading a movie like "Kung Fu Panda" can be dangerous. There are a multitude of "free" download sites out there that are nothing more than scams and virus breeding grounds. In order to remain safe, it is key that you know what factors to consider when choosing a safe and reliable movie download site.

Download speed is a very important factor. Movies like "Kung Fu Panda" are considerable in size so you will need a site that offer unlimited bandwidth. Also check that there are no content, search or time limitations.

Picture quality is also very important. Watching poor quality movies is far from enjoyable so you should make sure the site offers DVD quality movie downloads. Anything less than DVD quality should be avoided as it's a waste of time and money.

Movie selection is another important factor to consider. All the bandwidth in the world is useless without a large selection of movies to choose from. The top movie download sites grant access to over 80 million files. These files contain movie, television shows, sporting events, music and more!

The most important thing is to avoid self-proclaimed "free" download sites. These sites are almost always a scam and will only serve to cause harm to yourself or your computer. It is a much better idea to invest in a movie download site that charges a small one time membership fee. Within a few downloads you will be saving money over going to your local theater, especially with the current state of gas prices.

With that said, there is really nothing else to do except enjoy a few movies.

You can read more on how to download Kung Fu Panda here

The DAO of Kung Fu Panda

A commentary on the wisdom of various quotes from the movie Kung Fu Panda.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today? Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present.

A great quote and probably the most well-known saying in Kung Fu Panda (and catchy too!). Tomorrow is over and finished with. Whatever happened, happened. Whatever didn't happen, didn't happen. Spending time and energy in the present fretting over things that are now history is a waste of your resources.

Tomorrow is a mystery. We don't know what tomorrow will bring. Your life could change dramatically in the next 24 hours...or perhaps tomorrow will be much the same as today. Whatever plans you may make, the future is out of your direct control.

But today? Today is a gift. It is yours to have here and now. Right now you have control over your thoughts and your feelings. It may not always seem that way, but it's true. You do. That was the great 'secret' discovered by Viktor Frankl in the hell of Auschwitz. You, and only you, have the power to assign meaning to your present circumstances and condition. And therein lies the chance for change and an opportunity for growth. Decide today what meaning you want to attach to events in your life. Do not allow yourself to be subjugated to alien meanings imposed on your from those around you. This is your present for yourself.

There are no accidents

Master Wugui (Oogway) is the fountain of wisdom in Kung Fu Panda and this is a great quote from him that hints at the underlying oneness of existence. There are no accidents...only events. What we see before us is the mind-bogglingly complex, but nevertheless real, interactions between particles that are invisible to all but the most powerful microscopes. These particles may cause apparent accidents to happen, but that is an illusion, as Master Wugui points out. It is us, our ego-driven selves, branding an event an accident that obscures the greater truth of unity from our perception. The Universe knows what it is doing. It is in control; perfect and beautiful in its harmony.

There are no secret ingredients

This is my favorite quote from Kung Fu Panda.

There are no secret ingredients. You don't need any 'secrets'. The 'secret', if that is what it is, is to harmonize with your true nature and maintain that harmony throughout your life. You are enough; you have everything that you need to live your life. You just need to be very sure that it is indeed your life that you are living and not someone else's. Another one of my favorite quotes comes from Jung:

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens."

Where are you looking for your truth: inside or outside?

The people around you are living their lives and following their truth. "My truth is not your truth", as Bruce Lee said. Don't confuse the truth of other people with your own truth. Exert yourself in finding your own path and follow it with your heart. There are no secret ingredients. Everything you need to be you - to 'make' you - is inside you already.

One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it

A lot of the first half of the movie is about the characters - including Po, the Kung Fu Panda himself - accepting that the overweight bear is indeed the Dragon Warrior. It is his destiny but only Master Wugui can see that.

You are who you are. Discover who you are and love yourself for who you are. Respect yourself for who you are. Banish influences that will ask you to do anything other than fulfill your own unique destiny. Taking your life off on a tangent may bring achievement, success, accomplishment and so on but how do you feel five minutes later? If reaching those goals has been contrary to your nature you will know it straight away. Despite the successes you will be left with an empty, hollow feeling, wondering why everyone was making such a fuss about this latest thing you have done. Now, you can see right through it and see it for what it is: an illusion. Sooner or later, you will be forced to take a long, hard look at yourself once again and consider the direction your life is heading in. Take a moment now and consider if your heart is telling you that your current path is your destiny. If not, you will save yourself a lot of time and effort to recalibrate your guidance system and head back in the direction you know deep inside you should be going in.

This is a central teaching in Kung Fu Panda

Let go of the illusion of control

Another great one from Master Wugui.

This refers to both internal and external control. Externally, Master Wugui is talking about overcoming the idea that you can control things outside yourself. In one of the great moments of Kung Fu Panda Master Wugui stresses that the seed from a peach will grow into a peach tree. It is its nature. It can't fight it and it doesn't try. You may not want a peach tree; you may prefer apples. But you won't get an apple tree from a peach seed. An attempt to control the nature of peach seed is delusion.

Internally, the quote again reminds us that we can't ultimately control our true nature. Trying to do so is a temporary illusion, but one that can potentially cause tremendous damage to yourself if you are not careful. Do not reign in your true nature. Find it and harmonize with it. It is your friend, not your enemy.

Vincent Cooper is a researcher and writer in the field of martial arts, as well as a dedicated practitioner. You can read his latest work at www.martial-arts-insight.com