Blue. Lil guy.

a random ramble about Kung Fu Panda related shit

I’m putting this under the “read more” thing because it’s long and kinda unrelated about what I usually do. However, I find myself doing long rambly brain train spills to myself about random topics, and this is one. I wrote this whole thing out, so sure, I’ll post it here. 

I never watched Kung Fu Panda 3 because I loved the second one so much, I wasn't willing to be let down. 

I'm sure a lot of folks are aware of how when it comes to movies getting sequels, it seems like the third one is where things kinda fall apart a bit. I think I kinda call it... a case of the Shreks. Shrek one, iconic, Shrek 2, friggin' amazing... Shrek 3? Hnnn... nnno. And then by the time Shrek 4 came around I don't think most people were particularly hyped. 

Though, to be honest, I'm pretty sure I'd enjoy KFP3 more than Shrek 3. However, I don't think I'd enjoy it as much as How To Train Your Dragon 3... which I certainly liked but I'm mixed as to whether or not it's "better" or "worse" than HTTYD 2, I think when it comes to HTTYD2 and 3 some aspects are kind a trade off, like I liked the villain in 3 more than 2. 

Anyway... Kung Fu Panda... the first movie I think was a bit of a shock to everyone, whether they realized it or not. I mean, KUNG FU PANDA, with JACK BLACK, everyone went in expecting to have an amusing time, but if you're like me, you may not have expected to have a certain respect for the movie later on, in regards to it being more than just a animated kids movie about a funny panda way in over his head. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if that movie was a lot more "respectful" and "accurate" of Chinese culture/martial arts stuff than a lot of  media over the years has been, I mean, at the very least it's certainly gorgeous visually. Now that I think about it, it was a damn body-positive movie in a weird way, because not only is there a chubby protagonist, but because all of the martial arts masters are different animals (based off of the different Kung Fu styles of course), you get a cast of characters who greatly vary in body types and appearances. And they didn't do anything weird with the female designs either, they didn't feel the need to give Tigress long eyelashes or whatever. My favorite observation was a thread I read where people agreed "thank goodness they spared us from sniddies (snake tiddies)". Anyway, the first movie's characters were likable, the movie is visually appealing, the audio is appealing, character motivations were decent, yeah it was just pretty heckin' solid at being both smart, and a "kid" movie. 

And then Kung Fu Panda 2 happened, and I went and saw it like "Yeah, what the heck, should be fun", you know, as you do when there's a fun movie that gets a sequel. While my appreciation for the first movie has increased due to artistic observations that come with a growing mind, even at the time when I saw KFP2, I could easily point out how the movie was OOF THERE'S SOME FEELS. They kinda upped the ante in many aspects, but one thing that I'm grateful I got to see in the theaters for was the use of more 2D type animation, for flashbacky bits. That was gorgeous. Oh yeah, and the villain is a white Peacock, which is pretty great. Like, you don't expect a peacock to be a villain, do ya? But it really worked for a royal character. In hindsight, I've thought about how in the past Chinese upper class folks would do things like grow their fingernails out really long as a status symbol showing they didn't have to do manual labor, and a male peacock is a good animal equivalent, because as impressive as their tails are, they can actually be cumbersome (though it sure as hell doesn't stop this one from fighting with the grace and skill of an elf). Though, whether that in itself was done on purpose or not, I dunno, a peacock is still a good choice considering how ornamental and visually stunning designs could fit real nice with it. Oh, and there was at least one part where ya get to hear him do the famous peacock call, which is a very specific and surprising sound to anyone who ain't used to it. This is, all and all, how you do good character design, m'dudes. I know, I know, how a character LOOKS may not SEEM so important compared to the story, but any good storymaker using a visual medium knows the importance of character design, because in itself it can tell a lot about a character. However, aside from looks alone, Lord Shen (I was reminded of his name when looking for gifs) is a good character on the basis of, well, character. I don't wanna really give any big spoilers in case I convince someone who hasn't seen the second movie to see it, but I think it's fair to say that the story overall has more of an emotional weight to it. Tai Lung wasn't a bad villain, but I do say with confidence that Lord Shen was a GREAT villain (He also has a damn good array of facial expressions), there are more complexities, like how he's tied into Po's past. 

SPEAKING of Po, I'm a sucker for some feels, and this movie delivers. Honestly one of the BIGGEST reasons I didn't see the third movie, was because of the introduction of the other pandas, including Po's birth father. One of the greatest things about the second movie was the stuff around Po and his father... because, yeah, a lot of people watching the first movie were probably questioning "wait, he's a panda, and he's a goose... what exactly are we dealing with here?" and the second movie waves a finger like "Ah HA, see, we weren't just being weird to be amusing and confusing, GET A LOAD OF THIS-" And they give ya the FEEEELS, m'dudes. I think that it hits especially hard, because really there are a lot of family dynamics that are similar to Po's and his dad's that exist in real life all the time. I wonder how many young adults might have gone to see the movie, and then sat there in the theater tearing up like "Oh my god, that's my dad". Or, if you're like me, who can find relatability in a lot of things anyway regardless, but didn't need to even compare them to their own family to see and feel the message. 

But then KFP3 happened, and it's like "Ha ha, look, it's Po's dad!" and meanwhile I'm over here like BUT HE HAD A DAD!!! ... I understand it, but at the same time, it's just a bit awkward, and I feel like it might undermine that whole important family arc in the 2nd movie. Yeah, there's an ending shot that shows Po's biological father is alive, realizing his son is alive, but sometimes it's okay for birth parents and kids to not always meet/ get to know each other and  "WOW, I'M SO HAPPY I FOUND MY REEEAAALLL DAD"... that's just what seeing the trailer for KFP3 felt like to me. And, I mean... kinda spoilers for the 2nd movie I guess, but... like... either the mother did in fact die, or they completely glaze over her. Das sum bullshit. 

Look, I ain't advocating total Panda genocide, it was cool to get that glance and the end of KFP2 that showed there were survivors, but, come on man, don't give me a sequel that's problematic to holding true some of the emotions I went through from the other works of art. YA CAN'T DO MEH LIKE DAT, BRUH. Ya gotta keep your messages intact. 

I refuse to ever watch the third movie. I don't trust it to handle the parent/family stuff right. Goose Dad isn't perfect, but Goose Dad is real dad.