"Kung Fu Panda 3" is an enjoyable film, if you look at it in a kid's perspective. However it isn't on par with the hilarious and recurring themes of the first one or the dark and emotional impact of the second one. Right off the bat this film is beautifully animated, it has an intriguing premise and lots of potential especially with it's villain, but it did not deliver what it could've been because of its 1 hour and 25 minute run time which makes the film rushed and not fleshed out.
First of all, this movie is an undeniably well animated film, each character looks more and more layered out and textured. The background and the foreground both look captivating and unique which gives the whole film its distinct look from the previous films. The film also offers a brilliant soundtrack once again from Hans Zimmer which elevates the story and giving a distinct feel for each character. The dynamic between Po and his Dad was also enjoyable considering a lot of kids will be watching this with their dads or their parents, it was handled pretty well. The Furious Five were also given some more lines to compensate for and they had more scenes compared to the previous film which was nice to see. HOWEVER, these saving graces don't really make the film that great.
The flaws of this film are what really prevents this film from being better than what it is. The villain (Kai) was not fleshed out as much and there was a lot of potential for him even though granted it was given a great talent with J.K. Simmons which was a pretty good performance overall. Compared to previous villains like Tai Lung or Lord Shen, they were really fleshed out and unforgettable (personal favorite being Lord Shen) and they had an impact on Po, be it because of his master or because of his past. In this one, the motives that were set for the villain was rather simplistic and the exposition for him being quite powerful was promising and COULD'VE been his saving grace, but as the film progressed he DID show he was powerful but it felt like there was more to him and he felt quite underwhelming. Another flaw would be Po's journey, and this time he has to teach, but before he has to teach...he needs to know who he really is? Didn't the previous film already tackle this and more so even better than this film. The second film had such depth and development for Po's character as he later discovers his past and him learning that he didn't have such a happy beginning, but that doesn't make him who his and that it is the rest of his story and who he chooses to be, and at the end of that emotional scene in KFP2 after he finds the truth, he tells himself "I am Po". Now we're back to square one here in KFP3, because he once again asks who he really is as a Panda, but doesn't that then negate what they built in the previous film??? That he is what he chooses to be? This was kind of repetitive to watch because it felt rushed and isn't as fleshed out as the second film. Moreover the film is really really convenient, there are times where (especially in the finale) unexpected deus ex machinas literally save the whole day and there are a lot of plot conveniences that are really predictable. The film also suffers from a lack of depth compared to the previous films except for some parts with Po and his Father but then again those scenes do get their emotional impact from Kung Fu Panda 2 which was kind of repetitive and too dependent on being reminiscent of the other films.
In the end, Kung Fu Panda 3 is still a pretty enjoyable and fun film with your family if you disregard its flaws and look at the beauty it actually holds with its animation, the spirit of family and the feeling if you watch it feeling like a child.
Verdict: 7.2/10
First of all, this movie is an undeniably well animated film, each character looks more and more layered out and textured. The background and the foreground both look captivating and unique which gives the whole film its distinct look from the previous films. The film also offers a brilliant soundtrack once again from Hans Zimmer which elevates the story and giving a distinct feel for each character. The dynamic between Po and his Dad was also enjoyable considering a lot of kids will be watching this with their dads or their parents, it was handled pretty well. The Furious Five were also given some more lines to compensate for and they had more scenes compared to the previous film which was nice to see. HOWEVER, these saving graces don't really make the film that great.
The flaws of this film are what really prevents this film from being better than what it is. The villain (Kai) was not fleshed out as much and there was a lot of potential for him even though granted it was given a great talent with J.K. Simmons which was a pretty good performance overall. Compared to previous villains like Tai Lung or Lord Shen, they were really fleshed out and unforgettable (personal favorite being Lord Shen) and they had an impact on Po, be it because of his master or because of his past. In this one, the motives that were set for the villain was rather simplistic and the exposition for him being quite powerful was promising and COULD'VE been his saving grace, but as the film progressed he DID show he was powerful but it felt like there was more to him and he felt quite underwhelming. Another flaw would be Po's journey, and this time he has to teach, but before he has to teach...he needs to know who he really is? Didn't the previous film already tackle this and more so even better than this film. The second film had such depth and development for Po's character as he later discovers his past and him learning that he didn't have such a happy beginning, but that doesn't make him who his and that it is the rest of his story and who he chooses to be, and at the end of that emotional scene in KFP2 after he finds the truth, he tells himself "I am Po". Now we're back to square one here in KFP3, because he once again asks who he really is as a Panda, but doesn't that then negate what they built in the previous film??? That he is what he chooses to be? This was kind of repetitive to watch because it felt rushed and isn't as fleshed out as the second film. Moreover the film is really really convenient, there are times where (especially in the finale) unexpected deus ex machinas literally save the whole day and there are a lot of plot conveniences that are really predictable. The film also suffers from a lack of depth compared to the previous films except for some parts with Po and his Father but then again those scenes do get their emotional impact from Kung Fu Panda 2 which was kind of repetitive and too dependent on being reminiscent of the other films.
In the end, Kung Fu Panda 3 is still a pretty enjoyable and fun film with your family if you disregard its flaws and look at the beauty it actually holds with its animation, the spirit of family and the feeling if you watch it feeling like a child.
Verdict: 7.2/10