Review: KUNG FU PANDA 2

Now, this is my kind of family movie. Kung Fu Panda is exactly what it promises the title says it will be; it is about kung fu, a panda, and because this is the sequel you know the stakes are going to be higher than in the first one. Last time Po (voiced by Jack Black), the cutely overweight panda, became the Dragon Warrior after defeating Tai Lung, his master’s old apprentice, and training alongside the Furious Five. Now the evil Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), a peacock with serious daddy issues and a fear of pandas, has taken over China and the invention of gun powder threatens the very existence of Kung Fun; it's up to Po and the Furious Five to stop his evil reign and restore the balance to… I guess the force? Kung fu, maybe?

Review: THE KARATE KID (2010)

As far as remakes go this new version of The Karate Kid is a rather decent adaptation for a new generation and a brilliant career move for an upcoming action star and one who is certainly past his prime. Generally speaking, there is rarely a good reason to make a remake of any movie, particularly classics like The Karate Kid. If you watch the 80s coming of age teen flick it is still as effective and good a film as it was when it first came out. The story is pretty much universal; a teenager learns to face his demons (a bully at school) and is rewarded (by getting the girl). We have all seen countless of similar movies. So why remake this classic film? Obviously studios had economic reasons to do so. But it seems there were other reasons for the actor’s involvement besides cashing in a check, and that actually elevates The Karate Kid from a been-there-seen-that summer rehash to a personal film.