Kung Fu Panda 2 parents guide

Kung Fu Panda 2 Parent Guide

With a bit less Kung-foolery than the previous outing, there are many moments of humor and fun in this sequel. The main story delivers a powerful message.

Overall A-

Life as a Chinese Dragon Warrior is all Po the Panda (voice by Jack Black) hoped it would be. However his awesome fighting skills are once again put to the test when a new and dangerous foe threatens the Valley of Peace and all of China.

Release date May 26, 2011

Violence C+
Sexual Content A
Profanity A
Substance Use A

Why is Kung Fu Panda 2 rated PG? The MPAA rated Kung Fu Panda 2 PG for sequences of martial arts action and mild violence.

Run Time: 91 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

There’s a story buried in every childhood, but in the case of Po (voice of Jack Black), a panda with a goose for father, there has always been a suspicion that some details of his parentage were not uncovered in the first Kung Fu Panda movie.

When word comes of an enemy attacking a town on the fringes of the Valley of Peace, the bulbous bear and his partners, The Furious Five, race to the rescue. While downing their foes, Po is confronted by the sign of their villainous leader, Lord Shen (voice of Gary Oldman), a peacock with bold designs on his feathers. The sight of it causes Po to lose his nerve and he is nearly decimated. Later questioned by his friends Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Viper and Crane (voices of Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu and David Cross), Po can’t seem to find a way to explain why he was suddenly blinded by scattered images from his early years.

Desperate to find answers, he seeks information from his loving father Mr. Ping (voice of James Hong), a man who has never faltered in his care for, or pride in, his son. Reluctantly the noodle making bird reveals a startling secret: Po is adopted.

While the news is hardly surprising, Po is still shocked. Yet he knows he must somehow come to terms with his past if he hopes to defeat Lord Shen in the future. Considering the proud peacock plots to not only destroy their peaceful existence but to also rule all of China, the giant panda has great motivation. So he embarks on a journey of self-discovery while at the same time hoping to defend his land from Lord Shen and his ominous new weapon.

Of course this animation sports lots of violence that may be frightening for young children. This is especially true of a sequence depicting genocide where it is implied that parents and babies are being killed (none of this is shown onscreen) and families separated. Many other scenes feature martial arts battles with fantastical movements and gravity defying stunts. As well, a large cannon emerges, which causes damage, death and injury of background characters. Thankfully, other content areas are free of issues.

With a bit less Kung-foolery than the previous outing, there are many moments of humor and fun in this sequel. The main story delivers a powerful message, summed up by the wise Master Shifu (voice of Dustin Hoffman) who advises Po, “Your story may not have a happy start, but it’s who you choose to be that matters.” The plot is simple enough for young viewers to relate to, while still providing a complexity that makes Kung Fu Panda 2 a movie sure to fight its way to the top of this genre.

Directed by Jennifer Yuh . Starring Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong, Gary Oldman, Michelle Yeoh. Running time: 91 minutes. Theatrical release May 26, 2011. Updated

Kung Fu Panda 2
Rating & Content Info

Why is Kung Fu Panda 2 rated PG? Kung Fu Panda 2 is rated PG by the MPAA for sequences of martial arts action and mild violence.

Violence: An adolescent character disobeys his parents and follows a life of rebellion. Genocide is depicted where parents and children are killed or separated (no graphic details are shown). Frequent animated martial arts battles include fantastical, gravity defying moves. Characters fly high into the sky, leap from buildings, and fall from massive heights. Only a few injuries and some implied deaths result. While these portrayals are hardly based on reality, the action sequences may leave younger viewers excited about replicating kung fu moves at home.

Sexual Content: None noted.

Language: No profanities noted.

Drugs/Alcohol: No drug or alcohol use noted.

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Kung Fu Panda 2 Parents' Guide

Advancements in military weapons play a major role in this film. If you would like to learn more about Chinese inventions in this area, check this Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_of_the_Song_Dynasty#Gunpowder_warfare

A character in this film punches the trunk of an ironwood tree to develop physical strength. Ironwood is known to be one of the densest woods on Earth. While it can refer to many different types of trees, you can read about the ironwood tree found in the U.S. here: http://www.pima.gov/cmo/sdcp/species/iw/illus.html

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Kung Fu Panda 2 movie is December 13, 2011. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Kung Fu Panda 2

Release Date: 13 December 2011

Kung Fu Panda 2 releases to home video on December 13, 2011. The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo Pack includes:

- Filmmakers’ Commentary

- Sneak peek episode of the upcoming Nickelodeon TV series: Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness

- Meet the Cast

- Panda Stories: Inside the World of the Giant Panda

- Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters: An all-new adventure where Po and the Furious Five uncover the legend of three of kung fu’s greatest heroes: Master Thundering Rhino, Master Storming Ox, and Master Croc

- Kung Fu Shuffle

- Ni Hao

- The Animator’s Corner

- Trivia Track

- Animation Inspiration

Home Video Notes: Kung Fu Panda Collection (1&2) Blu-ray

Release Date: 13 December 2011

Also releasing to Blu-ray on December 13, 2011 is the Kung Fu Panda Collection (1&2). This package includes:

- Blu-ray copies of the movies Kung Fu Panda 1 and Kung Fu Panda 2

- Filmmakers’ Commentaries

- Food Network Exclusive: Alton Brown at Mr. Ping’s Noodle House

- Help Save the Wild Pandas

- Learn to Draw Po

- How to Use Chopsticks

- Meet the Cast

- Panda Stories: Inside the World of the Giant Panda

- Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters

- Kung Fu Shuffle

- Ni Hao

- Dragon Warrior Training Academy

- “Kung Fu Fighting” Music Video

- The Animator’s Corner

- Trivia Track

- Go With Po

- Po Around the World

Related home video titles:

A pudgy panda who dreams of being a warrior gets a chance to prove himself as the Chosen One in the original Kung Fu Panda. Jack Black also lends his vocal talents to the vegetarian shark Lenny in the animated move Shark Tale. Gary Oldman, who voices Lord Shen, can be seen as Sirius Black in the Harry Potter Franchise.