Kung Fu Panda 3 - 功夫熊貓3

Kung Fu Panda 3 (功夫熊貓3) is an 2016 animated film. The voices Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, J. K. Simmons, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, David Cross, Bryan Cranston, Kate Hudson, James Hong, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Randall Duk Kim. This is the third film release.

Kai, a prisoner of the spirit realm finds a way to get to the human realm. When he does, he seeks out the Dragon Warrior to prove he's the strongest. Po inherits the master role, but does a poor job. Heading back home for some comfort, he bumps into another Panda looking for his long lost son. Po learns that there's a whole village of Pandas. Saying good bye to his friends, me makes the long perilous journey to this village. When he does, he gets reconnected. Just as he was getting comfortable, Kai's presence is felt and they must devise a plan to defeat him. Can the village learn Kung Fu in time to save themselves?

Much like the last installment, they expand on the mythology of the realm. Where the 2nd installment made improvements to the first one, this 3rd installment didn't. Seems there's always someone around the corner that is bigger and stronger than the last one. But beyond that, this movie didn't involve the previous characters as much, but spent a significant time in the panda village.

My kids both liked the movie and I plan on getting it on sale in Blu-ray during black Friday or the Christmas season. Be prepared for more, it was recently announced that there are 3 more planned films.

R.I.P.D. - 降魔戰警

R.I.P.D. (降魔戰警) is an 2013 film. The movie stars Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds. The supporting cast include Kevin Bacon, Mary-Louise Parker, and Stephanie Szostak. James Hong and Marisa Miller are the shells (see below for more info). The movie was not that successful at the box office and showed up on many list for flops of the 2013 summer movie season.



Ryan Reynolds plays Nick Walker, a married police officer of the Boston Police Department. A sting to bring down a known drug dealer, he falls from 4 stories high to his death. On his way to the after life, he's given a chance to join the Rest In Peace Department (R.I.P.D.). Nick is partnered with a R.I.P.D. from the Civil War era, Roycephus "Roy" Pulsipher, played by Jeff Bridges. Together, they are to bring back the souls that slipped through the cracks back in onto Earth. However, when they are on Earth, they are no longer the people they use to be, they are given new shells. Nick is a old Chinese fellow while Roy is a hot blonde.

This movie had its faults, but it was entertaining. I had to pause it multiple times, but whenever free time became available, I finished it over a 2.5 day period via HBO VOD. You have this absurd concept of the afterlife and that the R.I.P.D. is set up like a police television serial. I didn't give away the plot behind Nick's back story being a major part of the story.

No sequels for this one. I think trying to build the next M.I.B. isn't going to happen.

But again, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. If it comes on while I am washing my dishes, I wouldn't change it.

Safe - 火線反擊

Safe (火線反擊) is an 2012 film. The movie stars Jason Statham. The supporting cast include Catherine Chan, Chris Sarandon, James Hong, Reggie Lee, and Anson Mount. The movie is based New York City.

Jason Statham plays Luke Wright, an disgraced ex-cop that works as a trash guy. His wife is killed by the russian mafia and they vow to make his life a living hell. The prove this point by killing a fellow tenant at an shelter. On the metro one day thinking of suicide, he runs in to Mei, played by Chan. Luke spends the rest of the movie saving her and taking out all the baddies in NYC.

Classic Jason Statham movie. Mystery man with a unspeakable past with extremely voilent skill sets that can set the city ablaze. This movie is no different. The stereotypes of this movie go overboard with every race they decide to cover. With the Chinatown triad. They do it all ching chong out. As expected by Hollywood.

Kung Fu Panda 2 - 功夫熊貓2

Kung Fu Panda 2 (功夫熊貓2) is an 2011 animated film from Dreamworks. This movie is a sequel to the 2008 film, Kung Fu Panda. Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, and James Hong reprise their voice roles for the sequel. Additions to the second installment are Gary Oldman, Michelle Yeoh, and Jean-Claude Van Damme. The movie was directed by American-Korean, Jennifer Yuh Nelson.

Po is now the dragon warrior supreme. When a clan from the captial attacks for resources, Po's pulled into the fight to save his country from tyrants. Can Po become strong enough to overcome the cannons and save his friends and heroes?

This second installment didn't go into character development for the five as much, but the backstory of the antagonist was explored in much depth. And I was very much the same about this film as I was for the first. "eh" was it. Entertaining and worth a watch to see where its going. There's a cartoon series now. i wonder if that's it for the movie franchise. However, the wikipedia says there are sequels involved. I prolly have watched my last one by myself. The next ones with be with my daughters as they're coming to age to start watching this. But I started on TVB dramas when I was 8 years old. Seems right.