“Kung Fu Panda 3” brought the power for audiences nationwide, raking in nearly $41 million on its opening weekend. Heartwarming moments, laugh-out-loud jokes and intense battle scenes will enthrall all ages, even typically unamused college students. “Kung Fu Panda 3” follows right in the footsteps of “Kung Fu Panda 2,” this time with a new enemy set to confront the Dragon Warrior.
The movie begins in the spirit realm. Here, past masters of Kung Fu dwell in its tranquility and peace. Master Oogway, who went to the spirit realm in “Kung Fu Panda,” has spent his time in the realm, meditating and living in peace. However, one of Oogway’s old nemeses, Kai, interrupts his peace.
For the past 500 years, Kai has roamed the spirit realm, fighting other spirits, conquering and reducing them to jade-colored charms just for the power of their chi. Each master had gained the power and control of chi in the mortal world, something Kai had never been able to master during his time in the mortal realm.
Oogway informs Kai that the Dragon Warrior is destined to defeat Kai upon his return to the mortal realm. Kai doesn’t believe Oogway, and instead takes Master Oogway’s chi.
Now with enough power to return to the mortal realm, Kai makes his return, and begins his hunt for the Dragon Warrior.
Back in China, Po, the Dragon Warrior, has abruptly taken the teaching position relinquished from Master Shifu. After realizing that teaching is not his thing, Po pouts, returning back to town and to his adopted father’s restaurant.
The town is celebrating Po, as they do numerous times throughout the year, and a traveler joins the celebration. This traveler turns out to be Po’s real father, who hails from a hidden panda village, the only remaining panda village left in existence. This man enthralls Po, and they nearly become father and son again before being rudely interrupted by Kai’s chi soldiers.
Upon finding Oogway’s scroll on chi, Po and his gang discover that pandas hold the key to defeating Kai through a battle of chi. Po and his two fathers set off for the village in the hopes that his real father will be able to teach Po how to yield the true power of chi.
Along Po’s journey, there are a number of great laughs that can be enjoyed by all ages. There are numerous battle scenes throughout the movie, and finally, in the third installment of the “Kung Fu Panda” series, the audience gets to see the real, raw power of the Dragon Warrior, something that has taken three movies to fully display.
“Kung Fu Panda 3” will provide audiences with a number of great laughs, and leave them smiling throughout the entirety of the movie. “Kung Fu Panda 3” is a must-see movie for this February.
