Summary:
Review:
Set in a fantasy China, where all the characters are talking animals, the movie opens with Po’s master, Shifu, telling him that Po has learned everything he can from him. Shifu orders Po to become the teacher for all the other students. However, the others have been training in Kung Fu much longer than Po. So, even though he’s the Dragon Warrior, Po feels completely inadequate to be their teacher. Sure enough, his first class turns out to be a total disaster.
Meanwhile, in the “spirit world,” an old villain named Kai steals the mystical “ch’i” energy from Shifu’s own master, a turtle named Oogway, turning him into a jade monster to do Kai’s bidding. Oogway’s ch’i energy enables Kai to return to Earth with the other “ch’i” energy he’s stolen. Kai wants to take more “ch’i” energy from others, including Po, and rule the world.
At the same time, Po’s long-lost biological father, a panda named Li, shows up in the village. After reuniting with Po, Li promises to show Po the panda secret to “ch’i” energy so that Po can defeat Kai and save the world. Apparently, the panda ability to use “ch’i” energy is legendary. It turns out, however, that Po’s father is lying. What will Po do when he finds out?
KUNG FU PANDA 3 is not quite as fun and entertaining as the first two movies. Sadly, it also seems to have a lot more references to false, Eastern religion throughout the whole movie, even more so than the most recent STAR WARS movie. Thus, there are numerous yin/yang images important to the story and plot, strong references to an Eastern “spirit world,” and many references to having and seeking “ch’i” energy. Such energy is the mystical power that surrounds everyone and that’s an essential part of everyone’s soul. Only by obtaining such energy can Po defeat the villain. These references to ch’i energy take up an inordinate amount of story time.
Offsetting all this false religion are some moral, redemptive elements extolling family, learning how to teach others, and helping others find the individual talents they possess. Discovering those talents and using them help the characters achieve happiness. Family and friendship are two of the talents.
These positive messages in KUNG FU PANDA 3 keep it from becoming totally abhorrent, but the movie’s false religion prevents it from being acceptable family entertainment.
In Brief:
KUNG FU PANDA 3 is not quite as fun and entertaining as the first two movies. Sadly, it also seems to have a lot more references to false, Eastern religion throughout the whole movie. Thus, several false religious ideas become a major part of the whole movie. Offsetting this are some positive moral, redemptive elements. These positive messages in KUNG FU PANDA 3 keep it from becoming totally abhorrent, but the movie’s false religion prevents it from being acceptable family entertainment.