“Kung Fu Panda 3” exceeds expectations

ue to the influence from the that flow elegantly with the film’s Shanghai branch, DreamWorks movement and the score samples “I’m So DAnimation definitely amped up Sorry” by Imagine Dragons. their animation style with the release of “Kung Fu Panda 3.” The movie offers just enough wit for the adults and enough corny humor for “Kung Fu Panda 3” depicts Po’s (Jack the kids. But it’s not all jokes. Themes Black) transition from student to teacher, such as growing up, moving on and all the while trying to defeat Kai (J.K acceptance, help round out the movie Photo courtesy of DreamWorks Simmons)—an ancient enemy come and bring a great ending. The mix of fun, Animation back from the spirit realm—and meeting insight and sentiment will have viewers his biological father for the first time. coming back for more. Despite these faults, “Kung Fu Panda 3” is wonderfully developed and a feel-good While the movie touched on points from “Kung Fu Panda 3” does have its flaws movie, able to entertain even the most the last two movies, viewers could still as well. Po’s character developed in the hyperactive children. The movie is so keep up without feeling lost, although a first two movies, but he seems to have well-rounded that it can be considered a few references, like the blank scroll gag, fallen back to his immature self in the movie for all ages and all families. will go over their heads. third. The movie also feels rushed along in the beginning. It quickly moves from Rating: 9/10 The flashback scenes feature beautifully Po’s regular life to traveling to the panda hand-drawn art, geometric transitions village in order to master chi. — Lauryn DeLaughter

“The 5th Wave” disappoints et’s get one thing straight: I’m not a Others” send book purist. hitmen called Instead of remedying any L Silencers issues with the romance, the I don’t mind if a movie changes the plot to track movie amplifies it. “The 5th of a beloved book if the situation calls down the Wave” ignores an important for it. It doesn’t bother me if a character’s remainders. part of the series—the hair is slightly different or if a scene gets Dreamland program, which deleted. The main ends up ruining Evan’s problem purpose and removing any However, with the film adaptation of with the agency Cassie had. The “The 5th Wave,” the changes do not book is the fling between the two, in improve the story, but hinder it. unnecessary conjunction with Cassie’s romance high school crush, makes the The movie retains most of the soul of between story feel cliché. the novel. “The 5th Wave” chronicles the Cassie and story of 16-year-old Cassie Sullivan, who Evan Walker. In all, the movie pales in struggles to survive in a world conquered Evan is comparison to the book, by aliens. nothing which was problematic to more than a begin with. Her world is destroyed in “waves.” All MacGuffin, Photo courtesy of Sony technology stops working due to a new a device Rating: 4/10 electromagnetic field. Coastal cities used to further the plot. It would have are wiped out by tsunamis. An Ebola- made no difference if he didn’t exist if — Izzie Ramirez like disease claims 97 percent of the his knowledge was discoverable in some survivors. After the first three waves, “the other way.

BOYDSPUR.COM // 13