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TAI LUNG'S BA-uh... oh.
2 years ago
**THIS JOURNAL CONTAINS KUNG FU PANDA 4 TRAILER SPOILERS**
Yesterday was the first time I'd heard about a Kung Fu Panda 4. Immediately, my interests were piqued. So, I took to IMDb to A. confirm what I'd heard, and B. see if I could get more information about it. When I looked at the cast and saw Tai Lung listed, I got chills. I was positively buzzed with excitement about the prospect of a potential rematch between Po and Tai Lung. After fifteen years, two further major movies, and an assortment of side animations, kicking it back to the original and having a good old grudge match, I thought, was a fantastic move.
But, watching the trailer, today, left me feeling a bit disappointed. Unrelated to Tai Lung, the movie looks as good as I'd expect from a KFP movie. But, where Tai Lung's "return" is concerned, I feel like a great opportunity was really missed. If you haven't seen the trailer, yet, Tai Lung does return, but only briefly, and just to have his kung fu stolen by the new, shapeshifting villain; so his return isn't even a return, it's a glamour worn by someone else. An illusion. Perhaps my disappointment is partly my own fault for getting my hopes and expectations up. But, I still think that could've been something, and I'm sad to see it won't be. During a discussion with a friend, yesterday, about how Tai Lung could be returning, I had an idea come to me, and I'd like to share it with you, if you care to read it. Now, I know I'm risking sounding like one of those "I know better than you and this is how it should be" people, but, I'm not trying to be. This is but a mere idea, a fan's opinion about what could've been. iF tHeY'd JuSt LiStEnEd To Me.
The opening scene begins with sounds of fighting. We're shown shots of a deserted town before suddenly being swept along by the original final fight between Po and Tai Lung (remade/remastered) all the way up to and including "the Skadoosh". But, instead of following Po afterward, the focus is on Tai Lung, left somewhere in limbo without a physical form, and confused. He's been utterly defeated, this time, and is forced to face that fact. As nothing more than a spirit, he can only reflect on his past and the events that lead to this point. But he's not happy with that. He can't be. His pride won't let him. A master of Kung Fu, Tai Lung can't accept this defeat and he begins to gather himself, drawing on all that he has learned and experienced, and slowly, gradually, through the sheer force of his iron will and determination to win, he pulls himself back, pulls himself out of the limbo he's stuck in and returns, right back where "it" happened, his defeat.
But, it's many years later and Po has undoubtedly grown stronger. Tai Lung has to be smart about this. He can't just go rushing into battle. So he withdraws. For now. He retreats so that he can learn and train and focus on what he wants. This isn't about becoming the Dragon Warrior, anymore. This is about pride. This is about defeating Po, pure and simple.
And he does! After a long, intense fight, and perhaps a touch of luck, Tai Lung stands victorious. Both he and Po are thoroughly battered, worn down and exhausted from their rematch. But, finally it's over and Tai Lung has won. Barely. And Po, weakened and unable to fight, asks Tai Lung "What now?" and Tai Lung begins to respond, he begins to tell Po precisely 'what now' but he stops. Tai Lung suddenly realises that he's achieved what he set out to do. He's defeated Po and satisfied his wounded pride. So where does he go from here? He no longer cares about being the Dragon Warrior. After some further banter between the two, Tai Lung is forced to see that he has a whole world of possibilities open to him. The anger and hatred he's felt for so many years begins to soften and he just leaves, deciding to set out to find his own goal, for once in his life.
If you've read this far, I'd be curious to hear what you think. Could a rematch between Po and Tai Lung have been as good as I think it could've been? Did you like my idea, or would you have gone a different way? If you're wondering why I'd let Po be defeated, the answer is relatively simple; it's not an important fight for Po. He's not fighting to protect or save anyone. Nothing really hinges on him winning. This is a fight he can lose. Also, Po winning would be too easy and predictable. ~.^
Yesterday was the first time I'd heard about a Kung Fu Panda 4. Immediately, my interests were piqued. So, I took to IMDb to A. confirm what I'd heard, and B. see if I could get more information about it. When I looked at the cast and saw Tai Lung listed, I got chills. I was positively buzzed with excitement about the prospect of a potential rematch between Po and Tai Lung. After fifteen years, two further major movies, and an assortment of side animations, kicking it back to the original and having a good old grudge match, I thought, was a fantastic move.
But, watching the trailer, today, left me feeling a bit disappointed. Unrelated to Tai Lung, the movie looks as good as I'd expect from a KFP movie. But, where Tai Lung's "return" is concerned, I feel like a great opportunity was really missed. If you haven't seen the trailer, yet, Tai Lung does return, but only briefly, and just to have his kung fu stolen by the new, shapeshifting villain; so his return isn't even a return, it's a glamour worn by someone else. An illusion. Perhaps my disappointment is partly my own fault for getting my hopes and expectations up. But, I still think that could've been something, and I'm sad to see it won't be. During a discussion with a friend, yesterday, about how Tai Lung could be returning, I had an idea come to me, and I'd like to share it with you, if you care to read it. Now, I know I'm risking sounding like one of those "I know better than you and this is how it should be" people, but, I'm not trying to be. This is but a mere idea, a fan's opinion about what could've been. iF tHeY'd JuSt LiStEnEd To Me.
The opening scene begins with sounds of fighting. We're shown shots of a deserted town before suddenly being swept along by the original final fight between Po and Tai Lung (remade/remastered) all the way up to and including "the Skadoosh". But, instead of following Po afterward, the focus is on Tai Lung, left somewhere in limbo without a physical form, and confused. He's been utterly defeated, this time, and is forced to face that fact. As nothing more than a spirit, he can only reflect on his past and the events that lead to this point. But he's not happy with that. He can't be. His pride won't let him. A master of Kung Fu, Tai Lung can't accept this defeat and he begins to gather himself, drawing on all that he has learned and experienced, and slowly, gradually, through the sheer force of his iron will and determination to win, he pulls himself back, pulls himself out of the limbo he's stuck in and returns, right back where "it" happened, his defeat.
But, it's many years later and Po has undoubtedly grown stronger. Tai Lung has to be smart about this. He can't just go rushing into battle. So he withdraws. For now. He retreats so that he can learn and train and focus on what he wants. This isn't about becoming the Dragon Warrior, anymore. This is about pride. This is about defeating Po, pure and simple.
And he does! After a long, intense fight, and perhaps a touch of luck, Tai Lung stands victorious. Both he and Po are thoroughly battered, worn down and exhausted from their rematch. But, finally it's over and Tai Lung has won. Barely. And Po, weakened and unable to fight, asks Tai Lung "What now?" and Tai Lung begins to respond, he begins to tell Po precisely 'what now' but he stops. Tai Lung suddenly realises that he's achieved what he set out to do. He's defeated Po and satisfied his wounded pride. So where does he go from here? He no longer cares about being the Dragon Warrior. After some further banter between the two, Tai Lung is forced to see that he has a whole world of possibilities open to him. The anger and hatred he's felt for so many years begins to soften and he just leaves, deciding to set out to find his own goal, for once in his life.
If you've read this far, I'd be curious to hear what you think. Could a rematch between Po and Tai Lung have been as good as I think it could've been? Did you like my idea, or would you have gone a different way? If you're wondering why I'd let Po be defeated, the answer is relatively simple; it's not an important fight for Po. He's not fighting to protect or save anyone. Nothing really hinges on him winning. This is a fight he can lose. Also, Po winning would be too easy and predictable. ~.^
Any who, this is much true. He just appears for a moment and goes away afterwards. It’s kind of sad, but we must all keep in mind that there are always new threats appearing again and again. It could just be a small cameo.