Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five (2008)

71% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(33,019 ratings)

Join the star of Kung Fu Panda as he sets out on a whole new adventure in this sequel to the animated box-office hit featuring the voices of Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman. In the wake of defeating the ferocious Tai Lung, the Dragon Warrior must draw on the skills of Viper, Tigress, Monkey, Crane,… More Join the star of Kung Fu Panda as he sets out on a whole new adventure in this sequel to the animated box-office hit featuring the voices of Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman. In the wake of defeating the ferocious Tai Lung, the Dragon Warrior must draw on the skills of Viper, Tigress, Monkey, Crane, and Mantis in order to face Shifu's greatest challenge to date. Along the way, Dragon Warrior uncovers the ancient Secrets of the Furious Five while discovering that it takes much more than strength and agility to become a true kung fu master. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 24 min.
Directed By: Raman Hui
Written By: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Ethan Reiff, Cyrus Voris
Genres: Animation, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Nov 9, 2008 Wide
On DVD: Mar 24, 2009
Studio: Monterrey Media

Critic Reviews

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
Director Nesher has a way of reducing each confrontation to its two-dimensional essence, and he's not helped by a swampy, sentimental musical score.
Cary Darling, Dallas Morning News
Restrained direction and the cast's strong, disciplined performances keep it from falling into soap-opera territory.
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle
The Secrets twines coming-out, coming-of-age and coming-to-terms-with-Orthodoxy in a way that diminishes all three -- and dilutes its message with clichés.
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times
There is pain and empowerment in The Secrets as difficult choices are made. There are also gaps, but emotionally moving performances by Ardant, Bukstein and Shtamler in particular, keep you with this small but provocative film until the end.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
In some ways, it is a traditional narrative. But it is more. It is gently and powerfully acted.
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
The Secrets belongs in a mini-tradition of involving films that limn the border where spiritual and sexual awakenings collide and entwine.
Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media
Fun, lesson-rich short stars Kung Fu Panda gang.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
The Kabbalah meets the Kinsey Reports, in this Madonna style mystical erotic brew. And a somewhat biased male take on thwarted female desires, along with simmering same sex homoerotic religious expressive tendencies.
Stan Hall, Oregonian
Even with rote characterizations and an overheated lesbian subplot, this religion-steeped Israeli tale is entertaining, eye-opening, even cautiously sexy.
Sara Maria Vizcarrondo, Boxoffice Magazine
For a film with an aim as ambitious and illusive as the depiction of the spiritual, The Secrets has a surprisingly light touch.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
The Kabbalah meets the Kinsey Reports, in this Madonna style mystical erotic brew. And a somewhat biased male take on thwarted female desires, along with simmering same sex homoerotic religious expressive tendencies.

Read all 11 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Khris N

Of course, being a Kung Fu Panda fan, I would love this regardless of what anyone else would say. But its a great short animation, with Po taking on a new generation of students and teaching the basics with the anecdotes of the Furious Five. Not much to say, but great animation, a… More
Of course, being a Kung Fu Panda fan, I would love this regardless of what anyone else would say. But its a great short animation, with Po taking on a new generation of students and teaching the basics with the anecdotes of the Furious Five. Not much to say, but great animation, a bit of humor, but its really aimed for the kiddies, but enjoyable an 25 mins.