Kung Fu Panda 4: Score Thoughts and a Few Minor Gripes

Alright everyone, HughesReviews here, and I finally caught Kung Fu Panda 4! Overall, I had a pretty good time, but I'm really here to talk about the music. Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro returned, and honestly? It's largely what you'd expect, which isn't a bad thing at all. They lean heavily into the established themes, especially Po's theme, but there's also some really interesting new material woven in. I particularly liked the cues accompanying Zhen - there's a sneaky, almost klezmer-esque vibe that really works for her character. It underscores her somewhat morally ambiguous nature without making her feel overtly villainous. However, I did find myself missing some of the more traditionally 'Chinese' sounding instrumentation from the previous scores. While Zimmer and Mazzaro definitely incorporate Asian-inspired elements, it felt a bit more… Westernized? Than before. Maybe it's just me. The action sequences were solid, though, with the score really kicking into high gear during Po's battles with the Chameleon. That final fight, visually and musically, was probably the highlight for me. Definitely some epic brass writing in there. Plot-wise, I thought it was decent, maybe a step down from the earlier films, but still enjoyable. Po’s struggle with moving on from the Dragon Warrior title felt genuinely earned, and Awkwafina was great as Zhen. I just wished the Chameleon was a bit… scarier? Villains in this series have always been so memorable (Tai Lung still gives me chills!), and she just didn't quite reach that level of menace. The Weasels were pretty funny, though. All in all, Kung Fu Panda 4 is a fun ride, and the score is definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of Zimmer's work. Not a perfect film, but a solid entry in the franchise. What did you all think? Did anyone else feel the score was a little less 'Eastern' in its flavor than previous films? Lemme know!