Music News Australia: Kung Fu Panda 2: Jack Black And Lucy Liu Do Sydney 3D Premiere, by Eva Rinaldi

Monday, 13 June 2011

Kung Fu Panda 2: Jack Black And Lucy Liu Do Sydney 3D Premiere, by Eva Rinaldi - 13th June 2011

Lucy Liu

Hollywood hit Sydney - AussieWood tonight, thanks to Jack Black and Lucy Liu, who star in Kung Fu Panda 2.

Black was super animated and friendly, while Liu was quicker paced with the news media and fans.

As you may have figured, it's their voices, not their faces or bodies that you will see in the flick, but both are likely to share more of themselves via a directors cut DVD of the film in the coming months.

The dynamic duo walked the red carpet full of awesomeness at 6.30pm for the Sydney premiere of Kung Fu Panda 2, a 3D animated film, which has already grossed in excess of $60 million globally in its first week.

Kids of all ages lapped up the stars, Panda, dancing dragon and celebs.

"The best part of being so popular with kids is that their fandom is real - they're not going to turn around and sell your autograph for a million dollars of whatever," said Black.

"They just really like my panda character Po and the guy that I played from School Of Rock - they are real."

Music News Australia was also wrap to have secured Black's signature when the the megastar realised that the crew were also huge fans, not just there to go through the media motions. A Music News Australia insider was overheard "I think the Jack Black print out we did along with the Kung Fu Panda hat and the reporters loud and enthusiastic voice all helped secure the rare autograph from Jack".

Liu, who plays the villain Viper, spent considerable time with younger fans than the press.

Liu told the press on Black: "He is phenomenal and is a consummate soul. It is so nice to be around that energy because it gives you energy and some of that soul."

Hollywood super A list Angelina Jolie has also scored a role in the flick, but it's Black and Liu who have been pounding the pavement over the last fortnight.

Black and Liu have even had access to studio DreamWorks private plane owned by boss and Hollywood mover shaker Jeffrey Katzenberg.

"We are all one big family when we are making and promoting a film so we have to make it around the world together," Katzenberg said.

"It's is a pretty gruelling trip and my plane makes it possible for us to do it together.

"Last night we were in the top of Italy at a film festival - and we could not be here tonight if we didn't have those wings."

The teamwork of Kung Fu Panda 2 was clearly evident off and off the screen.

Jack Black: Po (voice)
Angelina Jolie: Tigress (voice)
Dustin Hoffman: Shifu (voice)
Gary Oldman: Shen (voice)
Jackie Chan: Monkey (voice)
Seth Rogen: Mantis (voice)
Lucy Liu: Viper (voice)
David Cross: Crane (voice)
James Hong: Mr. Ping (voice)
Michelle Yeoh: Soothsayer (voice)
Danny McBride: Wolf Boss (voice)
Dennis Haysbert: Master Ox (voice)
Jean-Claude Van Damme: Master Croc (voice)
Victor Garber: Master Rhino (voice)

Box Office

Budget: $150,000,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend: $47,835,000 (USA) (29 May 2011) (3925 Screens)
Gross: $100,028,372 (USA) (5 June 2011)

Make no mistake fellow panda's, tonight was full of awesomeness, and you won't want to miss the film.

Stay tuned to http://www.evarinaldi.com/ YouTube and http://www.musicnewsaustralia.com/ for some fantastic coverage and photographs from the premiere.