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Here's a look at the new movies I saw last week.

Kung Fu Panda 2

Starring the voices of: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, and Gary Oldman

Synopsis: This is a sequel to the first "Kung Fu Panda" film, and while it does a decent amount to further the narrative of Po (Black) and create a new story, it's still essentially a middle of the road kids' film. If you liked the first one, you'll be pleased with this new installment. There is still some jokes, some familiar voices, and plenty of kung fu action. I struggled when considering how to rate this film. On the one hand, the filmmakers know their product, know their core audience, and know their skill set. This film maximizes on all those areas. But it's just not that compelling, and there isn't really anything that makes this film special. Consider the best animated films we've seen in the past few years. "Toy Story 3" worked well as a kids cartoon, but the resonate emotional themes in the film far surpassed expectations. It was an emotionally driven experience that made an indelible impact on adults as well as children. Same for the first 15 minutes of "Up," which was perhaps the finest 15 minutes of any film I saw that year. The rest of the film didn't quite stack up, but there was still no question it was a cut above. You don't get that with "Kung Fu Panda 2," and that's the problem. It's fine, it's mildly amusing, but it's not memorable.

Rating: PG for sequences of martial arts action and mild violence.

Verdict: Two Stars out of Four

Super 8

Starring: Kyle Chandler, Ron Eldard, Noah Emmerich, Joel Courtney, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills, Gabriel Basso, and Elle Fanning

Synopsis: Writer/director J.J. Abrams is an incredible talent, both on the small screen (with "Lost" and "Fringe" among his creations) and on the big screen, where he rebooted the "Star Trek" franchise in 2009. In "Super 8," he delivers a beautiful film about engaging characters. It's also hard to miss the subtle nods and tributes in the film to Steven Spielberg (particularly films like "E.T." and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"). It's fitting that Spielberg serves as an executive producer of this film. Abrams does a great job of building this story. There is a richness to the drama and the characters that runs throughout the whole production. This serves as a great foundation to weave in and out of the larger story. One of the keys to making a film like this work is hitting it big with the group of young actors. “Super 8” does this with a great group in the lead roles. Lee brings the best comic relief, and is one of the scene-stealers. Mills and Basso do a nice job in their roles helping to drive the story forward as well. Griffiths, the controlling friend and project director, does a nice job in his role, while Fanning brings an incredible grace to her role. She does a great job in the quiet scenes and conveys a lot of emotion in her role. Then there’s Courtney, the glue that holds the whole narrative together. The film makes good use of its adult performers as well. Emmerich does a nice job as the cold, driven Col. Nelec, while Ron Eldard has some nice moments as Alice’s father and the man partially responsible for the death of Joe’s mother. Chandler, who was incredible on the small screen as the coach in “Friday Night Lights,” brings plenty of emotional intensity to his role as well. The story of Joe and his father coming to terms with their loss and with what they need from each other is really the heart of this film. Of course there are other elements of the plot too. Those that watch the trailer closely can probably tell what this film is about, but I won’t ruin the plot here. I will say that the action comes together in an unexpected way and — much like Spielberg with “Jaws” — Abrams does a nice job of creating tension without letting you see everything. This film is, in many ways, a wonderful throwback to a different style of filmmaking. In a summer full of films that are all about excess, this film is quietly controlled. The focus is on building characters and an engrossing story — and that focus pays off in creating the best, most dynamic film released so far in 2011.

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and some drug use.

Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Super

Starring: Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon, and Nathan Fillion

Synopsis: I am rarely completely surprised by a film, but that was the case with "Super." Given the talent in the cast and what I saw in the trailer, I expected a winning independent comedy. What I got was a vitriolic mess. The film has a violent, angry tone that it tries to dress up with sarcasm and oddity. It doesn't work. I think it a major disappointment and a waste of a talented group of performers.

Rating: Not Rated

Verdict: One star out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, June 17 — "The Green Lantern," "Mr. Popper's Penguins"

Friday, June 24 — "Cars 2," "Bad Teacher," "A Better Life"

Wednesday, June 29 — "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"

Friday, July 1 — "Larry Crowne," "Monte Carlo"

Friday, July 8 — "Zookeeper," "Horrible Bosses"

Friday, July 15 — "Harry Potter And the Deathly Hallows, Part 2," "Winnie The Pooh"