Taking On 2012: Lead Performances

With the best supporting performances out of the way, actors and actresses getting their just dues, I have decided to revert back to last year's formula and go through the best lead performances in one post rather than breaking it up in to two. Again, as with each list, there are certain blindspots that I have been unable to fill prior to making this list. At this point I'm just going to count Amour as a 2012 film. So, theoretically, we'll end up seeing Riva appear on this list in a year's time. And with that caveat, let us get on to the list!

Dreams That We Once Had, Did We Have Them Anyway?

Kung Fu Panda 2 (Nelson, 2011)

I have professed a few other times that I really love animated films. In fact, if I could just watch animated films for the rest of my life I would probably be perfectly happy, despite missing out on many other live action greats. However, recent American animated movies have generally left me mostly cold even when they have been generally regarded as 'successful' films. Kung Fu Panda 2 is a sequel to a film for which I have little love, so I entered the movie with fairly tempered expectations. But sequels, at least on a theoretical level, are supposed to be ways to improve, so I hoped that since the characters and world was established the film would be willing to deliver a few interesting action sequences situated around a competent story line. I do not ask for much, yet Kung Fu Panda 2 still does little besides disappoint. Why, Po? Why do you hurt me so?