Kung Fu Panda 2, the sequel to the 2008 smash hit movie, may give Chinese film-makers another impetus for cultural introspection.

It grossed over 60 million yuan on its opening day in China, which was a flamboyant start. It then met with a petition for boycott by some cultural warriors such as Professor Kong Qingdong at Peking University, a move hardly likely to dent its popularity.

However, the public may still consider the film beyond its visual entertainment and enjoyable plot. It is after all an American success that benefits from Chinese cultural elements and sells terribly well in China, which inevitably leads to wondering why Chinese cannot do the same.

Such a question is due to an explicit disappointment in the Chinese film industry's productivity and quality.

There have been an increasing number of inspiring films such as last year's Let the Bullets Fly but the general picture of the industry remains bleak.

There are further debates as to whether China's culture is really adaptable to a consumerist society where populism prevails over traditionalism.

It is clear that DreamWorks transformed the elements used to symbolize China, kung fu and pandas, into a consistent work that tells an American story, while the movie, according to many American critics, intended to be a sincere tribute to Chinese culture.

Hua Mulan, is another example of how Hollywood is good at importing foreign cultural elements and turning them into appealing stories to sell to the public.
 
What is more impressive in Kung Fu Panda 2 is the success of keeping a strong Eastern flavor while telling a typical Hollywood story.

The dilemma posed to Chinese cultural warriors is that the populist public chooses cultural outputs which entertain them rather than patronize them, while traditional Chinese culture can sometimes come off as elitist and didactic.

Po, the protagonist in the Kung Fu Panda series, is a sluggish, unintelligent, and obese mammal that happens to be diligent, honest, and successful. He is a populist grassroots idol that inspires people to draw comparisons to the panda. The brilliant visual effects then keeps audiences glued to the screen.

The Kung Fu Panda series does not boast remarkable plot lines.

In fact, to many critics, it is a plain story coming straight out of the US film assembly line. Its success sheds a light on how to commercialize cultural elements and increase so-called soft power.

The populist approach to readapting cultural elements may help the film industry make its way. There has to be technological progress to make films eye-catching. There also has to be talent that understands both the culture and the market.