“Karate Kid” is a Knockout (Movie Review)

China: A place where the architecture is poetry, where the skies are always blue, the grass is always trimmed, and just about anyone from an eleven year old kid to a sixty year old janitor can beat you so senseless you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between Eminem and Gucci Mane. That was the China that I saw in the 2010 remake of “The Karate Kid” and, frankly, I liked it quite a bit.

Admittedly, when I first heard Will Smith was producing a “Karate Kid” remake, I was skeptical. As a fan of the original, I brushed this one off as a vanity project for Big Willy to promote Jaden Smith’s acting ability. Thankfully, it isn’t. While the movie certainly does upgrade Jaden’s star-power, the 2010 “Karate Kid” surpassed all my expectations. This is one of the best remakes I have ever seen. In the words of Mr. Smith, I’m jiggy with it.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the original film or it’s remake, here’s a quick summary: boy moves from Detroit to Beijing, gets bullied by his Asian peers, learns kung fu from an unexpected trainer, falls in love, and kicks some ass in a local kung fu tournament. It’s cliché. It’s predictable. It’s a lot of fun.



What separates “The Karate Kid” from the failed remakes of the past is that it’s less of a “remake” and more of an adaptation. The basic formula from the original film is still in play but the director and writers have taken a lot of liberty in making the story their own. For instance, whereas the original took place in 1970’s LA, the remake takes place in modern-day China. Granted, it’s not the biggest leap, but the scenery here is far superior to that of the original. Even when the movie drags (which, at two-and-a-half hours, it certainly does), the visuals are more than strong enough to keep more artistically adept viewers interested.

Earlier in the review, I mentioned that this film would be a possible star-vehicle for the Will Smith’s son, Jaden. What I failed to mention, however, was Jaden’s acting ability. It seems like the Fresh Prince’s acting chops were hereditary. Jaden was fantastic. His character, Dre, endures countless attacks from his peers for much of the movie’s runtime. Throughout these scenes, Jaden displays emotions that range from anger to depression – all of which, he performs flawlessly. I’ve got to hand it to the kid – he has a lot of potential.

Also worthy of mention is a standout performance from Jackie Chan. After a few blunders, America’s favorite Asian is back and, arguably, better than ever. Chan has always been a likable actor but never before have I been so fond of him as I was in “The Karate Kid”. His performance may not compare to Pat Morita’s Oscar-nominated role in the original, but Chan certainly makes the character his own – approaching the role with less flair than Morita did. Hopefully, this will mark the beginning of a comeback.

Overall, there’s not much to dislike about the new “Karate Kid” remake. The action sequences are exciting, the actors do a fantastic job, and the story, while formulaic, is just as powerful as it was in the 1980’s. My only complaint would be the film’s 2 and a half hour runtime. Especially for a film aimed at a younger crowd, “Karate Kid” is a bit lengthy. Either way, this is one of the best family films of the year. I highly recommend it.

Rating: 3/4
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