Preview: The Karate Kid takes on China
Is it possible for a movie with a trailer as electrifying as the new Karate Kid to fail? No, it’s not. The Karate Kid, a remake of the 80’s classic with the same name, might be as big of a hit as the original.
Plot
The story seems to be similar to the original. In the new version, Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) from Detroit moves to China with his mom (main prostitute from Hustle and Flow and Benjamin Button’s mother). Parker hits on a female classmate, upsetting the school bully who was probably sweet on her also. Dre and the bully have a fight which ends in Dre going home and crying about how he hates it in China. He gets beat up a couple of times before Jackie Chan (Mr. Miyagi) steps in, trains Dre, enters him into a tournament where he faces and inevitably defeats the bully. It’s a simple story that kids will remember for the rest of their lives.
This will launch the kung fu craze for a whole new generation.
Action
The question we must ask is whether a remake of such a classic movie was necessary. I think it was. Our attention spans have gotten much shorter. We need movies with fast action and a quick paced plot. In the original the action looks fake and is slow.
During the ‘You’re the Best Around’ montage there’s a scene in which Ralph Macchio is facing a guy twice his size. Macchio, in his awkward karate stance, takes a couple of quick steps away from his opponent, gyrates for a second then throws a punch that floors the other guy even though it looks like he didn’t even touch him. It’s comical, unrealistic and used to get me really excited. But now it’s dated.
We’ve grown accustomed to precise, fast choreography. Movies like Rumble in the Bronx (my first exposure to this new genre of fast-action kung fu movies), Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Ong Bak: Thai Warrior and a slew of other fast-paced, fast action movies that have brought a whole new dimension to the fight scene.
We will no longer accept the Van Damme style round-house kicks that the victim literally waits for with his chin sticking out. No, we want choreography that turns ordinary items into deadly weapons. We want choreography that requires actual athleticism. I want to see fast punches, quick blocks and slow-motion evasive movement.
And that’s the type of action we’ll get from this movie. At least that’s the impression I get from the trailer.
Kung Fu Kid?
So there’s a little bit of controversy regarding the title of the movie.
According to a comment I read on YouTube (I pride myself on my thorough reporting), the original title was supposed to be ‘The Kung Fu Kid’. Apparently there’s a lot of people that are upset because technically, Jackie Chan trains Dre in kung fu and not karate.
Would “The Kung Fu Kid” be a better title for this movie? I don’t know. I don’t think it matters. But I definitely think people should continue to argue about it.
I can’t tell you how excited I am about this movie.
Prediction: Jackie Chan will be nominated for best actor.
Check out the trailer here.