Karate Kid: What a Remake Should Be

Photo by Jasin Boland – © 2009 Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Karate Kid

Grade: B+ (Worth seeing in the theater)

Starring: Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson, Han Wen Wen, Zhenwei Wang

Directed by: Harald Zwart

Distributed by Columbia Pictures, 140 minutes running time

The original Karate Kid was a true sleeper, a Cinderella movie that managed to speak to virtually everyone in 1984, the year it premiered. Ralph Macchio was believable as Daniel Larusso, a bullied kid learning karate from his apartment’s handyman, Mr. Miyagi, an old master played masterfully by Pat Morita. The movie touched a chord with many and became a cultural event of the 80s. We identified with the bullied Daniel, the humble Mr. Miyagi, and loved to hate the terrible Cobra Kai school and their arrogant bullying. The sequel was acceptable, giving far more depth to Mr. Miyagi, the character that was the most interesting in the series. Over 15 years later, we have a modern remake of the movie.

A remake that is everything a remake should be. Instead of taking the original script and simply giving us modern casting and photography with few other changes, 2010’s Karate Kid breaks down the storyline into essentials and takes the elements that worked best in both the original movie and the sequel and brings it together to give us a new story with new characters that is still recognizable, but very different from the original. This is not a shot by shot remake, but a new movie built on the chassis of the older one.

In this film, 12 year old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith, The Day the Earth Stood Still) moves with his widowed mother (Taraji. P. Henson, Date Night) to China for her work. There he meets both the handyman, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan, The Spy Next Door) and a beautiful young Chinese girl named Mei Ying (Han Wen Wen). Talking with Mei Ying earns him a jealous beating by bully Cheng (Zhenwei Wang .) Cheng and his group of thugs continue to harass and assault Dre, and then six of them finally get him in an alleyway, Mr. Han intercedes with a brilliantly choreographed scene that is Jackie Chan’s trademark. Without throwing a single punch or kick, he manages to use the bullies’ attacks against each other until they stop.

When Mr. Han and Dre go to speak with Cheng’s brutal Kung Fu teacher to settle the matter, they are instead met with a direct challenge. Mr. Han and the other teacher agree to have Dre fight in a tournament that Mr. Han will prepare him for. Han teaches Dre using unconventional methods, in stark contrast to the formal school the Cheng learns in. During this time Dre develops a relationship with Mei Ying, a violinist who is a hopeful for the Beijing Academy of Music. Mei Ying and Dre form a special friendship, and Dre swears to be at her big audition while she swears to be at his tournament. Dre and Mr. Han travel to his village, and take a long hike up an ancient set of stairs to the Dragon Fountain, where Dre witnesses a woman (played by martial arts movie master Michelle Yeoh) who can use Kung Fu to control a cobra. Finally, we come to the big tournament, where Dre climbs the rankings until his final confrontation with the merciless and aggressive Cheng plays out on the mats.

There are a number of things to like about this picture. The photography and direction are terrific, the movie never seems to lag and gives one shot after another of interesting sights and sounds. Shot in China this movie makes every effort to show modern China, from the crowded streets, the laundry-covered rooftops, to the ancient village of Han’s birth. You feel completely immersed in a foreign environment that never feels fake or stereotyped. Jackie Chan plays against type, instead of his usual funny, nice guy roles he is a haunted man with a past here. He is adequate in this role and completely believable as a teacher of Kung Fu. Jaden Smith is to be complemented on his dedication; he has clearly trained for months for this role and executes every martial arts scene perfectly and believably. Like Chan, his acting is adequate but not remarkable; in particular you can almost hear the coaching he must have received from his father. Smith’s performance is more of a good imitation of his famous father and less about making his character relatable. Taraji P. Henson, as Dre’s mother, is the strongest actress in the group and is completely compelling and believable and does not have enough time on the screen.

For a remake there are many surprises throughout. Dre’s romantic interest is not just a pretty face, but a talented musician who must juggle her parent’s expectations with her newfound friend from America. Mr. Han mysteriously builds a car in his living room, which turns into the movie’s most emotional scene when you find out why. Even the end, which follows the original movie more than the rest, has an ending that seems better and more satisfactory.

Despite on only fair acting job by the movie’s two principal actors, this is a movie worth seeing. Whether you were a fan of the first film or if this is your first Karate Kid, the movie is enjoyable with many memorable scenes. It is well-written, directed well, looks fantastic, and the kung fu is brilliant. Definitely a feel good movie that relates to both adults and children alike.