The new Karate Kid movie

[Hector]

I went there for the heck of it...ready on hating it (I love the original)...

...well...to my amazement...I liked it...



It's almost a scene by scene copy of the original, but they changed a few things, like having more modern sensibilities...such as the mom figuring more prominently...and she didn't take any crap...lol.

Also, the dirt bike scene is changed (this is set in China after all)...and Jackie Chan's character lone car...has a different storyline...as opposed to Mr Miyagi's fleet of classics in LA.

The cinematography and scenery are breathtaking.

Will Smith's kid...while not a great actor (yet)...is rather likable.

He's also very small and fragile-looking...which adds to the element of his character being picked by the tough kids...however...he doesn't whimper like Ralph Machio's Daniel Larusso (when fighting).

The actual fight scenes...especially in the final tournament...are a lot more acrobatic (Kung Fu dictates it so)...albeit more fantastical...than the realistic Karate of the original.

Very good PG rated flick...there were tons of family with kids...and they all seem to enjoy it...fun movie.

[BlackKnight]

I can't believe you wasted Money on this ..., Now they will make a Part 2.

[Hector]

If I enjoyed the movie...why did I waste my money?

You are making no sense whatsoever...

[toys2cool]

I'll wait for the DVD but it's good to know

[BlackKnight]

From the Previews, I had felt I already scene the Movie.

[Hector]

Yeah...it's called the first and original Karate Kid...duh...

[BlackKnight]

[Hector]

[Johnny]

I saw the trailer for this movie. It reminds me a lot of a film I saw as a kid. There was this young boy who was being picked on by this blonde aryan looking guy.
Then he met the guy who ran Arnold's on Happy Days and he taught him to wax on or wax off or something like that.
Then he beat the blonde aryan looking guy. I liked that film a lot.

THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT!!!!

[jwyblejr]

I can't believe you wasted Money on this ..., Now they will make a Part 2.

Too late. They already said earlier in the week they're doing a sequel.

[starsky]

thanks for the review! i plan on checking it out with my 8 year old.

[darklord1967]

Those of you that are planning to catch THE KARATE KID (2010) on DVD are making a BIG mistake.

Let me say this: I was always a fan of the original films with Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio. I found them fun. I found them entertaining. They are a part of my childhood, and to me, they are classics. And for all intents and purposes, this new film loosely follows the same basic template laid out in the original.

But that's where the similarities end. This new film boasts a substance, depth, and emotional resonance in virtually every area of production that the original doesn't even come close to matching!

Yes. I said it.

Jaden Smith (Dre Parker) has always been reasonably effective in the work he's done so far... especially for a boy his age. But in this film, he has some moments that show some real chops... particularly in one scene that centers around a trashed automobile (the specifics of which I won't reveal). This is a young man to watch out for! Furthermore, the camera absolutely LOVES that kid. Jaden is certainly the incredibly good-looking by-product of two gorgeous people.

But the surprising standout here is Jackie Chan (Mr. Han). Sure, he has the obligatory martial arts fight scene in the film. But he is by no means the comedic relief buffon that he has been relegated to being in so many of his previous works (particularly during the fights in his films). Here, Chan injects his character with real poignancy and humanity, and demonstrates himself to be an actor of remarkable instincts. The chemistry between he and Smith is believable, strong, and beautifully presented.

This is not a film about fight scenes. But when they do happen, they have a viciousness and gritty believability to them that make the fights in the original seem cartoonish by comparison. Shortly after arriving in Bejin, Dre develops a mutual crush with a young, pretty Chinese schoolmate Mei Ying (played by Wenwen Han). But the boy's antagonist, a particularly nasty bully by the name of Cheng (played by young actor Zhenwei Wang) is out to stop their budding romance. Like I said, following the basic template of the original film.

But let me tell you: This kid Cheng would make minced meat out of Daniel Larusso's nemesis Johnny Lawrence from the original film.

Setting this film in Bejing was absolutely brilliant. It allowed the Director and his Cinematographer to capture the majesty and spirituality of the land while establishing the vistas as an emotional foundation for the drama. This film is stunningly beautiful to look at... everything from the gorgeous panoramic views of the Great wall of China, to the mountain top martial arts temples, to the gritty streets of the ancient city, are all lit and photographed with a love for the material that is plain to see.

I say again: Those of you that are planning to catch The Karate Kid at home on a DVD are going to miss out on the splendor of this film.

As I've said repeatedly on these boards, there are certain movies that really should be seen on the big screen so that the filmmaker's intended impact is preserved.

This is one of those films. Do yourself a favor and don't miss it. Get over your nostalgic attachment to the original film, and give this production a chance.

I really think you'll be glad you did.

[toystalker]

its already out on stream not checked the quality yet though if anyone not planning on going cinema wants a link just holla

im wondering hec is it more ninja kid than karate kid ?

you know when they fly half way across the screen in slow mo and kick someone in the face
or when they jump so high they are fighting above the trees !

i cant stand rubbisah like that

[darklord1967]

its already out on stream not checked the quality yet though if anyone not planning on going cinema wants a link just holla

im wondering hec is it more ninja kid than karate kid ?

you know when they fly half way across the screen in slow mo and kick someone in the face
or when they jump so high they are fighting above the trees !

i cant stand rubbisah like that

Nope nothing like that. No fantasy flying. No "ninja" kid. No fights above the trees. I don't care for that style of martial arts depiction either. But the fights here are kinetic, fast, exciting, and at times very brutal.

By the way, streaming movies for free is not cool. You are STEALING from hundreds of people (Producers, directors, actors, musicians, set design, cinematographers, composers, Art Directors, Production Designers, Costumer Designers, etc.) by contributing to the destruction of the filmmaking and cinema exhibition industries, and robbing these people of their right to earn a living. These people worked long and hard hours for many months to produce the entertainment that you so casually download illegally for free. They have the right to get paid for their work and to keep working in their chosen profession.

Pretty soon, there won't be any new movies or music to download if everyone keeps streaming it for free.

Furthermore, when you download a film, you are often getting a VERY inferior product that looks and sounds terrible because of the way that it was illegally captured.

Its no wonder so many people dislike some really well-made films that have been released over the years! I probably wouldn't like these films very much either if I had only seen them in a format where they were filmed illegally with a camera phone... or if I had to watch them on my computer screen as a crappy, blurry bootleg DVD with audience reactions included!

Anyone that is interested enough to see this film streamed really ought to pay to see it.. even if you choose to do so later on with a studio-released (legitimate) DVD.

Do the right thing.