The Karate Kid (2010)

I have never been a huge fan of the Karate Kid films. This is due to the fact that I have only seen the end of the 1984 classic and the only film in the series that I have seen in its entirety is “The Next Karate Kid” with Hilary Swank. I do not excuse myself but only clarify why I am not a huge fan of these films. I know that if I saw the original film, I would most likely like it a lot as I am a fan of Oscar winner: John G. Avildsen. I am glad that Jerry Weintraub returns as the producer (I like Ocean’s 11, 12 and 13 as well). To have Will and Jada Smith’s names on the movie poster is also very cool. The stars of this remake do very well in their roles and James Horner’s score is in some ways better than his work on “Avatar”. The filmmakers did a good job of not only sticking to the original story but also adapting it. The film as a result is fresh and appeals to today’s young people who were not around in 1984.

The two main actors in this film are trying to prove something to the world. Jaden Smith has been in movies before and I liked how well he acted with his dad on “The Pursuit of Happiness”. He was so believable. This is his first starring role however and there were scenes in this film in which he proved that with time, he could do very well as an actor. Going into this film, I was expecting his performance to reflect his father’s acting but I wanted him to be his own actor also. I could see Will in many scenes but I also got moments where Jaden was original. I love his work in the scene where Mr. Han tells the story of his wife and son. His tears feel genuine and when he leads Mr. Han out into the courtyard, I was touched. Having said that, there were a few moments where Jaden’s performances were not believable. For example, his kung fu in the tournament seemed manufactured when compared to the scene in which he & Mr. Han first duel. Also, he didn’t feel very vulnerable with the bullies. I think that with time, things will work out for Jaden as I said before. This film showed me a new Jackie Chan. I have seen a lot of his films as well as films staring Bruce Lee and of course, Pat Morita. Jackie’s performance was very good as a teacher and troubled individual. When watching the aforementioned scene where Mr. Han is wrecking his car, Jackie’s acting entranced me. He is credible as a dramatic actor and I never knew that. One thing I liked though is that I still experienced much of the Jackie Chan that I know. In his fight with the bullies, he was tired afterwards showing as he does in other films that he is not flawless. In the same fight, we saw his classic improvisation and use of unconventional weapons such as when he uses the blue jacket. With both Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, the audiences expectations were met while at the same time, both actors showed us something new.

Being a remake, the story was not as powerful as back in 1984 but it was still entertaining. We had the classic story but this time, we were in post-Olympic Beijing instead of LA. Dre is in a very different world when compared to his character’s 1984 counterpart. I like how waxing the car has been replaced by a jacket because Mr. Han is teaching Dre how to fight by overcoming a seemingly unrelated bad habit.

I smiled at one scene though when Mr. Han is waxing his car. The filmmakers understand how much some things mean to some fans. I like the nod to the 80’s when Dre hitches a ride on his skateboard by hanging onto the back of bicycles. The kissing scene is handled very well romantically because of lighting, as is the scene where Mr. Han is destroying his car. At first this unhappy scene has a lot of blue and the lighting is dark but once our characters move into the courtyard, the use of silhouette and white light emotionally lifts us up. This contrast was most affective. The cameo of Michelle Yeoh was very cool. The use of reply via the “jumbotron” in the stadium was effective. It is something that the original film doesn’t have. One thing I would change about the original film and this remake is that I would like to see some more resolution scenes after the final fight. It is always great to experience some final, dramatic moments with our characters.

The movie was the perfect length and was a great remake. I now see both Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan in a different light and I applaud James Horner’s work. Many young people will hopefully want to watch the original film as a result of this movie. I hear a sequel is in the works and I am in favor of that.

3.5 Stars