The Kung Fu comes out!
You know, there’s something surprising and refreshing about Karate Kid remake. I didn’t really expect to be so impressed with it. Despite the fact the character is learning kung-fu, not karate, this movie is an overall improvement on the old film. From the beginning of the movie you can notice that drama part of this movie wouldn’t be just a grain grown on the backstage of fighting. Moreover when you see name Jerry Weintraub (Diner, The Specialist, Ocean’s Eleven) in titles you are realized that you are in the good hands and it is worth your time.
From the first moments living in Beijing little Dre shows how to play basketball in American way, but Chinese guys have their revenge in ping-pong, we all know how good they are in such stuff. But Parker never survive and impressing the girl with his dance skills, but dance is not Kungfu and he amasses the real bully power. Since now on Dre becomes the target of the Chinese bullies who terrorize him with tough martial arts.
And here is Jackie Chan time! Mr. Han is the maintenance man who teaches Dre the art of kung fu (maybe Kung Fu Wing Chun could looks better) and helps him grow-up and away from the things he can’t control. Han’s character is full of sadness and brokenness and I was excited to see how Jackie nails the role and for a long time I didn’t see him crying, the best dramatic work. Jackie is Jackie, he is the great martial artist, actor and singer full of charisma. It was definitely right decision to invite him for this role in his 57 (Pat Morita was 52 when he played Miyagi).
Karate Kid clocks in more than 2 hours but at the time when we reach the tournament we don’t care so much who will win, because we already know. The famous crane position is showed here in more modern way using wire-fu and you can hardly believe that it’s possible for so young Parker to do that after a little time of practice, he is definitely not Scott Adkins with all his flying tricks in Undisputed 3. And of cause I was waiting when Mr. Han will get Master Li’s butt kicked but probably producers saved it for the next movie.
There is a lot of emotional wallop in this movie and it is likely to inspire younger audience members to pursue the martial arts. Very rarely can it be said that a remake turns out to be worth the time, but Karate Kid is that welcome exception to the rule. I have heard JC and Smith are discussing the next part and I absolutely sure it will be cooler and I will be in the cinema in the first row waiting for beginning.
And one more thing, Jaden Smith is really good in acting like his father so I sure we will be seeing him more and more on the screens.
Thanks a lot to Sony Pictures Australia for invitation to preview screening of Karate Kid 2010 Movie in Sydney!
Statistics:
- The Karate Kid – June 22, 1984 – grossed $90,815,558 – Opening Weekend $5,031,753
- The Karate Kid 2 – June 19, 1986 – grossed $113,829,022 – Opening Weekend $12,652,336
- The Karate Kid 3 – June 30, 1989 – grossed $38,956,288
- The Next Karate Kid – August 12, 1994 – grossed $8,751,228
- The Karate Kid – June 11, 2010 – grossed $135,788,721 (June) – Opening Weekend $55,665,805