Not Another Lame Remake: a review of “The Karate Kid” |
This review will feature spoilers…because I care nothing about your movie-going experience. ~ m.d.s.
Forget that it’s a remake. Forget about the fact that Jaden Smith, heir to the Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith throne, gets top-billing over the “world’s biggest movie star” Jackie Chan. Forget about the fact it’s called “The Karate Kid” but is set in China (not Japan, where Karate was developed) and there is no karate, but rather kung-fu. Forget, forget, forget. Why?
Because this movie is so fucking dope.
I was greatly and pleasantly surprised by this turn of events. I’ve been excited and severely disappointed by the prospects of remakes in the past (not to say I hated Chris Rock’s version of Death at a Funeral, but…), so my expectations going in lie somewhere between “this shouldn’t be that bad” and “I will wage an all-out war on Will Smith and his entire family…including little Willow.” The situation was that dire. I grew up on Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and “wax on, wax off”, so if this movie would’ve fucked that up, I would’ve felt the same way I did when Michael Jackson died: like someone had stolen my childhood.
This isn’t that. This movie is magic. Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) and his mother (Taraji P. Henson), move to China and set us up for a standard “fish out of water” story, complete with new friends, local bullies, and the cute girl with issues our hero has to overcome to be with. Where this movie shines is with its star, Jaden. This kid has charisma rarely seen in child actors his age. I’m used to adorable, or smart-ass, or really annoying child actors/actresses, but Jaden wins over his audience with cool and confidence…just like his father. One can tell by casual observation, he has clearly studied his father’s movies and emulates his mannerisms, facial cues, delivery, intonation, inflection, the whole nine. Pair that with a decent set of acting chops, and Jaden is a superstar in the making.
And he picked the perfect first starring role. Though updated and modernized, this remake pays homage to the original in the best ways, while simultaneously carving a niche as a film that can stand on its own. There are treats for those who love the original (like when Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) is trying to catch a fly with his chopsticks, but opts for the efficiency of the fly-swatter), but if you’ve never seen it, this version is still accessible.
And you know why they didn’t do karate in this film? I’ll tell you why: because kung-fu is A THOUSAND TIMES COOLER. I love the “crane technique” that Daniel-son used to win the tournament as much as the next guy, but the fight scenes in this movie are spectacular. How is Jackie Chan still such a bad-ass pushing up on 60 years old? He handles the group of kids harrassing Dre like this was Rumble in the Bronx. And in the end, with one good-leg, when Dre elevates, does a backflip, and delivers the crushing final blow to his opponent’s face? Awesome.
The entire movie is awesome (even with the racially awkward moment in which Dre’s Chinese love interest asks “can I touch your hair?”, and the implausibility of the “jacket on, jacket off” technique leading into his ultimate kung-fu training). It’s the perfect summer treat: a coming-of-age story that produces abundant laughs, all the while pulling on your heartstrings and nudging a few proud tears from your eyes. Kids will love it (and want their parents to sign them up for karate lessons afterward, not concerned with the fact that kung-fu and karate are different), and those who remember and love the original will find a new version worthy of bearing the name.
I give this film three thumbs up. Yes, I loved it so much, I stole someone’s thumb just to write this review. If you don’t go see this movie as result, a 37 year-old father of three in Pennsylvania is now thumbless in vain. Don’t be cruel; go see The Karate Kid.
Related posts:
You should totally follow TWiB! on Twitter! |
|
