Post by dvdjunkie on Jun 21, 2010 11:06:23 GMT -6
Those who know me well know how much I hate remakes, but I am happy to say that this is one that should have been done years ago, but I am glad that they waited until now and used the cast they have in this one.
Those familiar with the original version will first notice that the age of the "kid" is significantly different. Ralph Macchio was in high school, and the lead in this movie is just barely 12 years old.
Jaden Smith (son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith) is a fabulous actor for his age. You can see a lot of his dad in his performance as Dre Parker, the young man who is uprooted from his Detroit home with his mother who has been transferred to China. Taraji P. Henson plays Jaden's mom, Sherry Parker, and she does a perfect job of not hogging the screen.
Mr. Miyagi was portrayed by Pat Morita in the original movie, and Jackie Chan steps into the role of 'Mr. Han' and fills the shoes more than adequately.
The movie easily could have been called 'The Kung-Fu Kid' because the martial arts used in this film is more based with kung-fu than with karate.
Dre is playing in a courtyard at his new apartment and sees a Chinese boy attack a girl sitting on the bench for no reason at all, and he comes to her rescue, only to get his butt kicked. It happens a couple more times in the film before Mr. Han steps in. Dre asks Mr. Han to teach how to 'not be afraid' to go outside with his friends. As in the original movie, Mr. Han takes Dre to the dojo where the Chinese boys who beat Dre up train each day and asks the instructor to keep his boys intact and leave Dre alone.
Reluctantly, Dre begins following Mr. Han's teachings and we become very drawn in to these two characters. The tournament is coming up and Mr. Han wants Dre ready for it, to learn how to defend himself, and naturally Dre wants to go in and win. Mr. Han tells the young man that winning isn't the ultimate goal, just learning to defend himself from others is what is important.
Don't need to tell you the rest of the story. If you saw the original movie you will truly enjoy this one, as a complete re-imagining of the story. Those who have never seen the original will enjoy this movie as Jackie Chan proves that he CAN act!! Jaden Smith shows his growth as an actor, since he first appeared on the screen with his dad in "The Pursuit of Happyness".
I highly recommend this movie for its story, and for the music. All of today's hottest artists are here with Lady Gaga, AC/DC, and many others, with their music leading the way. On the Junkie Meter, I will give this film FOUR STARS for being such a good film, and total avoidance of foul language or gratuitous violence. Rated PG, but I think if you have youngsters in the family of age 10 or above, who understand this is just a movie, take them with you. It is a brilliant movie directed by Harald Zwark, and the photography of China is beautiful.
Those familiar with the original version will first notice that the age of the "kid" is significantly different. Ralph Macchio was in high school, and the lead in this movie is just barely 12 years old.
Jaden Smith (son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith) is a fabulous actor for his age. You can see a lot of his dad in his performance as Dre Parker, the young man who is uprooted from his Detroit home with his mother who has been transferred to China. Taraji P. Henson plays Jaden's mom, Sherry Parker, and she does a perfect job of not hogging the screen.
Mr. Miyagi was portrayed by Pat Morita in the original movie, and Jackie Chan steps into the role of 'Mr. Han' and fills the shoes more than adequately.
The movie easily could have been called 'The Kung-Fu Kid' because the martial arts used in this film is more based with kung-fu than with karate.
Dre is playing in a courtyard at his new apartment and sees a Chinese boy attack a girl sitting on the bench for no reason at all, and he comes to her rescue, only to get his butt kicked. It happens a couple more times in the film before Mr. Han steps in. Dre asks Mr. Han to teach how to 'not be afraid' to go outside with his friends. As in the original movie, Mr. Han takes Dre to the dojo where the Chinese boys who beat Dre up train each day and asks the instructor to keep his boys intact and leave Dre alone.
Reluctantly, Dre begins following Mr. Han's teachings and we become very drawn in to these two characters. The tournament is coming up and Mr. Han wants Dre ready for it, to learn how to defend himself, and naturally Dre wants to go in and win. Mr. Han tells the young man that winning isn't the ultimate goal, just learning to defend himself from others is what is important.
Don't need to tell you the rest of the story. If you saw the original movie you will truly enjoy this one, as a complete re-imagining of the story. Those who have never seen the original will enjoy this movie as Jackie Chan proves that he CAN act!! Jaden Smith shows his growth as an actor, since he first appeared on the screen with his dad in "The Pursuit of Happyness".
I highly recommend this movie for its story, and for the music. All of today's hottest artists are here with Lady Gaga, AC/DC, and many others, with their music leading the way. On the Junkie Meter, I will give this film FOUR STARS for being such a good film, and total avoidance of foul language or gratuitous violence. Rated PG, but I think if you have youngsters in the family of age 10 or above, who understand this is just a movie, take them with you. It is a brilliant movie directed by Harald Zwark, and the photography of China is beautiful.