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THE KARATE KID

A remake of The Karate Kid had to be good, had to work, had to be something special. It's one thing to remake an obscure older title like The Stepfather and have the result be a complete dud, but it's another thing altogether when studios and filmmakers choose to revisit sacred ground, updating a movie that didn't really need a second look to begin with. 1984's The Karate Kid is a picture with universal appeal and strong messages on the importance of self-reliance, discipline, integrity, honor, perseverance, and the bonds of friendship, all weaved into a wonderfully-told story and supported by some top-notch acting, including an out-of-nowhere Best Supporting Actor Oscar(r) nomination for the late Pat Morita. Enter 2010's remake, a picture directed by the same guy behind the abysmal The Pink Panther 2. No Pat Morita, no Daniel-san, no Cobra Kai, the movie takes place in China instead of the United States, and Jackie Chan's take on Mr. Miyagi is Chinese rather than Okinawan. For fans of the original, it seemed like another eyeball-rolling lame-o attempt to cash in on an updated Hip-Hop version of a beloved classic. But wait. Though it may have new faces in new places, 2010's The Karate Kid is still, well, The Karate Kid; it's an almost straight remake from start to finish with, yes, some added pizzazz but also built around the same core as the original, a core that defined 1984's picture well beyond the look of the characters or the backdrop against which the action played out. Director Harald Zwart's remake proves that it's a story and the essence behind it -- not just what plays out for the camera -- that makes a movie great and why this updating of The Karate Kid is still home to one of the best stories around.

Source:
Martin Liebman
Blu-ray.com
(9.21.10)

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