Don’t be fooled by the word “remake.” Is 1984′s The Karate Kid an 80′s classic? Maybe so, but that shouldn’t automatically render the latest representation inferior, nor should it be used as an excuse to pass judgment on a film you haven’t seen yet. Fresh or not, the chances of good or bad quality are just about the same and hang by a thread by the filmmakers and how the choices they make have an impact on each individual spectator.
How does this particular remake fair? The material is treated with elegance and respect. It was evident from the start that director Harold Zwart understood that the audience needed to get behind Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker. We needed to sympathize with his insecurities about relocating to a whole new country. It was integral for us to feel the punches and kicks his body is forced to endure to understand why it was so important for him to learn martial arts. It is also important for us to understand that the final tournament isn’t entirely about machismo, but that Dre needed to face his problems directly and stand up for himself, so he wouldn’t have to be afraid anymore. With all that in mind, the film succeeds.
The trailers show the film as being some sort of upbeat, urban tale and concentrates on lines of dialogue such as “You’re like Yoda and I’m like a Jedi.” What the previews didn’t show is that the film has heart, and is about a kid who has to go to school everyday in fear that he might run into his tormentors, which he constantly does throughout the first act. The bullies are persistent and their acts of torture are brutal. Not only is he scared of his attackers, but he’s terrified by the thought of giving up, as well as letting people know there is a problem at all. Who hasn’t been like that at least once in their life?
The film is a tad bit long. There is a minor subplot near the end of the movie involving a fallout between him and a friend that ultimately proves to be of little consequence to the rest of the film. Also, while some of the training sequences are fun, it’s hard to believe that he could become a pro at kung fu after such little time. His competitors have been training for most of their lives, how should Dre have an advantage? It’s just the usual underdog scenario, I guess. How many times have we seen the story of the team of consistent losers, who, after being obliterated five or six games in a row, manage a triumphant victory at the championships? Due to such a lengthy running time, the bullies lose their presence all together, and Dre seems to switch agendas from standing up for himself to “learning kung fu is cool” only to switch back at the last minute.
From the Great Wall of China to The Forbidden City, there are some breathtaking visuals to be found here. One scene that comes to mind is a visit to a spiritual temple, where Dre finds many martial artists performing various forms of meditation. I don’t understand any of it (the same goes for a healing technique witnessed earlier in the film), I found it a more than intriguing display in an astonishing locale in the mountains.
Is it better the original? Honestly, I’m only now asking myself that question. More importantly, is it possible to like both versions? I do, and that is good enough for me. The biggest question I keep asking myself over and over is “Was the original Karate Kid really such an untouchable, picture perfect masterpiece?”
Tags: Remake, The Karate Kid 2010, The Kung Fu Kid
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