Bullies are the same everywhere aren't they and lord knows, they never change. Plots often don't change much either but sometimes that's a good thing as with the Classic Karate Kid and this year's remake. We watched the 1984 original recently and compared it to this years slick and star-studded version of the age old tale - student learn from master - both kick ass."
"Everything is Kung Fu." How true those words are, except that the Classic Karate Kid didn't use Kung Fu but "Open Hand" Karate from Okinawa. Watching both of these movies you'll notice how much of the original story is kept with slightly new twists - somehow this homage makes them both more rather than less interesting.
Casting for both of these films was excellent - Mr. Miyagi's character was certainly the high point of Pat Morita's career and Jackie Chan as the revisioned maintenance man/sensei was a master-stroke. Jackie Chan has got chops for more than his kung fu opponents - he is also a truly gifted actor and has not yet been given a real opportunity to showcase that side of his talent (action hero and comedian yes, dramatic lead, no). And you couldn't find two skinnier, less likely karate stars than the adolescent Ralph Macchio or prepubescent Jaden Smith - superstar in training. Both movies revolve almost totally around the teacher - student bonding with minimal interface from love interests and the constant presence of overprotective mothers.
And the bad guys in these shows - they're great! They're total jerks but lovable and completely rehabilitated once taken away from the influence of their evil Karate coaches - because like Mr. Miyagi say - "they no bad students, only bad teachers." Don't we know it - years of coaching soccer taught us that first hand. Yes, there can be mercy on the field in the ring - we are not animals are we - are you not entertained ! Oh, sorry about that mixed metaphor - anyway there's nothing quite as satisfying as skinny guys beating the crap at of Arnold wannabes (no offense Arnold, we know you're old and political now but once you were feared and admired by your enemies - the girlie men).
Copyright 2010, Raving Reviews
"Everything is Kung Fu." How true those words are, except that the Classic Karate Kid didn't use Kung Fu but "Open Hand" Karate from Okinawa. Watching both of these movies you'll notice how much of the original story is kept with slightly new twists - somehow this homage makes them both more rather than less interesting.
Casting for both of these films was excellent - Mr. Miyagi's character was certainly the high point of Pat Morita's career and Jackie Chan as the revisioned maintenance man/sensei was a master-stroke. Jackie Chan has got chops for more than his kung fu opponents - he is also a truly gifted actor and has not yet been given a real opportunity to showcase that side of his talent (action hero and comedian yes, dramatic lead, no). And you couldn't find two skinnier, less likely karate stars than the adolescent Ralph Macchio or prepubescent Jaden Smith - superstar in training. Both movies revolve almost totally around the teacher - student bonding with minimal interface from love interests and the constant presence of overprotective mothers.
Sanding Deck, Kick-Ass Dragon
And the bad guys in these shows - they're great! They're total jerks but lovable and completely rehabilitated once taken away from the influence of their evil Karate coaches - because like Mr. Miyagi say - "they no bad students, only bad teachers." Don't we know it - years of coaching soccer taught us that first hand. Yes, there can be mercy on the field in the ring - we are not animals are we - are you not entertained ! Oh, sorry about that mixed metaphor - anyway there's nothing quite as satisfying as skinny guys beating the crap at of Arnold wannabes (no offense Arnold, we know you're old and political now but once you were feared and admired by your enemies - the girlie men).
The New Karate Kid Proves that Nerds even get beat up in China or that a Chinese nerd is not so nerdy if he knows Kung Fu or that short people can really fight or that China has much better location shots than East LA - actually we don't think it proves anything, but it looks great.
The suspense - the fights - the personal triumph - the catching of flies with Chopsticks - the cute rich girls that can't get enough of the penniless, skinny nerds... Karate Kid the original and Karate Kid 2010 were separated by oceans of time and the Pacific and yet the story remained as entertaining as the match-winning Crane kick. Both films earn our much coveted "No-Yawn" awards.
Oh, and perhaps our survey of the Karate Kid's impact on popular culture across generations wouldn't be complete with a parody - the following one created by Electric Spoofaloo...
Pilates, Karate - it's sounds close enough...Oh, and perhaps our survey of the Karate Kid's impact on popular culture across generations wouldn't be complete with a parody - the following one created by Electric Spoofaloo...
Copyright 2010, Raving Reviews
