Back from seeing Karate Kid

[clarabelle]

I really enjoyed it.
Jaden Smith has a lot of charisma and I liked Jackie Chan already.
It is not a short movie- A little over two hours.
If you didn't like the first one -you probably won't like the remake.
The basic story is the same.
Any questions?

 

[Hawks4Realz]

I really enjoyed it.
Jaden Smith has a lot of charisma and I liked Jackie Chan already.
It is not a short movie- A little over two hours.
If you didn't like the first one -you probably won't like the remake.
The basic story is the same.
Any questions?

Did you prefer the 1980's version or this? I love the 80s original so I'm undecided whether I want to see this as I don't think a remake was necessary.

 

[SaraJayne]

DS and I just got back from seeing it, too.

It was a cute movie (and LONG) but Ralph Machachio was much cuter.

Very predictable, I thought.

 

[clarabelle]

I liked the 80s better -mostly because it was all a surprise
It is hard to get as excited when you know what is going to happen.
The 80s version has older kids and more romance (also more cursing)
I felt like the original villains were easier to dislike -it is harder to get so angry at a 13 y.o. Chinese boy.
I liked the music for both of them. I think Jackie Chan did a really good job
The Chinese scenery was also enjoyable.

 

[phorsenuf]

I don't even get why we needed a remake.

 

[mtemm]

we just got back, too. I loved the original...worked at a movie theatre when it was out and we showed it all summer. I think I saw it dozens of times! I really enjoyed this new updated version. I think the changes they made...china/kung fu...made it fresh. yes, the basic plot was the same, but it still felt fresh. and jaden was very charismatic. gorgeous, too. looks so much like both of his parents!

It was interesting watching this at a different stage of my life. then I was a 17 year old kid, now I'm a 43 year old mom. definitely looking at it from a different perspective.

jackie chan was awesome!

gorgeous scenery, amazing moves. and omg, the kung fu made the karate look like puppy kisses. lol.

 

[clarabelle]

Sara Jayne makes a good point. When I saw the first one -I was close to Ralph Macchios movie age so I was spending time thinking he was cute ect...

Jaden Smith is too young for romantic feelings unless you are a 10-12 y.o. girl

 

[SaraJayne]

Jaden Smith has the most beautiful skin I think I've ever seen. I don't know if it was make up or what, but geez!

Jackie Chan did a fabulous job and the scenery was beautiful.

I was a bit surprised by some of the music. John Mayer? LOL

 

[elgerber]

I really liked it. I think Jaden is adorable! He acts like his daddy, but he looks so much like his mom! For me, I think the original still has the edge, but I think it's because it's so embedded in my heart, from way back when. I'll let you know, since I'm going to watch it in about 5 minutes (bought it on Blu Ray today). I think they did a really good job with the remake though, the basic story is the same, but they changed a few things and the scenery was amazing! It has a great soundtrack too.
I loved the still photos they showed throughout the credits, those were fun to see!
As far as getting angry at the 13 year old chinese boy, and even in the original, the true villian is the teacher. As Jackie Chan said, there are no bad boys just bad teachers.

 

[elgerber]

It was interesting watching this at a different stage of my life. then I was a 17 year old kid, now I'm a 43 year old mom. definitely looking at it from a different perspective.

Oh this is so true!!! When he got beat up the first time I was sitting there trying to imagine what I would do if my 12 year old came home like he did. And then his mom reacted LOL, saying the same thing that was going through my head.

 

[mtemm]

As far as getting angry at the 13 year old chinese boy, and even in the original, the true villian is the teacher. As Jackie Chan said, there are no bad boys just bad teachers.

exactly! I felt like the 12/13 year old boys should be more impressionable and their molding by their teacher made more sense than 17 year old boys.

love that they included (highlight to read, spoiler alert) the teacher saying, "finish him!" dh and I were laughing and saying we would have loved someone in the background shouting, "get him a body bag!!!!"

 

[clarabelle]

Good point Erika.
The first one though-I remember really hating those guys and wanting Daniel to beat them so badly.
This time they seemed to young to feel that way about and I guess that wasn't the goal. The teacher -wow -I would have never thought you could get a Chinese version that was so accurate. He was just as despicable as the original villain.

 

[mtemm]

anyone so impressed with jaden's limberness that they wanted to go home from the movie and start stretching? just me? lol

 

[clarabelle]

Yes -I noticed. I bet he had to do some serious training

 

[Meriweather]

DD and I went.....she is an adult. The original got her interested in karate.
She took it for 8 years....big break and then back to it about a year ago.
We attended a private showing with her karate school. It was a lot of fun. The applase was fun at the end and seeing all the little kids in their belts, shirts or pants (tournament was right after).

Kung Fu is so much more brutal.
The story line as a whole was the same, but the small differences made it worth seeing.
The scenery is gorgeous. DH has been to China several times and Bejing is his favorite.

 

[MrBurns]

Mr Burns despises nepotism....

 

[Imzadi]

This may be the one remake I'm looking forward to. I love Jackie Chan. Pat Morita was great, but to have an actual martial arts champ playing the role is great. Plus, Jackie has a great sense of humor.

anyone so impressed with jaden's limberness that they wanted to go home from the movie and start stretching? just me? lol

Yes -I noticed. I bet he had to do some serious training

They were on Oprah. Jaden did 4 months of martial arts training even before they left for China. They about another 4 months of training while there. His mom, Jada said that was the source of most of the arguments she & Will had. Between filming and training the boy put in loooong hours each day. Too much, for any average boy, she thought. He was still only 12(?).

Will was like, "He's no snowflake. He can handle it."

I don't even get why we needed a remake.

We don't. After the last movie Jaden was in, they realized he still has the acting bug. So, Will & Jada looked for a project to showcase him. They came up with this movie. They both produced the film together for Jaden. That was also why the squabbles about how long Jaden should work & train. She had to think like both a mom & producer at the same time.

Even though they produced this for Jaden, Will didn't let it go to his head. They had one home movie clip of Will & Jaden staring over the great Wall. Jaden was like, "Oh, the movie couldn't be made without me, I'm the STAR. "

Without a moment's hesitation, Will, seemingly, very casual said, "No, you're just an actor. It's a privilege to get that role. But, I could have cast any boy in that role. Now, the story, that's what is important about this film. . ." and went on about the story like he didn't realize how such his statement would affect Jaden, who's expression was that he seemed to have had his eyes opened , that, maybe he wasn't so "specshul" after all.

Will's oldest son couldn't make it to China as it was football season at his school. To Will's credit, he flew home every weekend from China to watch his son's football games.

 

[Imzadi]

Kung Fu is so much more brutal.

Can it still be called The Karate Kid, if it's a kung fu movie?

Mr Burns despises nepotism....

I guess you don't care for father/son bakeries, delis and law firms, etc., then?

And why are you referring to yourself in the third person?

Criminal Minds had an episode about that. They said the Son of Sam killer did that. . .

 

[clarabelle]

I understand it won't be called Karate Kid in other countries. Just the USA to cash in on the sentimental value.
It will be called Kung Fu kid in Asia

 

[DeluxePrincess]

DD10 wants to see this. The original was one of my favorites growing up so I'm on the fence. I'll probably end up taking her next week. Glad to see fans of the original like it.