The Karate Kid (1984) was a box-office smash that ultimately turned into a failed franchise due to some poorly-realised sequels, however the original still remains an incredibly popular slice of 80’s cinema that provokes a certain misty-eyed nostalgia to the kids who grew up with it. Although in no way perfect, it still continues to be blindly loved and defended in the same vein as The Goonies, The Breakfast Club and Ferris Beuller’s Day Off.
Director Harald Zwart has not so much decided to create a direct remake of The Karate Kid as to take it in a new direction. After all, how do you begin to recreate the magic of the much-loved original? Wisely, Zwart has decided to come at the source material from a different angle. Jaden Smith has taken over from Ralph Macchio to play Dre Parker, a streetwise 12 year old from Detroit who finds himself at the mercy of a gang of bullies when his mother’s latest career move takes him to China. With nowhere to turn, Dre makes friends with Mr Han (Chan), a quiet, introverted maintenance man who’s also a secret practitioner in Kung Fu. Taking pity on Dre, Han starts to teach his fighting skills to his newfound apprentice, with the aim of taking on the school bullies in a local Kung Fu tournament.
Although having a younger central character than its 1984 counterpart diminishes the bullying aspect of the storyline somewhat, the end result is arguably the same. Whilst it all felt more dangerous and relatable in the original, make no mistake - these 12 year old kids really go the distance in causing each other some serious damage. There’s some surprisingly creative choreography on display here which lifts this remake from seemingly bland to something else all together, for a film targeted towards a younger audience, The Karate Kid really packs a punch.
Credit must also go to Jackie Chan, his update of the Mr Miyagi character could have easily been clownish and inconsequential. Instead Chan provides the warmth and heart in a performance that becomes the backbone for the entire film. It’s easily his most assured and confident English-speaking performance yet, whilst still managing to provide a show-stopping martial arts centrepiece.
Much like the original, if you’re a 12 year old boy, this could easily become your favourite movie. 140 minutes flies by in a teen crowd-pleaser that’s far better and far tougher than anyone really expected it to be. Bolstered by solid performances, great cinematography and a well-paced storyline, The Karate Kid has the potential to grow to a winning franchise that may even out-do the original. Now what about that remake of Sidekicks?
Jonny Dawson
