The Philippine Online Chronicles

Twelve-year-old Dre Parker is a typical American boy growing up in the city of Detroit who finds himself transported to China, a land of foreign culture, language and tradition he would not really care to know. However, as he begins exploring his new home, he immediately falls for a talented young musician, Mei Ying. With this new found interest in sight, Dre thinks things are starting to look up – until he earns the ire of the class bully, Cheng who quickly pounces on him with his excellent kung fu moves.

Hurt, embarrassed and filled with vengeance, Dre seeks the help of the maintenance man, Mr. Han, who happens to be a master of kung fu.  As the mentor teaches the young boy the art of kung fu, Dre realizes there is more to this martial art than beating someone else up.

It is an age-old story much like that of Daniel-san and Mr. Miyagi in the original 1984 Karate Kid, played by Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita respectively. It is not just the tale of a young boy searching for a father and a mentor, but also of a lonely elderly man who is looking for meaning in his life.

The legacy continues

Jaden Smith shines as Dre Parker, the new Karate Kid in this eagerly anticipated remake. Born on July 8, 1988, the eleven year old star is the son of Hollywood superstars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith. While it cannot be denied his father is a great actor, Jaden proves he also has what it takes to make it big in the film industry. At only eleven, he has starred in a number of highly successful productions, the most notable one being ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’, opposite his father. His performance earned him several prestigious nominations from award giving bodies like the Black Reel and Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards. In 2009, Jaden was awarded the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA for his work on ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’.

Ralph Macchio finds himself impressed by the young Smith's acting abilities. "I think Jaden - you know, Will Smith’s kid - the kid’s got chops. He’s young; he’s like eleven,” he said.  Even his legendary co-star, Jacky Chan, applauded Smith for his talent. “I’ve never seen a child that’s as clever as Jaden is.  He learns whatever I teach him.  I mean, I’d show him something and, boom, he got it right away.  He’s amazing!,” the Asian superstar said.

Not only were producers Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz and director Harald Zwart faced with the monumental task of modernizing an old classic, they also had to contend with the challenge of finding the right “Mr. Miyagi” for the adaptation.  Given Morita’s very iconic role, they also needed a new, updated icon to mentor young Dre. And that they found in none other than the Asian superstar, Jackie Chan. As Stovitz put it, “Really, who else could do it? Jackie is the only man who fits the bill”.

For Chan, this role was something he could definitely relate to, especially since he himself had to deal with adapting to a new culture when he went to America for the first time 30 years ago. The feeling of being like a fish out of water was very real to him and he described it as “very frightening”.  What made the role of Mr. Han even more meaningful to Chan is that ‘The Karate Kid’ was both a homecoming and a dream-come-true for him as the production was filmed in China. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to highlight the Chinese culture, country and its martial arts.

Chan is more than just a martial artist. He is also a great comedian, singer and stunt performer. His films usually feature his acrobatic fighting style and highly creative stunts which were core features of the action comedy genre. In 2000, Chan was even “cartoonized” with the animated series Jackie Chan Adventures, which ran for five seasons.

Playing the role of Dre’s mother Sherry is Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson. Best remembered for her stunning performance in ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, Henson delivers a good performance as a mother trying to help her son adjust to a new life in a city where everything is strange and different. Playing the role of a mother is actually one reason why Henson was attracted to the role, particularly since it reminded her of her own relationship with her son.  She credited Jaden’s parents, Will and Jada, for helping her build a credible relationship with their son, which translated in the film.

Everything in China is old

The last pivotal character in the film would be China itself. As producer Pinkett Smith observed, filming in China added an extra layer of believability to the actors’ performances. “You can’t beat the energy that such a place can bring.  You can’t recreate it.  It’s a very special thing giving the movie authentic texture,” she said.

Shooting in China gives viewers a rare opportunity to see the wondrous beauty the country had to offer. It also allows audiences to have a rare glimpse into historical places such as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Gate, both of which have not been seen in film since the showing of the movie ‘The Last Emperor’ over twenty years ago.

Also making appearances in the film are China’s most important landmarks: The Great Wall of China, The Wundang Mountain, Birds Nest or National Olympic Stadium, and the Beijing Shaolin Wushu School in which one of the most visually stunning scenes in the movie will be seen.

It’s Kung Fu, not Karate.

The film eceived a lot of flak because there is, in fact, no karate in the movie. Some even pointed out that the film should have been called Kung Fu Kid.

Nevertheless, it looks like the movie is going to be a sure hit. Alex Billington wrote,  “I expect most people will go see this trying to hate it, and if that's the case, then they're obviously going to dislike it. But if you go in with an open mind, hoping to be entertained by a great movie with wonderful performances, you might enjoy as much as I did.... It's not entirely flawless, but I still loved the movie through and through, simple as that." Ron Yamauchi further pointed out that the changes made to the movie were to the film’s benefit.

The original Karate Kid himself, Ralph Macchio, had "mixed feelings" at first about the remake of the movie. "At first, I felt old. Number one, you feel old when they start remaking your stuff."

" [But] once I got past the fact that there's a whole new generation, it was more about, 'OK, you can retell this story because it's a beautiful story.' It's a testament to the legacy that we created," he added.

As for this writer, the movie was a surprisingly enjoyable movie that puts together good laughs, great inspiration and a whole lot of heart.

“The Karate Kid” is distributed by Columbia Pictures and opens across the Philippines on Friday, June 11.

Photo and interview excerpts courtesy of Columbia Pictures.