OK for kids 9+
Remake has new stars, new country, but same winning spirit.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this Karate Kid remake is a faithful adaptation of the original but because the central character is 12 instead of 16, the language and romance is appropriately scaled back, even though the violence is a bit more startling. There's not much cursing (a few uses of the word "ass") or sexuality (mild flirting and one chaste kiss), but there are a whole lot of fight scenes. The Chinese bullies are pretty merciless both off and on the mat. They're even willing to do some unethical moves to secure a championship. But when it comes down to it, this is a friendship story between old and young, East and West, and that's a fine message for young kids.
- Families can talk about how this is ultimately a fish-out-of-water story. How is Dre even more of an outsider than the original's Daniel? What are the cultural differences that make it difficult for Dre to fit in? Do outsiders always meet with bullying, or are there ways to make it easier to get along?
- What do Dre and Mr. Han teach each other? Is it believable that an older man and a 12-year-old would become best friends?
- While the first Karate Kid dealt with class, this one subtly deals with race and culture. How does Dre's different background affect his ability to fit in? Why? Did the movie challenge or reinforce any stereotypes? Kids: How do you treat people from different backgrounds or those who are new in town?
The good stuff
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Messages: As with the original, the Karate Kid 2010's message is supposed to be that violence doesn't solve problems and that pure martial arts are about peace and self reflection, not fighting or revenge. While there is a lot of of violence, the overall theme of the film is a positive one.
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Role models: It's very very obvious who's "good" and who's not. Mr. Han considers and discusses martial arts almost like yoga -- a sacred practice that should never be abused. Meanwhile, Master Li is a competitive zealot who espouses the importance of "No weakness, no mercy!"
What to watch for
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Violence: The new Karate Kid boasts just as much bullying and martial-arts violence as the original, but these characters are middle-school aged, not high-schoolers. There are black eyes, cracked ribs, and broken bones. Plus, one scene features an adult against five eager-to-brawl tweens and teens.
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Sex: Dre, who is 12, is obviously interested in Meiying, and they flirt with each other quite openly. After some hand holding, they play a dance video game, and during her hip-hop dance, he stares at her wide-eyed and tells her "You're dancing is HOT." They eventually share one brief closed-mouth kiss.
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Language: Aside from the word "ass," which Karate Kid Jaden Smith says about four times, there's the occasional "stupid," "loser" and the like.
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Consumerism: Since the movie takes place in China, there's not a whole lot of visible consumerism, but some brands that stand out include SpongeBob SquarePants (in Mandarin!), Volkswagen, and Air China.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: In one scene, Mr. Han looks and acts drunk (a bottle of Chinese alcohol is shown).
Fan Reviews provided by
5
Great!!!! by Movie_Buff_86
I just came back from seeing "The Karate Kid" and i have to say that i was very impressed. It was much more than i can ask for. Of course, nothing compares to the original back in 1984 but i think they did a darn good job with this one. This movie is all about the underdog and if you are knocked down, or if life throws you a curveball, you have to get back up! That is the premise for the movie. Jackie Chan who plays Mr. Han and Jaden Smith as Dre have a great relationship together on screen and they both did a great job portraying there individual characters. If you want a movie to feel good about i suggest seeing this. Kids, adults, seniors, anyone can check this out! I believe Chan had one of his best performances on screen in a long time and it shows in the movie. I loved this film and i will see it again. GO SEE IT!
5
Great family entertainment - better than first movie by Pammo1949
This movie is a "must go". The bullying story line is similar but more intense. The cinematography was amazing - China is so beautiful and the movie takes you there - on streets and as a tourist vacationing. Jaden Smith did an amazing job. There was character development so the story has "meat." The work that young man did to make you feel the movie and feel for his character as he developed into a martial artist is commendable. People were standing and clapping at the end it was so enjoyable. Jackie Chan was first rate in this movie - I love him more and more and he needs to get more serious roles (like this one) to show his deep talents. Children lof all ages will love the movies and adults will enjoy it with the message it sends. Worth the movie bucks.
5
Five Word Review by movieguyry5995
Just as good as original
5
Five Word Review by king_morton
ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY WITHOUTADOUBT AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!
5
The Karate Kid by drlmcooper
This was a very uplifting yet action packed remake of the orginal film from the 80's with the same title; this version stayed very true to the original storyline but with a more modern edge to it. Of course, I loved Jaden Smith - who gave a terrific performance; likewise, if you are a Jackie Chan fan, you won't be disappointed. People of all ages will enjoy this so it is a terrific choice for a family outing, The one or two missed opportunities in this film were not sharing more about China's history and culture beyond the references to Kung Fu and not including teachable moments about the increasingly problematic issue of "bullying" in today's schools. Not every child will have the outcomes experienced by Jaden in this film so guardians of school-aged children might consider having a discussion after the movie that includes what support would be available to a child should he or she have a negative experience with a bully. Overall, I really enjoyed this film and recommend it highly!
5
Jaden is awesome by Songbird58
This movie is off the chain. I love the original movie. What makes this version so special is the level life issues brought into the script such as that of Jackie Chan's role. Much deeper than the earlier version. Jaden looks so much like his dad, it's uncanny. He is going to be an awesome actor. I truly think his role is Oscar worthy. The hard work he put into the role and his rival..............wow, do you hate him!! lol These kids are so great. And putting China and it's wonderful culture in the movie was the smartest move. Wonderful!!
4
the karate kid by Dallas01
We took our granddaughter to see karate kid it was a joy to see them enjoy the movie
after the movie they could not stop talking about it.
5
Much better than the first by stranger10
Jackie Chan is no longer just a movie star. He is now a full fledged actor. He under played his part perfectly. You could see in his face that he was carrying a heavy burden that gets revealed near the end of the movie. This movie was far better than the first Karate kid. The script and storyline were extremely well written. All of the characters were played to perfection. At one point I even felt sorry for one of the bullies. At various points in the movie the audience either gasped, cheered or applauded and I'm not talking about during the tourament even though by that time everyone was completely absorbed into the story. This one is truly an emotional rollercoaster with more than enough Kung Fu action to satisfy any martial arts aficionado. The Smith family (Will & Jada Pinkett Smith) now have a third member of the family that will become a household name or maybe aready has. Nice goin Jadan. The film is for EVERYBODY.
5
the Karate Kid by snapplesrev
i thought that the movie was amazing. There wasn't one part of the movie that i didn't like. JadenSmilth was so awesome in this movie. And i would definely recommend it to all my friends, but i think teenagers would enjoy this movie the most.
5
Youthful Action Romance Kung Fu Style by AnaPol
This a great youthful action romance. The Karate Kid is a great story that shows many themes of marshal arts philosphy: respect, determination, and fighting in defense not to attack. Loved that my kids got to see the culture, language and landscape of China. It had us gripped to our seat with amazing Kung Fu. My 8.5 year old son had to remind me it was just a movie. My son takes *** Sool Won but understands that "Karate" to many is synonymous in meaning to "marshal arts." While the fights were violent it showed the development of true fear a child would have from bullying. This happens here in the U.S. all the time and this story shows how I child might respond and how he should talk to someone about it. My 6.5 year old daughter told me she wasn't affraid by the violence and she really enjoyed the movie.