Just to make it clear, I had watched this film, for the first time, in theatres without knowing that it was a remake of the OG. I saw Jackie Chan, and I went in blindly. And boi, I had so much fun! I was still a kid then and was the perfect target audience for these types of films 😂
Now, rewatching The Karate Kid (2010) again, I can pretty sure understand why not a lot of folks didn’t enjoy it. Yeah, it showcases Kung-Fu, not karate but does that difference break the film? Not for me.
The Karate Kid (2010 version) moves the story from California to Beijing, and honestly, it was cool to see how they handled that cultural shift. Dre, played by Jaden Smith, is this kid trying to fit into a new world, and you can really feel the awkwardness of being out of place. The plot is familiar – a bullied kid meets a wise mentor, learns kung fu (not karate, oddly enough), and faces his bullies.
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Speaking of performances, Jaden Smith does a decent job, though I found him a bit too confident at times. I missed the underdog vibe that Ralph Macchio had in the original. But Jackie Chan as Mr. Han? That was a nice surprise. We’re used to seeing him in action-packed, comedic roles, but here he brings this quiet, emotional depth that really hits home, especially in that scene where he shares his tragic past. It added a layer of heart to the movie that I wasn’t expecting.
The fight scenes were well done, and the change from karate to kung fu didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would, even if the title felt misleading. The final tournament was exciting, though I’ll admit, that watching kids fight so intensely felt a little off at times. Overall, while the movie has its flaws, like pacing issues and some forced cultural elements, it’s still an entertaining watch.
For fans of the original, the remake offers enough callbacks to keep them engaged, but it also stands on its own. The jacket routine replacing the “wax on, wax off” is a creative twist, and the emotional beats are handled well. Some scenes feel drawn out, and the romantic subplot between Dre and Meiying, while sweet, doesn’t add much to the overall story.
TSHC Score: 7.5/10
(An extra 0.5 for the nostalgia, since I enjoyed watching it in theaters when I was still a kid)
The Karate Kid (2010) is a nostalgic trip with some fresh twists, though it doesn't quite capture the charm of the original. It's a fun watch, but it’s not without its flaws.
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