Baraka_Guru

The Associated Press: Jackie Chan eyed for 'Karate Kid' remake

Many from my generation view The Karate Kid as one of the best coming-of-age underdog films of our time. I can't say how much I loved this film as a kid. My friends and I looked up to Daniel LaRusso as a hero--we all wanted to be just like him--and wished we all had our own Mr. Miyagi living in our neighbourhood. And then there's the unforgettable and glorious power of the Crane Kick. It's actually a bit of a wonder as to why I never got into karate.

They are remaking this film, apparently. The purist in me says, "Noooo!" but the other side of me says, "It's about time. Kids today need a constant stream of positive role models to look up to in a world just as mad today as it was then, if not madder." Now although I cannot condone violence as an answer to anything, I do support the ideal of striving to reach your goals and to keep on keeping on despite the odds: discipline, persistence, focus....

The remake, if done well enough, should be well received based on these principles. I just hope it doesn't have that Disneyfied feel that a lot of remakes for younger audiences tend to have.

What are your thoughts? Do you think this film is due for a remake? Is Jackie Chan as the new Mr. Miyagi a good choice? A part of me wishes it was David Carradine, but I'm not sure either one of them even knows karate. What do you guys think of Jaden Smith as the new Karate Kid? I've yet to see him perform.

Whatever. Does this sit well with the Karate Kid crowd?

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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Plan9

My karate instructor is actually featured at the end of the first karate kid film.

...

I'm all for it. I like remakes. Whether they improve upon the story or are "better"... not the point.

If the remake is awesome? Good for the story. If it sucks? Make the original look better.

The point is that it acts like "thread necromancy" here on TFP... gets people interested again.

...

You should get into martial arts, Baraka.

It's less about violence and pwning noobz with axe kicks and more about mastering your body and mind... which occasionally become the same thing when you're doing it right. Just a word of advice, though: Crane kicks don't work in real life. Keep both feet close to the ground unless they're deployed to strike.

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CinnamonGirl

Hmmm... I hadn't really thought about it that way. I was stuck in the "NOOOOO!" state of mind.

When you put it that way, though... well, I guess it's not such a bad thing. Still, I'll always like the original better, no matter how good the remake is

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pig

My personal opinion is a large dose of NOOOOOO!!!!!

I enjoy the original in a campy sort of way, and have the scene at the beginning where Danny is being a whiny bitch with his mom etched in my memory, plus the sort of climax moment of the glorious crane kick...I mean, wow. I think any remake will be somehow tainted by the original - way too many associations for me to able to watch it without thinking seeing it as a distilled original.

So I'm once again forced to think "Does someone get paid for this shit? Why can't they make a movie that's a lot like the original, with an older karate guy taking a younger karate guy under his wing, and having the younger karate guy kick some bully in the shin, and maybe older karate guy can start courting younger karate guy's mom (miyagi should have gotten b i z z y on dan's mom if you ask me) and we'll just call it 'Domino Bitches and Other Crazy Tricks' and let that be that. Is it that hard to make a new movie? Or if they want to capitalize on the name recognition, then make this 'Karate Kid 8: Domino Bitches and Other Crazy Tricks (The Story Continues)' and have Jackie Chan channel Miyagi san's spirit through a ouji board or something..."

So I don't anticipate seeing this egregious piece of shit.

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Anxst

I just don't understand the need for direct remakes. I like thematically connected sequels better.

Why not have The Chan play a karate instructor who mentors a kid who has problems being the bully this time, and write a story around that. He could gradually deal with his anger issues, stop beating up kids, and eventually have to fight his old friends who still won't stop beating up the kids he used to help them beat up. Or anything else different.

Because if I want to watch karate kid, I have a DVD player, and the 5 whole bucks the original will probably cost me to own.

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Baraka_Guru

That's way cool.

I agree with all of this.

I've considered it. Cost is an issue. Multiplicity of what is martial arts is another. I wouldn't know where to begin in terms of narrowing down what I would study. I'm all for the benefits of studying such an art. My draw to Buddhism and Yoga is equally drawing me to the martial arts. The only thing is the latter one is really difficult to teach yourself (i.e. at little or no cost). Maybe we should talk about this.

I've understood this for a long time. My comment about violence was how I don't want kids to think they need karate or kung-fu to solve their problems with force (via the movie). Messages can get mixed easily with kids.

I figured as much. Even as a kid. I imagine it might work if your opponent is an undisciplined hot-headed jerk, though.

This is a great idea. We should write the screenplay.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

dlish

consigned in the knowledge that jackies got a small penis, i can now understand why he's such a violent man and loves action movies....

sorry about the threadjack...

yeah i say go for it...but i was only yesterday that the karate kid came out.

im no puritan, so i have no problems with sequals. im very unlikely to watch it though, unless i gets critical acclaim. i hate being let down.

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Fremen

If they don't have Danielsan in a home-made shower costume, then I'm boycotting Jackie Chan movies for a year.

Seriously, the 80's music made this movie series memorable. What's it gonna be like with this dreck we have now?

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dlish

just heard on the radio that will smiths son is going to play the lead role?

i mean..really?

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An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere

I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay?
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Baraka_Guru

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

special_k_77

I am all for a GOOD remake and the point is good, if it is dumbed down or just there to be there then why do it, but this one will be interesting, the casting of will son is interesting, as long as he follows in his fathers footsteps the kid should be good but I will wait and see

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Charlatan

Won't this have to be called, The Kung-fu Kid?

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blahblah454

If it was called that then Mr. Keanu Reeves might just have to play the mentor, because as we all know, he knows kung-fu

Plan9

Just as long as it isn't Steven Segal.

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Whatever you can carry.

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artisi

Wow, this came out of left field...

QuasiMondo

Dear Hollywood,

I am tired of you remaking old movies. Get some originality, for god's sakes!

Sincerely,
moviegoers

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-From the Collector's Edition DVD of The Terminator

Baraka_Guru

Actually, this would make a good thread, if there isn't one on this already.....

For example, how many of the last 20 movies you've seen had an original screenplay?

You might be surprised. If it isn't based on a previous movie, it's based on a book or a video game...or something other than originality. Of course, we mustn't turn to Hollywood for originality anymore. We want spectacle...and sentimentality. That sells tickets, right?

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

ShaniFaye

I saw this movie in the theater, several times, when it came out.

"Yeah, get him a body bag!" is all I have to say about a remake

I do however like the idea posted about a similar type character taking charge over a bully

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dippin

Anyone here ever see the video for the song "sweep the leg, johnny" by no more kings? It has almost all the original actors in it and was directed by the guy who plays johnny. Cant link it yet but its on youtube.

Regarding the remake:
Will Smith's kid is barely 10 years old now, if I remember correctly. I can't see how a direct remake would work with someone that young in the lead role, at least not without it becoming a movie directed solely to kids and so on. What made the original one good was the entire high school experience: the hot girl, starting to drive, the awkwardness of the hovering mother, and the serious beatdowns in the hands of the bullies.

I cant imagine these things working with 10 year old leads...

Plan9

Totally.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

ShaniFaye

ok, this was a most awesome video, watching the diary of the video on their website was interesting too



This is the website for the band where the diary is

SWEEPTHELEG.COM

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I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!

Charlatan

Neat video but really boring music.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

dippin

thanks for posting that, ShaniFaye.

Yeah, the music is ultra-bland.

Getting back to the remake, I just read today that it is going to take place in China... wtf?

Charlatan

Of course it will take place in China. You can't expect Jackie Chan to play Japanese.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

Frosstbyte

They already remade the Karate Kid in China with Jackie Chan playing the mentor and a gang of bullies who know martial arts. It was called Forbidden Kingdom. Bonus points if you watch it with someone who knows Chinese folktales well enough to tell you how well it matches with the real story of the Monkey King!

Yet another lovely memory ruined by Hollywood nepotism!

Magpie_1

I'm not for this remake at all. I don't find that remakes go over that well. The Karate Kid is one of my favorite movies from my childhood. I feel that they will mess it up some. Also I've always thought of the Karate Kid as timeless. You can show that movie to a child form this generation and they will still enjoy it at the same level as I did when I saw it. Therefor I really don't see the point as to remake it.

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777

Wait a minute... Little Jaden Smith as Daniel?! How is that a "coming of age" story?

Photos of Jaden Smith From IMDB.com

The little guy on the right?

Should the name be changed to "The Karate Brat"? He's a little young to wax the cars and expect to drive them later. Just because Will Smith is the producer doesn't mean that casting his son as the Star is a good idea.

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Baraka_Guru

Here is the trailer.

I'm fairly impressed. I'm not blown away, but I think it might work. I'm glad they're not trying to make a carbon copy of the original.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Charlatan

It looks significantly different... why bother with using the same title?

Karate Kid (the original) is a small slice of perfection.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

bazkitcase5

my expectations are very low...

now if Anxst was the screen writer, I think we might have something!

Baraka_Guru

I'm thinking the essential storyline is going to remain intact.

Yes, and there is nothing anyone can do or say to change that. If this new movie isn't itself perfect, then let's hope it's at least entertaining.

I'm not expecting it to eclipse the original.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

ObieX

Shoulda made a live action Jackie Chan Adventures instead imo.

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