Sony has finally unveiled the first look at director Harald Zwart’s Karate Kid remake with Jackie Chan and Will Smith’s son Jaden, and it certainly appeals more than Hilary Swank’s last sequel. A mustachioed Chan looks like he’ll make an entertaining (if drunken) replacement for Pat Morita in the iconic role of Mr. Miyagi, while Jaden plays Dre, a young boy who moves to China with his mother, played by Taraji P. Henson. Come check out the trailer after the jump and let us know what you think.
Once Dre moves to China, he is confronted by bullies who take issue with a young lasses notebook and throw it to the ground (sound familiar?). Thoroughly beaten by the Chinese youths, Dre retreats to the guidance of Chan’s Miyagi and learns kung fu. In fact, this film was originally going to be called “The Kung Fu Kid.” No lie. Watch as Chan ends the clip with a nice update on the fly chopstick trick.
So what do you think? Does this trample on a childhood classic or give it new life? Is replacing “wax on, wax off” with “jacket on, jacket off” blasphemy?
The Karate Kid hits theaters on June 11, 2010.
Comments (26)
It’s so American! “Well, even though it’s now in China, and it’s no longer Karate that he’s learning, fuck it, title stays, no one’ll know the diff”
if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.
Original was amazing! why do we need a remake? so jaden gets a “jumping pad” for his career?
It’s not even a remake! They should have called it Karate Kid 4 if they wanted to ride on the coat tails of the others. I feel a little hurt that they would do this ): bad move
Jumping Christ on a pogo stick. Fuck you Hollywood. Rehash of your rehash. just a bunch of No Talent Hacks. Shit.
When you though Kobrakai was the worst enemy you never considered jerks that take over the tittle of great movie, screw that… wax on wax off SOBs
Sorry but Jackie Chan just looks like a hungovered hobo… its like if Master Yoda suddenly was played by a french poodle…
why the token name “karate”? the movie is filmed in china, where the martial arts are known as WUSHU (or KUNG FU in the west). but not karate ;) I guess it’s all about the reference to the original, but still… it doesn’t need to be called the same, it is enough that it is already copying all the plot’s main elements. Anyway, glad to see some wushu moves making it into the silver screen.
Looks like a fun flick to me – perhaps some take movies like these a little too seriously? Don’t see it if it will tarnish your memories of original KK. But most viewers (kids) that will see this, should have a good time, from the look of the trailer.
It is making me cringe already.
Jackie has put his body through hell, I don’t blame him for taking on less physical parts. However, we have to put up with some snot-nose actor’s kid who got the part because of his famous name.
Looks fun, but they didn’t have to call it Karate Kid.
This is bullshit, how are they going to ruin a great trilogy with this nonsense. Jacket on, jacket off my ass. I see this movie going straight to dvd, because i definitely won’t pay to see this joke of a movie.
To Nick it actually was not a trilogy as there were 4 Karate kid movies made iwth the last one – Mr Miagi teaching a girl – Hilary Swank in what was her 1st or one of her 1st major roles.
To Nick it actually was not a trilogy as there were 4 Karate kid movies made iwth the last one – Mr Miagi teaching a girl – Hilary Swank in what was her 1st or one of her 1st major roles. I think the kid is too young to be the main actor – when Daniel was in part one he was a boy who looked like he was in his mid teenage years however this kid looks like he is in promary school therefore not many people will warm and relate to him. The people who are in there mid teens may feel they are watching a kids movie as the main star is a kid however if the actor was older then maybe the teenagers would be able to relate to him more. Also not having Ralph Machio in the new movie is very dissapounting and would of been a big draw card for the movie.
The story line is bery similar to part 1 – kid goes to new school, new city gets bullied – having seen all this before the patrons may think yeah same old same old. Could they not have thought of a different storyline ?
Taking all of the above into consideration I believe this movie is fighting a uphill battle – one that is against the odds. Hope I am proven wrong and this movie is as good or better than the 1st two.
Being a 25 year veteran of the martial arts and watching the original at the theater i am looking forward to seeing the re-make. Jackie Chan is great.
What a shame that once again chinese martial arts is disrespected. The average person doesn’t know the difference between karate and Kung Fu. This movie will once again confuse the public and make them think that Wushu or Kung Fu is karate. Jackie Chan how could you sell out and disrespect your country? How many parents will see this movie and sign up their children for karate classes thinking their child will learn what they saw in the movie? Sorry kids but the highest level black belts in karate will never move with the speed and fluidness that a beginner in Kung Fu does. For those that don’t know the difference almost every martial arts movie made in the past 10 years displays Chinese Kung Fu not Karate. Jet Li does Kung Fu, Jackie Chan does Kung Fu, Bruce Lee did Kung Fu, the Matrix trilogy – Wushu choregraphers, Charlies Angels – Wushu choreographers, The Last Airbender(coming 2010)- Sun Nuo a former member of the Bejing Wushu Team does the action choreography. When will Chinese Kung Fu get the recognition it deserves?
Stop hating… Jaden looks awesome and doing his thang thang!
Good point Jonathan. It’s either a good movie or it’s not. There’s no way to top the original but it can still be a great movie. Time will tell.
It seems to me that Robert is the only one who have studied martial arts along with myself.I am also looking forward to seeing the movie.Most people do not know the difference between any style unless they have studied.
I think the movie has a fresh appeal to it. It also seems as though Jaden has done some homework. Who cares wax on wax off…Coat on coat off as long as the film delivers. People have to first let it hit the screen. i believe the movie will do good. Famous name or not It really seems appealing just from the trailer. I believe that after this movie you will probably see a boom in the enrollment in some type of martial arts, just as it happened back in 1973 with Enter The Dragon (Bruce Lee)
If he’s getting roughed up by other kids, who’s the older dude in the red gi? Sweep the leg, he probably didn’t learn all the drunken Gods!
This looks like it is going to be a good movie. Lets not forget that there are more people that did not see the origional karate kid movies and the reason we liked those movies was not for the acting but we all like a good karate or kung-fu movie. Its all about the action, and as a couple of you have mentioned most of us cannot tell the difference between the different styles we just want to see the action. Go Jackie and Jaden and can’t wait for the sequel to this new version.
A life he never wanted.
A teacher he never expected.
A movie that will underwhelm even the lowest expectations.
i fenk the origingal ralph macchio was best star and wlood lick a comback for a naver fim
I think the original karate kid was not that great and this looks way better. I can’t wait to see it.
Although the story is really a copy and the title is quite obviously wanted to attract the audience of the original karate kid and not to give the emphasis on the fighting technique that they use in the movie, in all fairness and in my opinion, new generation kids will love this movie and also those people who just wanted to see action type with comedy movies to remove stress. But I also agree that they should not use “the karate kid” to avoid confusion, karate or empty hand is from japan while kungfu is from china though if you research karate is an influenced developed techniques of the Japanese from the Chinese kungfu and they have similar techniques but it looks like that karate is an streamlined number of techniques of chinese system. I like the chops scene of the fly. LOL. Goodluck with the movie.
Oh by the way… just wondering what would be the answer… if kungfu is the mother and karate is the son… can u use the name of the son to represent the mother? LOL… Just for fun question. LOL.
I think it was a great movie and Jaden and Jackie did a great job. Its for the young and old with laughs and a couple tears. Stop hating. I absolutely enjoyed it!
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