Or should I say the Kung Fu kid? Although Karate Kid fans will find the movie predictable down to the infamous fly-chopsticks, it’s a well-done remake that is pleasing to newcomers and superfans alike.

The change from Detroit to Beijing is much more drastic than that of New Jersey to California. We see the splendor of the nation’s capital in this movie, from festivals to the great mountain training areas, and it doesn’t become Cheetah Girls: One World. We see true displacement in the protagonist, Dre, as he cannot even talk with many of the natives and is completely confused. It shows much reason for Dre to hate the new place. Plus, there is a much greater chance of having a kung fu master living in your own apartment complex.

The climax is delivered like a tournament. Use of a scoreboard makes the fights seem much more orderly. The quick scenes leading up to the semifinals/finals make it look like he’s working his way up the ladder. Finally, on the last scene, you hear and feel the punches and hits with a great load of bass put into them and the camera shaking with every contact. The infamous final blow that made everyone do the crane back in the 80′s is back — with a twist. I do not want to spoil it, but it looks much cooler than the old kick.

Wax on, wax off. These words are famous to most as the first teachings of Miyagi to his apprentice. This, sanding the floor, painting the house, and painting the fence are replaced by putting a jacket on and off, hanging it up, and dropping it. This was not the best way to change these four as it doesn’t portray the emotions of being used; instead it just makes our new mentor, Mr. Han look like he doesn’t know how to teach even though we saw him fighting very hard with the bullies. The feelings intended to make the viewer feel sad are replaced by confusion to those who haven’t seen the original. Plus, it’s not that memorable — it’s not simply jacket on, jacket off. The motions do not even look like what Jaden does to his jacket. Even to newcomers, they won’t find this making much sense.

Some differences are best left untouched though — example: age. The age of Jaden Smith in this movie is portrayed as a twelve-year-old who is already getting into fights. Plus, he looks nine. (no offense Jaden — you’re a great actor.) This provides a shocking experience of third-grader-looking people beating each other up. Also, it removes the element of a superbully like the original — the new bully doesn’t have a motorcycle, he doesn’t look extremely intimidating but just another little kid, and he doesn’t have the booming low voice that gets him so many followers. Pick someone older!

Nonetheless, the Karate Kid is a great movie and while not as touching and dark as the original bully-film, it still packs a satisfying punch — no, kick — at the end.

8.3