Karate Kid - one of the movies in the 80s that really made me dream of becoming a martial arts blackbelter someday aside of course from the Jackie Chan flicks circulating during that decade which I really loved. Hiyaaaah!!! Now that I am already 29 years old, that dream remained just a childhood dream now stocked in the corner crevice of my mind although from time to time I still dust it off and reminisce upon it with inexplicable joy and amusement.
Who could ever forget (that is, if you're an 80s spawn) the "wax in, wax out" moves of Daniel as he was told by his teacher Mr. Miyagi to wax the old man's car? Which later when Daniel became eventually got tired of the routine chore, aside from the fact he was also told to sand wooden floors and paint fences, expressed his frustrations of learning nothing. But of course, Mr. Miyagi revealed later that what he was doing what actually teaching Daniel defensive blocks through muscle memory disguised in performing those aforementioned chores. Aha! Sensei knew what he was doing Daniel! The movie continued with Daniel's further (extensive) training with Mr. Miyagi and the bond he later forged with his master, so on and so forth.
The original Karate Kid was a big blockbuster that sequels followed --- Karate Kid Part II & III and the Next Karate Kid which starred one of my favorite actresses in the present, Hilary Swank. The movie likewise created a buzz on the pop culture that kids during my time wanted to enroll in karate lessons (like yours truly... He he he...).
Yesterday I was able to watch the remake of Karate Kid starring Jaden Smith (in place of Daniel) and Jackie Chan (in place of Mr. Miyagi). Like the original Karate Kid, the story of Dre (Jaden's character) was the story of coming-of-age, adapting to change, believing in one's self, and the powerful bond that unites two people which is friendship. Although the remake's themes were almost similar to that of the original, there were also a big difference that made the recent version, well, controversial and confusing. That difference was the title of the movie itself. You see, in the current version, Mr. Han (the character played by Jackie and teacher of Dre) was teaching Dre kung fu techniques and not karate. If we are not familiar with the two fighting arts, we can say that they are just the same. But the truth is, there is a big difference with the two. Karate employs linear and crisp movements while kung fu movements are circular and fluid, a mimicry of animal movements. Although both have philosophical and spiritual significance to the people who developed them over the years, they have different origins. Karate is from Japan while kung fu is from China.
Therefore, although I really loved Dre (and a new convert fan of Jaden, Will must be proud of his boy), I strongly disagree with the producers' decision of making the remake's title the same as that of the original. It should be Kung Fu Kid not Karate Kid, just to be politically correct and likewise to avoid confusion. Tsk tsk tsk... Kung Fu Panda is fuming!
Who could ever forget (that is, if you're an 80s spawn) the "wax in, wax out" moves of Daniel as he was told by his teacher Mr. Miyagi to wax the old man's car? Which later when Daniel became eventually got tired of the routine chore, aside from the fact he was also told to sand wooden floors and paint fences, expressed his frustrations of learning nothing. But of course, Mr. Miyagi revealed later that what he was doing what actually teaching Daniel defensive blocks through muscle memory disguised in performing those aforementioned chores. Aha! Sensei knew what he was doing Daniel! The movie continued with Daniel's further (extensive) training with Mr. Miyagi and the bond he later forged with his master, so on and so forth.
The original Karate Kid was a big blockbuster that sequels followed --- Karate Kid Part II & III and the Next Karate Kid which starred one of my favorite actresses in the present, Hilary Swank. The movie likewise created a buzz on the pop culture that kids during my time wanted to enroll in karate lessons (like yours truly... He he he...).
Yesterday I was able to watch the remake of Karate Kid starring Jaden Smith (in place of Daniel) and Jackie Chan (in place of Mr. Miyagi). Like the original Karate Kid, the story of Dre (Jaden's character) was the story of coming-of-age, adapting to change, believing in one's self, and the powerful bond that unites two people which is friendship. Although the remake's themes were almost similar to that of the original, there were also a big difference that made the recent version, well, controversial and confusing. That difference was the title of the movie itself. You see, in the current version, Mr. Han (the character played by Jackie and teacher of Dre) was teaching Dre kung fu techniques and not karate. If we are not familiar with the two fighting arts, we can say that they are just the same. But the truth is, there is a big difference with the two. Karate employs linear and crisp movements while kung fu movements are circular and fluid, a mimicry of animal movements. Although both have philosophical and spiritual significance to the people who developed them over the years, they have different origins. Karate is from Japan while kung fu is from China.
Therefore, although I really loved Dre (and a new convert fan of Jaden, Will must be proud of his boy), I strongly disagree with the producers' decision of making the remake's title the same as that of the original. It should be Kung Fu Kid not Karate Kid, just to be politically correct and likewise to avoid confusion. Tsk tsk tsk... Kung Fu Panda is fuming!
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