| The Karate Kid hit |
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| Thursday, 12 August 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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It was an idea waiting to happen. A remake of the 1984 movie, The Karate Kid, but this time featuring kung fu, not karate, and starring martial arts legend Jackie Chan as the washed up tutor to a bullied boy. And it works brilliantly. Shifting the action from America to China was a masterstroke, increasing the sense of alienation for the young black kid and tapping into martial arts heritage and the post-Olympic vogue for things Chinese. Dre is a 12 year old kid who moves to Beijing when his mum’s job at a car plant transfers to China. Starting a new school, Dre’s dark looks and cornrow-hairstyle soon mark him out. If that wasn’t enough, his attraction to young music student Meiying causes jealousy among some wayward Chinese lads. Unfortunately they belong to a no-mercy martial arts school. Mr Han (Chan) the janitor of his new housing block saves Dre from a beating. Dre wants to learn kung fu for self-protection and asks Mr Han to teach him. Carrying scars of his own Mr Han reluctantly agrees. So begins an unconventional training regime as Dre is prepared for a showdown with the bad boys at a martial arts tournament. No wax on wax off car-cleaning as in the original movie. Dre’s first lesson is putting his jacket on a hook and taking it off again. Repeatedly. The 80s movie was a popcorn smash, a feelgood film with a teenage hero. Most of the running time was about romance and relationships. In the remake, the action’s increased. And having a pre-pubescent hero naturally prevents too much romantic involvement, which fortunately keeps the film moving. Jaden Smith – the plucky son of superstar Will Smith – is fantastic. Credible and nuanced, it’s a performance that’s funny and touching. Chan may even get a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the damaged Mr Han. But the Chinese location is a character in its own right. Beautifully shot, the film takes in the tourist spots of Beijing birds’ nest stadium, the Great Wall and other gorgeous backdrops. But it also delves into the street scenes, tenements and alleyways. An energetic chase through the winding backstreets is worthy of the Bourne movies – with a hint of Ong Bak. A co-production with the influential China Film Group, the film’s access to effective locations and talent is clear. British film magazines, though, have given legs to the rumour that the Chinese version plays down the bullying by the local boys. Post-Bourne, the fight scenes are more bonecrunching than you might expect. They suffer, too, from the common blight of frenetic editing. But while Chan’s own on-screen fight is brief, it’s an homage to his trademark routine of tying his opponents in knots, literally. For Jackie fans there’s enjoyment in the role reversal from his days as the cheeky student in Drunken Master and Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow. Now playing the stern tutor, he admits to being impressed with Jaden Smith’s commitment – praise indeed. Great support is given by Yu Rong-Guang as the evil team’s teacher. And Han Wenwen is pitch perfect as Meiying, the object to Dre’s affections. A cracking calling card, she gets to be funny, sad and angry as well as dance and play the violin. Like a 3D movie without the need for plastic specs, The Karate Kid has a depth that defies expectations. Hit-and-miss director Harald Zwart amazingly delivers a film that’s detailed, dramatic and downright enjoyable on many levels. Glenn Watson
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