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Comparing the “Karate Kids”
Over the Christmas holiday, I had a chance to see the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid. And I liked it. Thanks to Encore, however, I got a chance to watch the 1984 original we all know, and I liked that one too. I suppose the thing about these movies is that they are both the same, but different in their own contexts.
For instance, both movies feature a mother and her son making a big move, and the son hating it in their new climes because of martial arts bullies. But while KK ‘84’s mother simply made a cross-country trek with her teenage son from New Jersey to Southern California; KK ‘10’s mother—aside from being African-American, obviously—goes big. She and her 12-year-old son leave Detroit, Michigan for Beijing, China. Also, there are HDTV’s, and SpongeBob Squarepants.
The main plot of both films, however, is that the hero starts his miserable life in his new environment getting his ass kicked over a girl. Shocking. And both films feature some elder gentleman who secretly knows martial arts and kicks some little ass. Except one of them is Jackie Chan, and Chan’s kicking of ass is scored better than that of the late, great Pat Morita. I mean, both were great, but…Miyagi set about kicking around people in Chuck Taylors and skeleton leotards. Jackie Chan beat up some kids—figuratively—by doing what he has done in almost every film.
Then there’s the All-Karate/Kung-Fu Tournament. Based on the fight value, KK ’10 wins. I mean, Jaden Smith kicking the other kid—the one who spent the first half of KK ’10 messing with him and beating him up—in his face, and then getting a slow-motion replay of the kick-to-face is just hilarious. You don’t get that in KK ’84. You do get a pre-fight climactic montage of other fights…but KK ’10 goes with Red Hot Chili Peppers’ remake of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground,” and…whatever.
Nevertheless, KK ’84 scores a big win with “You’re The Best”. It is totally Eighties Sports Movie Power Rock. Stupid lyrics, great hook, excellent closing bridge (FIGHT!), totally cheesy, and yet you’re singing along by the end. I mean, you could enter the movie just as that song starts, and you’re staying until the end.
So if you’re asking which is the better movie? I can’t really say; to me, it’s the same movie, but a nudge different here and a touch different there, yet they end at the same place. I would suggest either one, but your preference may dictate which one you like better.
David Ducovny and “Supernanny” Jo Frost are the scheduled guests on tonight’s Late Late Show. Actually, Supernanny is now retired, and wants to start her own family. Why do I think that’s about to be a TV show?
And now, for the Late Late Show from 1/11/11: