Review of The Karate Kid (2010) by Alex V — 20 Jan 2014

It's a reboot of the same title movie although this one have no karate. Still good on its own. Taraji P. Henson and son Jaden Smith move to China. On board plane, Taraji want Jaden to speak mandarin to another Chinese but that guy is from Detroit.

When he on the TV to watch cartoon, it is in mandarin. Jackie Chan is the maintenance man of their apartment and he seem unfriendly. Jaden is playing basketball in the park and saw a cute girl Han Wenwen.

He play ping pong with an old Chinese man to impress her but got trash by the expert. His new friend who's also from USA tell him to talk to Han. They were chatting well when a boy Wang Zhenwei ask her to practise her violin or he will tell her father.

He beat up Jaden quite badly. First day of school he use make up to cover his black eye. He don't know how to grab food with chopsticks. Han came over to help. Wang saw him again and warn him to stay away.

Jaden see a group of kids learning kung fu but when he saw Wang there, he give up the idea. After a school trip, Jaden follow him and throw a pail of dirty water at his gang. They chase him and he reach dead end.

Wang beat him up and Jackie save him. The boys fight him but Jackie shows them who's boss. He is willing to go and find the kungfu teacher Yu Rongguang to reason. Yu don't accept their apology but want a fight to settle the dispute.

Jackie have no choice but to say they will fight in the upcoming martial arts tournament and want the rascals to stop bullying Jaden until then. Yu agree to the terms. Jackie says theirs isn't real kungfu and will teach Jaden real one.

Jackie want him to put on his jacket, hang on the hook, put on the ground and repeat. This is to teach him to hang his jacket at home since he overheard Taraji keep asking him to do. Han date Jaden for a movie.

Taraji invite Jackie to the festival outing. Jaden and Han promise to see each other competition. He is doing the same practice every time and he is sick of it. Jackie tell him to repeat the moves and its all actually kungfu moves.

They go to mountain top to learn more. Back to the shack, Jackie teach him more advance moves. Jackie give him a day off saying too much practice is not good. Jaden apply this to Han and ask her out to have fun.

The audition for her changed to same day and she is rushing. He listen to her as promised. She told him they can't be friends anymore sadly after her father disallow. Jaden return home and see Jackie trashing his car.

Its the anniversary of a car accident that kills his wife and kid. Their training got more tough. Han continue to ignore Jaden. Jackie give Jaden a Tang costume for the tournament. Jaden go to Han house and speak in mandarin how he is sorry for disrupting Han and will be good and be positive friend and influence.

Her father is convince and say he allow Han to support him in the tournament as their family never break promise. Jaden was overwhelm at first but quickly got into the game and perform well, advancing to the tournament.

He fight one of the rascal in the semi final. He injured Jaden badly in the leg and is disqualify. The doctor says he shouldn't fight anymore. He still want to fight because he still feel scared. Jackie use his healing technique to cure him for the time being.

He fight well and Wang is surprise. Yu tells him not to be soft hearted and he attack his injured leg. Jaden use the cobra stance and do a mid air back flip kick and win. The rascals salute to Jackie.