Movie Review: *** The Karate Kid (2010)

 This is a remake movie of the Original Karate Kid but this time the action takes place in China.  Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) moves to China with his mother (Sherry Parker).  He quickly gets on the bad side of a gang of Kung Fu students and gets beat up a couple times, until Han (Jackie Chan) intervenes.  Meiying (Wenwen Han) is the girl interest.  The coach of the bullies is Master Li (Rongguang Yu) who is intent on showing no weakness, no mercy, no pain.  They confront them at Master Li's dojo, and agree to fight at a tournament.  In the meantime Han trains Parker, very much like in the original.  We see much of China including a tall mountain and the Wall of China.  

Smith does very good with handling the emotion, and reacted to the pain inflicted on him during the tournament.   It is also very well done when the students of the Li Dojo pay respect to Master Han.  

Movie Review: Karate Kid II

Karate Kid part II is centered in Okinawa, where Miyagi (Pat Morita) has returned to send off his dying father.  Daniel joins him.  Miyagi finds the environment much different from when he left.  His old rival (in love and karate) has become wealthy, while the villagers have suffered and become poor.  The old rival insists on a fight to the death.  Daniel (Ralph Machio) gains his own enemy and rival in love, Chozen. 
Circumstances are such that Miyagi and his rival resolve their differences, but Chozen is determined to the end, and forces a one on one match with Daniel.  Chozen is posed for victory, when using small drums Miyagi and then the crowd make a rhythm for Daniel, and using the rhythm Daniel is able to block Chozen's attack and counter instead.  He snatches victory from defeat. 

Movie Review: ***^Karate Kid (1984)

Karate Kid (1984)  This movie fascinated me as a young man.  Miyagi (Pat Morita) was so clever in the way he taught karate, “paint the fence” and “wax on wax off.”  And he has a very willing and desperate student in Daniel (Ralph Machio).  All of this training is pointing to a major karate tournament where Daniel is to face down a whole school of students who have been tormenting him for some time.  This team is not very ethical, and are willing to cause permanent injury to get their way.  The final move of the tourney, with Daniel taking the role of the one legged crane after his leg is injured is classic.  This movie still scores for me.