“The Karate Kid” (2010)

Hollywood’s recycling of its own recent past continues apace with this remake of a 1980’s populist staple.  Remakes are usually only worthwhile if they improve upon or at least bring something fresh to the original material. By these standards the 2010 version of “The Karate Kid” has a lot going for it.  It’s better cast, better acted, has vastly superior fight scenes and even a hidden political agenda that is sure to please the John Keys of the world.  Just don’t expect it to do great business in Tibet.

Shifting the story to mainland China works both visually and dramatically.  We are afforded sweeping shots of the Forbidden City, some pretty festival whose cultural significance is not dwelt on, a kung fu school that looks like a little league version of the one in “Enter the Dragon” and a mountain top retreat of martial contemplation where cobras improbably sway upon oriental gargoyles.

Having the titular kid an American fish-out-of-water, the child of a widow woman transferred to the People’s Republic, adds to the character’s sense of alienation.  Having him played by Will Smith’s chip-off-the-old-block son ensures he’s got good looks, screen charisma, and the ability to pull off the physical requirements both dance floor and dojo matt.  It also gives the movie a racial edge, not that the script entertains for one minute the more that likely proposition that the Chinese bully boys who make his life hell would have an issue with the fact that he’s black.

Jackie Chan is of course perfectly cast as Mr Han, Smith’s kung fu mentor.  Even when self-consciously putting on a stooped walk and hang-dog expression Chan looks and moves like what he is: a 40 year veteran of martial arts movies.  Between him and that fat guy from the first film - best known at the time for being Arnold in “Happy Days” - there can be no comparison.

Other than the fact that it’s something of an 140 minute apology for US trade with China - who would have ever thought that a statue of Chairman Mao would appear in a Hollywood film without irony or animosity? - “The Karate Kid” is open to the criticism that it does some things too well.  The climactic fight scenes have a bone crunching intensity that makes you question whether the watching of 12 year olds beat each other to a pulp should be saved for school yard brawls uploaded to You Tube.  I could also have done without Mr Han’s melodramatic backstory.  Seeing Jackie Chan cry on screen isn’t that much fun.