02-23-2011, 03:51 PM
Finally streamed this on Netflix.
I had watched the original for the umpteenth time last week. It was on TV and is one of my 'cannot turn channel' movies if I accidentally surf to it.
IMHO the new version could not hold a candle to the original. I did not like the kid and I thought his mom should have smacked him about 10 times during the first half hour. He's moving to China and shows no interest in learning the language, eating the ice cream, or how to use chopsticks.
He has a favorite kung-fu star or teacher or something but his preferred method of fighting is to run at his opponent from 10 feet away providing the fight choreogropher opportunities to have him flipped over and over.
Jackie phoned it in. He looked bored most of the time (I guess that's his 'angsty' look). I eagerly waited for his drunken tell-all rant scene but it was as emotional as a bowl of sawdust. Compare Pat Morita's tale of his wife dying in an interment camp while he fought with the American forces in WWII.
The fact that it took place in China also removed the 'misfit among my own people' element that Ralph Macchio pulls off so well. It relied heavily on big, sprawling mountain vistas, big sprawling Kung Fu schools and big, sprawling city scenes. The original was much more intimate. Actually, can someone explain the importance of the visit to the temple? I think you could cut out the 'magic Kung-Fu water' and 'cobra lady' bullshit and no one would notice.
I also did not get the 'I guess it's possible' feeling that you could learn complicated Kung-Fu moves by hanging your jacket up 1000 times. "Wax on, Wax off" at least looked like you could knock someone's hands away. You even get to keep the car!
The clincher was the villains. The smarmy Chinese kids got nothin' on Cobra Kai. You wanted to choke those preppy bastards with their own Izod shirts the second they came on screen. The
There was also no real 'Sweep the leg' vs. Crane Style moment.
So - Aside from the Chinese version of the Gorillaz 'Clint Eastwood' featured near the beginning I cannot say anything good about this movie.
I will defend Mr. Miyagi against all of DOOM! Bring your worst!
BTW what other sequels begin at the moment of the first film's end besides 'The Karate Kid'?
I had watched the original for the umpteenth time last week. It was on TV and is one of my 'cannot turn channel' movies if I accidentally surf to it.
IMHO the new version could not hold a candle to the original. I did not like the kid and I thought his mom should have smacked him about 10 times during the first half hour. He's moving to China and shows no interest in learning the language, eating the ice cream, or how to use chopsticks.
He has a favorite kung-fu star or teacher or something but his preferred method of fighting is to run at his opponent from 10 feet away providing the fight choreogropher opportunities to have him flipped over and over.
Jackie phoned it in. He looked bored most of the time (I guess that's his 'angsty' look). I eagerly waited for his drunken tell-all rant scene but it was as emotional as a bowl of sawdust. Compare Pat Morita's tale of his wife dying in an interment camp while he fought with the American forces in WWII.
The fact that it took place in China also removed the 'misfit among my own people' element that Ralph Macchio pulls off so well. It relied heavily on big, sprawling mountain vistas, big sprawling Kung Fu schools and big, sprawling city scenes. The original was much more intimate. Actually, can someone explain the importance of the visit to the temple? I think you could cut out the 'magic Kung-Fu water' and 'cobra lady' bullshit and no one would notice.
I also did not get the 'I guess it's possible' feeling that you could learn complicated Kung-Fu moves by hanging your jacket up 1000 times. "Wax on, Wax off" at least looked like you could knock someone's hands away. You even get to keep the car!
The clincher was the villains. The smarmy Chinese kids got nothin' on Cobra Kai. You wanted to choke those preppy bastards with their own Izod shirts the second they came on screen. The
There was also no real 'Sweep the leg' vs. Crane Style moment.
So - Aside from the Chinese version of the Gorillaz 'Clint Eastwood' featured near the beginning I cannot say anything good about this movie.
I will defend Mr. Miyagi against all of DOOM! Bring your worst!
BTW what other sequels begin at the moment of the first film's end besides 'The Karate Kid'?
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