Comments on: ‘The Karate Kid’ Remake Retitled ‘The Kung Fu Kid’

By: Conrad

Conrad — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:40:47 +0000

I agree with the last few comments. You cannot call a Kung-Fu practitioner a Karate Kid or vice verse. Both Japan and China have a proud and rich heritage with their own style of martial arts. Karate and Kung-Fu are very different and to have a movie called the Karate Kid be about Kung-Fu is an insult to the core of Okinawa and I am sure that for the Chinese, their proud history of Kung-Fu being branded Karate is equally insulting. I’m surprised Jackie Chan doesn’t kick the director’s /\$$ in some dark alley

Yes, it’s a remake or rework of an older film, but the title should be more carefully thought about. This sort of rework, like U-571 where American submariners capture and decode the Germanan Enigma machine in WW2, where in reality it was the British who captured it and broke the codes, is insulting American arrogance, self-importance and lack of consideration or respect for others in the extreme and it really has to stop.

I shall not pay to see this movie after seeing the trailer is about Kung Fu when the name mentions Karate. I am British, but I respect the Chinese and Japanese enough not to support this insult to both of their cultures by American ignorance and apathy while chasing $$$$$.

By: Solyd_Wun

Solyd_Wun — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:38:54 +0000

This movie is an utter insult to the Asian community. “The Karate Kid”???? Are you kidding me? Gung Fu is Chinese and the movie is set in China. What a laughable premise for a movie titled after a cult classic.

Why don’t they remake to movie “Roots” and cast Tom Cruise as Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton) and call it a day…….Karate Kid indeed……..

By: btubs

btubs — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:09:14 +0000

AMEN to the last four comments. We should all boycott it.

By: I concur!!

I concur!! — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 01:44:16 +0000

It looks to me like this could have been called anything else other than “The karate kid.” and been billed as a spiritual successor to the original movie.I think that would have been the better choice.But of course Hollywood’s plan is to make people as ignorant as possible,so lots of kids will see ‘The Karate Kid.” and leave thinking that Kung-fu and karate are the same thing.

By: Just Me

Just Me — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 02:34:29 +0000

Very well said…

By: Just Me

Just Me — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 02:33:15 +0000

I don’t think you can, in good conscience, name a movie, “The Karate Kid,” if the whole movie is about KUNG FU. It’s ridiculous.

By: Jk

Jk — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:36:30 +0000

“there’s a whole new generation out there that will love this movie. The Karate kid generation needs to grow up!” – Ann

It’s not that people need to “grow up”, it’s that the production company needs to use a fitting title for the movie. There is no karate in this movie, nor is it intended to show anything other than Chinese culture.

At this rate, Hollywood will make a movie about a Mexican family trying to jump the US border and title it “Coming To America”, or perhaps they will do a movie based on the fall of Saigon and call it “Big Trouble In Little China”, because Vietnam is ‘close enough’ to be China, right?

The truly sad thing is that the parent company is Sony Entertainment. I would have thought that a Japanese company would shy away from portraying Japanese karate with Chinese wushu Kung fu.

Recast movies if you will, but don’t take original stories and run them through a Mad Lib machine in order to generate a ‘new’ script.

By: bert

bert — Sat, 29 May 2010 08:39:44 +0000

I grew up watching Karate Kid. Thought it was pretty cool. But looking back, nostalgia can’t hide the fact that the movie was pretty damn cheesy and there was some made up American karate shit from pussy-ass Ralph Maccio. Then, the remake looked retarded even though I’m a big fan of Jackie Chan. I just saw the trailer recently, and thought it was awesome. Kung Fu Kid is gonna dominate this summer.

By: paul_young

paul_young — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 10:24:49 +0000

Man you really need to take a look at your definition of the word “classic”.

By: mO_Om

mO_Om — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 08:22:37 +0000

This movie is joke, an embarresment, and spits on a classic. I hope it flops and they lose tons of money for being idiots. If only I could pay for a 5 second clip of Mr. Miyagi kicking whoever's idea this is in the nuts.

By: TC

TC — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:48:53 +0000

I would say name it Karate Kid – Kung Fu Style.

By: ann

ann — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:04:13 +0000

there's a whole new generation out there that will love this movie. The Karate kid generation needs to grow up!

By: ann

ann — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:04:13 +0000

there's a whole new generation out there that will love this movie. The Karate kid generation needs to grow up!

By: Ken J

Ken J — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:32:55 +0000

You can’t mix them, you cannot have Jackie Chan teaching Karate. That’s basically him teaching a dumbed down version of Kung Fu. They either have to hire a Japanese actor (or at least someone portraying a Japanese character) teaching him Karate and keep the name Karate Kid, or have Jackie Chan teach him Kung Fu and retitle it Kung Fu Kid. But what they’re doing now is completely retarded…

By: withoutillusion

withoutillusion — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:31:20 +0000

I strongly dislike keeping the title Karate Kid for this film. I find nothing silly about Kung Fu Kid and would prefer it. Given the history between China and Japan, I think it would be disrespectful and ignorant of the producers to keep this titled Karate Kid even if it’s just for marketing purposes to tie it with the original karate kid.

Why not just stay true to the original and have him learn Karate? Make Jackie Chan teach the kid Karate and not Chinese Wushu. Or better yet, find a Japanese or Okinawan actor, with a non Chinese setting. Kung Fu is an integral element to this film and keeping the title Karate Kid is just ignorance or a blatant disregard for respect and integrity. All martial arts are not “Karate” just like all Asians are not “Chinese”.

By: Sampson

Sampson — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:11:19 +0000

Your review lacks knowlege, thought and insight.

1. Jaden Smith is a pretty good child actor. Jackie Chan has a history of being painfully honest and stated that he was very impressed with Jaden and that Jaden learned Kung Fu rapidly. Is it possible that the protaganist could happen to be non-white? Is this your problem?

2. Tae Kwon Do – from Korea. Judo, Jujitsu, Kendo and Karate from Japan with roots from China. Kung Fu aka Wushu is the oldest of these martial arts and originates in China. Jackie Chan’s greatest expertise and afiliation would be Kung Fu. Jackie Chan or Jet Li doing the karate kid. Like-wise if the setting is going to be in China with backdrops such as the great wall of China then the Kung Fu kid is what makes the most sense. For a future movie maybe Chuck Norris will become the teacher for the Tae Kwon Do kid.

By: ashley c

ashley c — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:38:00 +0000

I totally agree with Ken J. when he said, “Obviously Jackie Chan can’t teach a “Karate Kid” since Karate is from Okinawa, which is now part of Japan, while Jackie Chan is Chinese, and Chinese people don’t practice Karate, but different forms of Kung Fu. So I think the name change is simply just for the sake of not having a movie with a Chinese guy teaching an Okinawan martial art…,” It was a good idea to do a name change for that simple fact. One thing that striked me about this whole conversation is that no one really realized that ITS NOT A REMAKE, its just taking key elements from the Karate Kid series. Don’t get me wrong I am a BIG Karate Kid fan and I personally hate remakes but just give the movie benefit of the doubt.The movie may shock us all and actually be good or it will suck on ice. I think since Jayden Smtih seems to be taking this role seriously that it is a good chance that he would do a good job playing the lead role. As for Jackie, its kinda hard because if he digs hard enough he could be a good mentor. IDK THIS IS JUST MY OPIONION EVERYONE!! Keep in mind that times are changing and that this movie really needs open-minded individuals in order to be successful. Honestly I think it would be fairly good but nothing can touch the original Karate Kid.

By: chrisj

chrisj — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:50:57 +0000

@ Ken J
The only sequel i didnt care much for was The Next Karate Kid. Part 2 was decent and i thought Part 3 was a good sequel. But the 1st is still my favorite.

By: Ken J

Ken J — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:49:11 +0000

@chrisj

While it’s true Karate Kid was a good movie, the sequels were pretty bad, lol.

By: chrisj

chrisj — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:41:00 +0000

@ Samrah
I agree w/ ya heartly about what you mentioned. I wished Hollywood wont remake every damn franchise. Karate Kid franchise is one of those that doesnt need a remake much like Nightmare On Elm street, Friday the 13th & Halloween films. I even heard Gremlins and Back To The Future being remade which makes my stomach turn. Thing about Karate kid was anyone, especially Daniel’s age goes through the same problems and they would’t mind having someone like Mr. Miyagi teach Daniel the important things about karate on how it should be used only for defense and not to use on others for the heck of it like the Cobra Kai’s Sensai. Pat Morita nailed his role perfect i think. Anyways, like Nightmare on Elm Street remake ill probly pass on seeing this film. I doubt i’ll even rent it on dvd. Not all franchises need to be remade.