When Screen Rant first reported that Columbia was remaking The Karate Kid, fan reaction was decidedly negative. Many people asked: Why? Why remake a film that many consider a modern classic? If you are going to remake a well-known film, why change it’s title to The Kung Fu Kid? Our subsequent coverage did little to mitigate these concerns.
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Now, The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Steven Conrad, the writer of The Pursuit of Happyness, has been brought on to work on the original script by Chris Murphy. The report is unclear as to whether Conrad has been asked to make major changes to the script or simply provide some touch-ups, but given that the film is set to begin production in a month, I wonder just how much polish the script needs before it’s considered ready.
As you probably recall, The Pursuit of Happyness starred Will Smith, the father of Jayden Smith who is taking over the Ralph Maccio role from the original film. Has Conrad been brought in to recapture some of the emotional depth that helped The Pursuit of Happyness earn $300M worldwide? One of the most endearing aspects of the original Karate Kid was the sincerity of the relationship between Maccio’s character and Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi. Will Jackie Chan and Jayden Smith be able to recapture that dynamic?
All in all, I’m still not totally on board for a Karate Kid remake. Call me sentimental, but there’s just too much to like about the original to justify retelling the story.
What do you think? Does Conrad’s addition to the production ease some of your concerns, or are you still unsure?
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10 Comments
I normally don’t mind remakes but I really hope this one ends up not being made. Karate Kid is an absolute classic! The final scene is one of the greatest moments in cinematic history in my humble opinion. The only other movie I hope never gets remade in my lifetime is Back to the Future.
Its going to get made. Jada Pinkett Smith was on The View today and said she and Jaden are flying overseas on the 23rd so he can start filming it. First she called it The Karate Kid then she said it was The Kung Fu Kid.
chuck
CRAP!!!! I liked the original but I haven’t seen it since the 80’s..
I believe “The Kung Fu Kid” was just a rumour and they’re still calling it The Karate Kid… I may be wrong though.
Question to those interested. So they’ve brought on a semi-decent screenwriter to help with this movie and… I still don’t care. Do any of you think there’s anything these people could do with this movie that might actually make us like the idea of them doing it, or feel like it might make a decent picture?
I feel we’ve all already resigned ourselves to the idea that this is going to be bad no matter what (I myself am guilty of this as well) so that, even if they do come up with a halfway decent film from all this, we’ll still end up hating on it.
What do you guys think?
Ach, bringing a script doctor in just means the studio feels the turd needs a’polishing. Not surprising; that’s just how Hollywood movie making works… but, honestly, what can you add or subtract from the script that’s gonna turn it into an instant classic?
And I can’t believe no one’s mentioned the kid’s only freakin’ eleven — which means elementary school antics and nanna-friendly “hijinks.” Or worse, Nickelodeon-esque gross-out humor. Double worse: hokey attempts kid-specific “life lessons.”
…
All i gotta say is this is where i draw the line. This is one remake i will not see in theaters. If they remake Back to the Future then id really be pissed. Ever since Batman Begins, do they have remake every damn franchise? Some Franchises dont need a remake.
@chrisj: I read where Michael J. Fox is open for a remake of BTTF…if he can play Doc Brown!
Saints preserve us!
@ DanLister
As much as i respect Michael J. Fox as a great actor, i hope they dont. BTTF is one of those franchises that was made really great that it doesnt need a reboot. It was one trilogy that i loved all 3 films just the same & thats rare for me. Thats just my opinion.
@chrisj: Preachin’ to the choir, there…
Just voicing my opinion. im not big on reboots though i know few bad films they should remake instead of ones that made money the first time around.
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