One movie that I really enjoyed in the Karate Kid. Emotionally, inspirational, funny and packed with great life lessons from start to finish. The film follows the saga of a young boy named Dre Parker (Jaden Smith), and his mother, who emigrates from America to China. Initially, it all seems strange and challenging for him since he cannot understand the language, culture, or people he is surrounded by. In those early scenes I could really feel his pain and his loneliness.
I loved that the emotions seemed so real in the film. Dre wasn't portrayed as a perfect boy. He was sometimes frightened, angry, stubborn, confused. This helped him to feel real and relatable. I'm not sure what was going on, but when he began to be bullied by some kung fu students, I was kind of sorry for him. The scenes with fighting were pretty extreme, and I felt like I could see the fear and pressure he's under on a daily basis. It made me continue to watch because I wanted to see how he was going to overcome everything.
My favorite part of the movie was when Dre and the Mr. Han (played by Jackie Chan) get into a fight. Jackie Chan gave an amazing performance in this movie. Typically, most people would recognize him for his comedy and action scenes but, in this film, he also had a lot of emotion in them. Mr. Han was a quiet, wise, calm and very disciplined man. I liked all the scenes he portrayed. As the friendship between him and Dre gradually turned into a familial-like arrangement, it made the film even more charming.
The scenes of the training were also very memorable. Initially, I believe that Dre was just doing mundane household tasks such as hanging and removing jackets, but then I realized that Mr. Han was training him in discipline, focus, balance and patience. The iconic “jacket on, jacket off” moments took on great significance in the narrative. I preferred the part where the movie demonstrated that martial arts isn't simply fighting people. It is also about self-control, respect, inner peace and confidence.
I was also impressed with the beautiful environment in China. The film displayed wonderful mountains, temples, streets, schools, etc. There were some scenes that were quite cinematographic and serene. One of my favorite parts of the story was the trip to the mountain temple, as it gave the story a spiritual element. The movie has been enhanced with the visuals, making it larger and more emotional. I also enjoyed the little bits of Chinese culture I got to look at while watching the film.
The action pieces were also great. The kung fu tournament towards the end was quite emotional and entertaining. Each confrontation was intense since Dre wasn't naturally stronger than anyone else. He had to work hard and have faith in himself. His wins were satisfying. I was particularly pleased in the last match as it was a game of courage, not strength. Even when Dre was injured, he still fought with determination. It was a wonderful moment to me.
I believe that the film has a lot of life lessons in it as well. It helps people to not surrender if things get tough. It is for discipline, respect, patience and confidence. I know firsthand that growth can come in time and sometimes through the hardship. The character of Mr Han also demonstrated the ability of individuals to be hidden in tears inside themselves, and at the same time helping others overcome the hidden tears. There were also some moments which had to do with his past that were quite moving and it really made it more of a normal martial arts movie than it was a normal movie.
The audio and music were in sync with the film. The music enhanced the emotional scenes and the action scenes were more exciting. The film blended comedy, tears, friendship, romance and action admirably. I was never bored while watching it.
In general, The Karate Kid is a wonderful inspirational and emotional film, with action thrown in, and also has some great life and bravery teachings. It was an entertaining watch for me as much as it was about kung fu, it was about personal growth and fearlessness. I loved the acting of Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan and the plot was very interesting.
I have rated the movie 8.5/10. It is an emotional, motivational and entertaining film and I will certainly watch it again.