The Movie
Casting and locale aside, the biggest update in this remake of The Karate Kid is a matter of truth in advertising: No one practices karate here, it's actually kung fu in this go-around. The story basics are the same, as a young man (Jaden Smith, fairly crackling with his dad Will's talent and charisma) finds himself alone in a strange town after his mother takes a new job, this time in Beijing, China. He runs afoul of the local bully and soon needs to learn how to defend himself, which leads to an unlikely but meaningful friendship with his building's crusty old handyman (the incomparable Jackie Chan), whose still waters run deceptively deep.
Fans of the 1984 original movie need not worry, as this new approach is almost frustratingly faithful, so don't hold your breath waiting for any unexpected twists. Frankly, this movie doesn't need to be two-hours-and-twenty-minutes long either, a hefty running time owing partly to its travelogue-type excursions around China, which are fine for the younger audience who might not be familiar with the impressive nation, but for the rest of us they're not really essential to the story. But the movie is definitely worth watching if only for the combined star power of the two disparate but well-matched leads.
For kicks, check out Karen Dahlstrom's review of The Karate Kid.
The Picture
The 2.40:1 video reveals pleasing detail in both long shots and close-ups, while boasting strong, natural blacks with surprisingly little noise. Smoke drifts through more than a couple of scenes and it is mostly clean, although there are a few instances of minor twitch and artifacting on challenging images. Colors are well-utilized by the cinematographer and are vibrant throughout on this disc.
The Sound
Overall presence is strong in the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, especially when the music--the original score, the familiar pop songs, and even the in-scene performances--kicks in to fill out a scene. The surrounds are used in interesting ways as well, as when Mr. Han catches a pesky fly with his chopsticks, or in the repeated examples of whooshing hands and feet. Rain and fireworks are also realistic, and apparently there are quite a lot of birds and traffic in Beijing, by the sound of it! The expansive space of the final tournament is also well-realized in 5.1 channel surround.
The Extras
Disc One contains a fine selection of bonus material, some exclusive to Blu-ray. The On Location: Karate Kid Interactive Map of China tours three locations with text facts plus videos narrated by director Harald Zwart. The alternate ending (three-and-a-half minutes) is fun, a little corny, and would have been a bit much. A series of brief "Production Diaries" runs half-an-hour all together, with occasional introductions by Jackie Chan.
"Just for Kicks: The Making of The Karate Kid" (20 minutes) is a slick package of interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Six Chinese lessons link back to appropriate scenes from the movie, followed by written and spoken examples. The Justin Bieber music video with Jaden Smith, for the song "Never Say Never," runs about four minutes. The video extras are all in HD.
Also tucked away on the Blu-ray (although it pops right up as a separate thumbnail on the PlayStation 3, necessary for transfer) is a Digital Copy of the movie specifically for the PlayStation Portable. Additionally, this disc is BD-Live-enabled. Disc Two is a hybrid DVD with a standard-definition version of the movie for any DVD player, plus a Digital Copy for our choice of iTunes or Windows Media. By contrast, these Digital Copies can be transferred via Mac or PC.
Final Thoughts
There's something heart-wrenching about watching this adorable little 'tween enduring beating after beating, so share this PG-rated movie with young children at your own peril. But adults and kids alike can't help but love Mr. Chan, and by the end credits Jaden Smith has proven himself a cinematic force to be reckoned with, too. And their disc's audio/video quality and generous extras a one-two punch.
Product Details
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