Karate kid

I totally agree with Ben Affleck's rant in Jersey Girl on The Fresh Prince. Now his kid with a mop on his head..... Hollywood is milking a classic 80s flick that had a cool story line incorporated with karate and Japanese culture. Is it worth a watch anyone? Megavideo has a perfect copy of Best Kid but I still have held off. Long live Mr Miyagi! The Japanese were suckers for the Rush Hour franchise, so this should work at the box office for 20 bucks a pop and Japanese girls. Not many kids drag along their power couple parents for an opening in Japan- so they got my props for that. I expect the Jolie Pitt kids to do a Brady Bunch movie.

I can see the hair jokes pouring in on this one. LOL!

This movie has terrible acting and a plot that was obvioulsy created in a room of monkeys at typewriters. At least I got a laugh out of it.

The original karate Kid was a classic. Ralph Macchio did an awesome job on the acting. I've watched it a couple of times in the last few years when it's been on TV and not had a problem watching it to the end. The way they potrait Japan through the movies is pretty funny, but pretty good for the 80's. Doesn't need a remake!

Lord! They've dressed Jaden like they wish they'd had a girl.

At least the title is more accurate in the J-version. I hate that a kung-fu movie gets named The Karate Kid. How stupid do they think people are?

Meanringo.

Considering that in the USA most Martial Arts are often called "Karate" regardless of their origin.

Said that there are no Martial Arts styles only different training systems.

But, yeah, the title is annoying.

MeanRingo at 07:27 AM JST - 6th August At least the title is more accurate in the J-version. I hate that a kung-fu movie gets named The Karate Kid. How stupid do they think people are?

Hey, it is an American movie.

Good grief! People really hate for no reason. Cute movie, cute story. Not academy award acting but that is no reason to have this level of negativity. Completely bewildering.

Sideshow Bob.

SiouxChef at 07:43 AM JST - 6th August

Sideshow Bob.

..lol! movie was alright...

This is the best movie that I ever watched in a very long time. I highly recommend everyone to go and watch this movie.

Don't knock the 80's! It was a better place than now! Today, we take life experiences and turn them in to games.... Most kids today learn to ride a bicycle via PlayStation or Nintendo Wii.

I would rather watch "The Last Dragon"(good soundtrack) or "No Retreat, No Surrender".

Original Karate Kid was ok but there are already tons of movies with a similar story-line.

Best Kid!

Jaden needs a haircut. I guess he doesn't spend too much time outdoors with all that hair.

Jada is looking fine.

Why is Will wearing a necktie with jeans? I always thought that style was dumb.

ebonyninja at 07:54 AM JST - 6th August Most kids today learn to ride a bicycle via PlayStation or Nintendo Wii.

WTF? I hope you mean this ironically.

yay my favorite people. I don't care what they're wearing or abt their hair. They always look nice b/c they are nice.

;)

LOL

I won't bother giving this one a chance and i didn't bother with the A-Team movie either

Sorry to say Sarge - jeans are back this season.

Best Kid? Why they always change the titles is beyond me. But yeah like people said above, this has nothing to do with Karate and should NOT be linked to the karate kid. In fact, im curious about this movie, (almost) anything with Jackie Chan in it is awesome, except for his previous movie "Spy next door" beurk

jianadaren at 08:44 AM JST - 6th August Sorry to say Sarge - jeans are back this season.

"(B)ack in this season"? Jeans haven't been out of fashion since about 1968.

Excuse me the target audience is for families and little children. Not single males in their 30's or above. Usually movies like this makes kids want to join the local tae kwon do, karate, (boring)judo, and other martial arts classes. Target audience is for kids-NOT adults.

Seeing the posters around town, I thought the kid was a girl.

jeffrey~

You have REALLY dated yourself!

Dubya, With the haircut Jaden is sporting in this photo, I think your initial judgement might be right.

whiskeysour at 09:01 AM JST - 6th August Excuse me the target audience is for families and little children.

Point well-taken as you often read negative reviews for what are obviously movies pitched towards children. However, just because it is a "kid's movie" doesn't mean it has to be insipid or superficial.

The criticism State side for the movie is that it has a preposterous premise and that it is trying to tie itself to the movie first called Karate Kid. Pretty dumb since karate isn't involved and instead of the story being set in SoCal and involving a Japanese sensei, it's . . . . It's like a naming a new movie Finding Nemo, except that it's about a horse and he's actually on a road trip to the Kentucky Derby to watch his cousin, Nemo, "run for the roses."

I think they changed the title from "Karate Kid" to "Best Kid" because it wouldn't seem right to call it "karate", when it isn't even karate. They should've called it "Kung Fu Kid" instead. Then again, most people who don't practice either martial art (and others like judo, taekwondo, and kickboxing), think they are all the same. Unfortunately, stupid Hollywood movies tend to perpetuate this point.

I think they changed the title from "Karate Kid" to "Best Kid" because it wouldn't seem right to call it "karate", when it isn't even karate.

Actually, the original 1984 film was also called Best Kid in Japan, so it's got nothing to do with that.

saybrook07 at 10:12 AM JST - 6th August Actually, the original 1984 film was also called Best Kid in Japan, so it's got nothing to do with that

Correct.

There is a massive failure of parental responsibility regarding that kid's clothes.

My friend's kids (7th and 9th grades) didn't want to see this movie even though they were Jackie Chan fans because in their words "It's stupid to call kung fu karate as if we don't know the difference."

OK, this is completely off topic, but since Jackie Chan is standing there, whatever happened to his movie "Shinjuku Incident"? I live in Shinjuku, and it has not played in any theaters here (unless it was for one day, and I missed it). I wanted to see all the familiar places in a movie.

I liked Karate Kid, back when I was a kid. As they said, "Best Kid" is a kid movie, not "Valley of the Dolls".

Wow, got to love all the hate on here. Get a life people. The kids garb is what is in for their age. Do I like it, hell no, but no point in crying about it. Probably cost more than one day of any of our salaries here.

That's a serious fro.

I kinda prefer the old Mr. Miyagi than Chan... And let's not forget that Karate is Japanese, Kung-fu is Chinese. Should have been, "Kung-Fu Kid". wwwww

"Karate Kid"? I didn't know Jackie Chan does karate. I also didn't know they practice karate in China, and not kung-fu. Don't Americans know that karate and kung-fu are two different disciplines? It will further confuse them to think that if you are Asian looking, you must do karate.

Sorry, but us original "Karate Kid" watchers still think it should have at least been called the "Kung-fu Kid". Its a small hang up but it still affects how we view the movie. Interesting though this is the first time I've seen a family of actors all together in a photo shoot. Mr.Smith, Mrs.Smith, Mr.Smith jr...Thats cute xD

With that fro, Jaden would make an awesome Side Show Bob if they ever make a live Simpsons Movie

Yes we know karate and kung fu are two different disciplines. Karate was invented by Mr. Miyage in Southern California, and Kung Fu was invented by Qwai Chang Kane (aka "Grasshopper") before he had to flee China after killing the Royal Prince in his sedan car. :-)

Just kidding, of course. I believe the general public is aware there's a difference, but probably could not specifically tell you the major differences in technique. And with all the articles here in the states that pointed out the differences between the original and current movies, I'm sure most people are aware that what Jackie Chan teaches the kid is kung fu and not karate.

Hence the annoyance of a "Karate Kid" film that teaches kung fu... If they made a "Karate Kid" in Brazil and they taught capoeira urk no Capoeira Kid?

Try looking at it this way... 空手 literally means "empty hand." Kung-fu and a bunch of other martial arts are similar in the sense that they do not use weapons - empty hands. So in a certain point of view the movie is still passable as "Karate Kid." Although personally "Kung-Fu Kid" is more appropriate.

I still have to find one MA that doesn't use Weapons. Might be true for sports-styles like Judo(limited version of JiuJitsu).

Pukey2 / proudnippon - Heh heh, take it easy, I was just having some fun/doing my Jack Nicholson imitation. I have the utmost respect for Jackie.

This celebrity marriage has really lasted!! Very unusual

Waste of a movie.

He was only in the movie because his parents produced it. And he will only ever make it in Hollywood because his dad was Fresh Prince. Same goes for his wife.

Think everyone looks admirable in this photo. Love J. Chan. WISH I had the kid's hair. Foxy mom and Will, even though Scientology has captured him, is a fine actor. So ya'll relax, it's hot enough outside already without all this hot air blowing around here. :-.

How very lucky young Jaden Smith was to be able to work along side the great, GREAT Jackie Chan! I saw my first Jackie Chan movie in 1980 in Osaka. It was translated as "Drunk Monkey" and since the subtitles were in Japanese, not English, I could not understand a single word. One of the funniest movies I've ever seen! Might see this movie eventually on DVD.

It is called Kung Fu Kid in other markets. It's just called Karate Kid in the US to capitalize on people's familiarity of the original.

Jaden's got that swagger in him. With daddy's money and influence you know he'll do well in Hollywood. In a few years he'll probably come out with a hip hop album...Dj Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince Jr.

White jeans are ok. Jackie is ok, although can be a bit of a buffoon on screen. young Smith will go far indeed. His parents are one of the good Hollywood couples (hope that isn't famous last words). don't really think will cares if we plebs think he has style issues.....

why did jackie dump chris(Never touch a black mans radio!) rock ??

Nice looking family! I love Will Smith!

This movie was incredible. An inspiring tale of a kid who learns to hold his own. I recommend it to everyone!

nice picture!

The boy needs to be taken to a barbers by his father and taught how to correctly tie his shoe laces. I will not be watching this film it is for kids. I wish there were more films these days for us grown ups who want to watch something realistic and civil.

I think we will see a repeat of what happened after the original movie.

A rush for kids to sign up at Shopping mall MA Studios(aka McDojo, Black Belt Mills).

Alf: Why don't you check out that bondage movie if you're looking for a good film for grown ups?!

dolphingirl, beacuse is a decent man with strong morals. The karate Kid may be ok for kiddies and be wholesome, but i would prfer something more sophisticated ie, A Passport to Pimlico.

like somebody else already mentioned.. kid looks like sideshow Bob. I'm sure it'll be a fun movie for twelve year olds..

Like somebody said previously the kid looks like side show bob, very funny looking. I'm not sure it doesn't represent "today's" look. I'm sure it'll be a fun movie for twelve year olds or people on this thread defending these folks (who obviously are twelve year olds themselves or are just as smart).

s

karate-空手(empty hand) was adopted from the original 唐手（chinese hand) in the Meiji Period. The 唐　(tou) representing the Tang Dynasty. Likewise in Korea Tang Soon Do is the same 唐手道 in Korean. When you consider this perhaps that's why Jackie Chan could live with this title, apart from milking a well known famous 1980s title. Realstically it should have been called the Kung-Fu kid but perhaps it sounded too close to Kung-Fu Panda.

It's the 65th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing and all we get is a photo of a promo for a crappy movie?

All rubbish comments. Karate is actually a type of kungfu (if you know what the real meaning is, kung fu is a collective term) or more accurately wushu. I bet 99.9% of people didn't know that karate was original called "Chinese hands".

neva talk about a black mans hair! Jaden's hair grows like it is and thats a natural genetic trait. He can braid it, tie it, etc. I used to have hair like that when I was quite young, a good 5 inch fro untouched. My hair doesn't grow that long anymore and when I let it grow out I come up with about the same amount of hair daddy Smith has now. I miss my corn rows :(

HonestDictaor, why? The boys hair needs cutting, short back and sides i recommend. Also as this is a photo promoting th film the boy should be in his Subday best, suit, shirt, tie and sensible laced brown or black shoes. The 2 men lack ,manners as they both have their hands in their pockets. Didn`t they learn manners when young? Their slovenly appearnace is a very decent reason to boycott this film. You would never se Kenneth Williams or John Mills dressed like that.

Triple888, Seems like OssanAmerica knew it was called Chinese Hands before you mentioned it.

IchyaWarFare at 11:52 AM JST - 6th August The kids garb is what is in for their age. Do I like it, hell no, but no point in crying about it.

Having a run-of-the-mill suburban 13-year old, I can assure you it's not "in for their age." He looks like his parents hit the garage sale at the Neverland Ranch. My wife had a leather jacket very much like that one, in about 1986.

betterdays at 02:05 PM JST - 6th August This celebrity marriage has really lasted!! Very unusual

That's because only one of them is a celebrity. No one had ever heard of Mrs. Smith before she became Mrs. Smith.

Because those of us with naturally curly hair especially of african descent don't have to cut it, trim it or even straighten it a certain way just to appeal to some other folks ethnic sensibilities. As I said, his hair is naturally curly and naturally* frizzy. Keeping our hair tied up in braids causes damage to our root if we keep doing it too long, and a basic brush or comb is enough. His hair is long and he can enjoy it.

Reminds me of that hair song though xD

You would never se Kenneth Williams or John Mills dressed like that.

...and even if I did, I wouldn't know who they were. Jackie Chan and Will Smith, however... Their fame has reached the point where they no longer have to care about what clothing or hairstyle snobs think.

Actually, I believe Kung Fu is a later term. Originally it was refered to as Chuan Fa (拳法) Kenpou in Japanese, and usually translated as Chinese Boxing in English. Wushu (武術）includes not just empty handed methods but all traditional Chinese weapons as well. And to be precise Karate was never called "Chinese hand" but "Tang Hand" as it had spread to Korea and Okinawa very early on.

ah the maintaining of appearances, the cleanup and all that, hahahaha. I've heard of saving face, but this is ridiculous and nobody gives a hoot. you know what i'm talking about mhehehe

空手道originally is called 唐手道? Very interesting. I didn't know that either. Thank you for the info! Anyone knows how is it different from 詠春 Yong Chun?

It was called kara-te (唐手）and okinawa-te (沖縄手) until Funakoshi Gichin brought it to Japan and got it acceptred as one of the Japanese Martial Arts, when it was re-written as 空手。The　道　was added at that time. The same time that yawara 柔　became　柔道。