Dre Parker and his mom have just moved to China. Dre doesn't fit in but he meets a nice girl. Unfortunately he also meets the school bullies who know kung fu and train at a merciless school. Then Dre meets Mr. Han, the maintenance man, who knows kung fu and soon decides to train him. Dre's training prepares him to take part in the official kung fu competition. So basically, the same plot as the original Karate Kid only with kung fu and the kid moves to another country.
When it comes to remakes, this film really is quite faithful. But more accurately it really is a retelling, as I have heard is what the filmmakers said it was. I also understand that the filmmakers have great respect for the original and in this case the new lives up to the old. And if you ask me it exceeds the old. The characters have more depth here. There are more dynamics between the teacher and the student and their lives are always distinctly separate. Kung Fu also looks better on screen than karate and of all the film stars Jackie Chan really is one of the best to portray a kung fu master on screen. This is perhaps one of his best performances.
One of the best parts about this film is that it shows the training that Jaden Smith went through. This kind of authenticity adds to the film immensely and even though it is almost 2 1/2 hours long, it doesn't feel quite that long. The plot may be simple, but it's the same as the previously done and beloved Karate Kid. Only this time the fight scenes are more intense, the master is able to hold his own and truly proves it, and you'll want to cheer for the student at the tournament even more. And even though it's more intense, The Karate Kid teaches important lessons of peace versus violence in the midst of martial arts.
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