"The Karate Kid" Movie Trailer Review

By our guest blogger, Rob Stamitti

The '80s seem to be a major source of inspiration for remake developers these days. It's just recent enough that many '80s films are still in the public conscience. Many of the more iconic genre films came from that decade. And because it was the '80s, every film they remake can take all of the retro elements and replace them with modern elements without really needing to change much else while still managing to make it seem like a different film. The '80s, after all, has the most blatant and dated fashion of pretty much any other decade of the last fifty years.

So, another classic '80s film remake is on the way, and this time it's "The Karate Kid," with child actor (and son of Will Smith) Jaden Smith taking Ralph Macchio's place as the youth that receives lessons from a wise Karate master (this time played by Jackie Chan) when a local gang keeps giving him trouble. The setting has been moved from San Fernando Valley in California to China itself. I suppose that makes for a little more differentiation between the original and the remake, as now the main character has to deal with cultural clashes as well as physical.

The film itself look adequate for what it is. I was never that into the original film in the first place, so I don't really see anything to complain about outright. Jaden Smith seems fine for the role, and Jackie Chan is pretty much the best guy you'll find to fill the Mr. Miyagi role that Pat Morita made so famous. Basically, it just looks like what it is--a carbon copy of an iconic film that will probably appeal to kids and people interested enough in the original to see it. That said, I don't really see anything special enough going on that I'd want to see it.

"The Karate Kid" will be released June 11, 2010.

View the trailer for "The Karate Kid" below. Thoughts?