Karate Kid (Remake)

[GL1]

i KNOW they know the difference between the 2 disciplines, but that's what makes it WORSE. everytime one of my co-workers asks me how my "Karate" is coming along i don't mind since they don't know any better.....however, if one of my training buddies told me that i need to work on my "Karate" then i would slap them since they know better. the problem here is that the people in charge KNOW the difference between Kung Fu and Karate but because they're money ****es they're selling out and pissing off most of the martial arts community rather than doing what's noble and just calling it 'the Kung Fu Kid'.

basically...if you're defending the reasoning behind the stupid name, then you're defending corporate greed.

If you purchase anything with a name brand on it, you're supporting corporate greed with your hard earned money. And if you eat more cake or pie than you need to (hint: you need none), then you are greedy as well. Keep the finger pointing down. No one has the "high ground" here.

And honestly, if naming a movie about a Kung Fu artist "the Karate Kid" for name recognition actually offends you personally, even though Kung Fu isn't called Karate in the film, then you honestly need to go work on your "Karate." Perhaps when you master your art you will gain some perspective and won't be so easily offended by movie titles. And that goes for any one else who is 'offended' by "Karate Kid." ESPECIALLY Kung Fu practitioners who are uninformed enough to feel like Kung Fu is being portrayed as "Karate" and unintuitive enough to see that Kung Fu is once again, portrayed as superior fighting style to Karate, especially for smaller combatants, which, incidentally, was the whole point of Kung Fu in the first place.

Wake up and smell the sake, dude.

If we want to call it shameless cashing in, go for it, cuz it is. If we want to say they're calling Kung Fu "Karate" then we're ignorant, and lack the discipline and insight that these arts are supposed to assist us in achieving.

 

[TheFuture]

This movie looks.........abysmal. Thank you Will Smith, thank the good dude himself that you didn't get your hands on Old Boy.

 

[DorkyFresh]

And honestly, if naming a movie about a Kung Fu artist "the Karate Kid" for name recognition actually offends you personally, even though Kung Fu isn't called Karate in the film, then you honestly need to go work on your "Karate."

at no point did i ever say that the title offends me personally. i just like pointing out how stupid and illogical this particular decision is. if anything offends me, it's you acting like you know me and telling me how i should be practicing my art...especially after exclaiming "no one has the high ground here".

Perhaps when you master your art you will gain some perspective and won't be so easily offended by movie titles.

if i were a master in Kung Fu...i'd be even MORE offended by this title. anyone who prides themselves as a martial arts practitioner, regardless of discipline, should be able to see the stupidity behind calling what is essentially a KUNG FU film 'the Karate Kid'. the ones who REALLY need to gain some perspective are the ones who are perfectly fine with this film being called 'the Karate Kid'. it's like calling a Ninja movie 'Way of the Samurai'.

 

[KenK]

I feel it's worth mentioning that if we're being totally honest, Jayden looks like his grasp of the martial arts he's supposed to be learning is coming off infinitely better than anything Ralph Macchio ever did. Looking back on the first movie especially, I don't know how he even got through the first round of the tournament!

 

[Mr. Credible]

Wow. That didn't look completely awful.

Jayden Smith looks like he really trained.

 

[thejon93]

After the first trailer showed, my interested fell flat. However, this new trailer really did show that the film has a lot of heart and soul. If anything, it will not be another "cheap reboot". Personally though, I like to think of this as a sequel. Having the title 'Karate Kid' is not necessary, at all. 'The Kung-Fu Kid' was perfect. Anyhow, looking forward to seeing this film. I expect nothing less than a fun-ride.

 

[danoyse]

Apparently it's testing very well:

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/01/15/the-karate-kid-redo-testing-through-the-roof/

'The Karate Kid' redo: testing through the roof
by Nicole Sperling
Categories: Industry News, Movie Biz
Generation Xers may have bemoaned the redo of their 1984 childhood favorite The Karate Kid (I know I did) with none other than silver spooner Jaden Smith taking on the Ralph Macchio role. But, perhaps the results from Sony’s early test screening of the movie from director Harold Zwart (The Pink Panther) will win converts to rejiggering Mr. Miyagi’s karate-lessons-hidden-in-manual labor. (Jackie Chan takes on the Wax on, Wax off mentor role.)

The studio tells EW that the film scored just below Sony’s highest research screening ever, 2005’s Hitch, which ironically starred Jaden Smith’s dad Will, the last reigning movie star. With positive scores in the 97th percentile, the movie, which doesn’t open until June 11, might be one of those films that outdoes everyone’s expectations. Not that it’s likely to match Hitch’s gross, but that film did earn close to $370 million worldwide. The movie’s biggest challenge now will be going up with another ’80s classic: The A-Team, starring Bradley Cooper and Liam Neeson, which makes June 11 one fat nostalgia fest.

 

[Deaths Head II]

The title makes sense. If everything is Kung Fu then Karate is Kung Fu, too!

 

[MAN O STEEL]

Am I the only person who gets teary eyed & goosebumps from the 1 minute mark of the new International trailer for Karate Kid?. From that 1 minute mark onwards I find it hard to know why ppl have anything against this movie. It's putting across the same principals & message that the original did but updated for a new audience. That last minute of the International trailer sums up why I'm pumped for this remake. It's making me feel like a kid again.

Also just wanted to mention. Alot of ppl are giving the "jacket on, jacket off" scenario crap because we all know what JACK IT OFF also implies, therefor the teaching sounds dirty, blah blah blah. However has anyone for even 2 seconds remembered what "wax on, wax off" Sounds like?. WHACKS OFF, hmmmm also very dirty sounding to, yet the original seems to get the benefit of the doubt. Weird.





Steve

 

[shogunrua]

It looks cool, I might give it a shot.

 

[Lord Blackbolt]

I feel it's worth mentioning that if we're being totally honest, Jayden looks like his grasp of the martial arts he's supposed to be learning is coming off infinitely better than anything Ralph Macchio ever did. Looking back on the first movie especially, I don't know how he even got through the first round of the tournament!

HAHAHAH!! That was so true. I thought even I could beat him up when I was 5 years old when I saw it back then. lol

 

[ChickenScratch]

Yes, karate originated from China, as in most friggin' Asian 1000 years ago. It's like calling a movie about Mexico, "Cuba".

No it didn't. Karate originated in Okinawa influenced by it's proximity and trade with China. It was originally called Naha-te or Koda-te till Japan absorbed Okinawa and the name was changed to Kara-te

I still don't get why people are hung up on the Karate and Kung Fu thing. Most of the general public does not know the difference and uses the words pretty much interchangeably. If people walk into my dojo asking about learning Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan type stuff it's easy to explain that that's not what we do. After 24 years in karate I've realized most people don't know much at all or even care to know the differences, just like I've never seen a "ninja" movie using any form of ninjitsu.

If one wanted to be pedantic I could say that the original Karate Kid was also a misnomer. The martial art used in the movie was no karate but Tang Soo Do, a Korean style that takes some influence from karate but in is not in itself karate. Rather it was developed by Hwang Kee, a Korean martial artist (who's original style was Kwon Bup) who worked as a security guard in China along side Japanes, Chinese and other Koreans. Miyagi in the original Karate Kid was from Okinawa but the style in the movie clearly was Tang Soo Do, where being from Okinawa he would have taught Daniel one of the 4 original styles, Shotokan-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Wado-Ryu, or ****o-Ryu, all styles that look quite different from what was in the movie.

It was choreographed by Pat Johnson (who also did the Ninja Turtles movies) who's one of the top Tang Soo Do instructors in the US still. I've not had the pleasure of meeting him, but know people who have and he's a pretty great guy. Either way, I've got no problem with it, I don't expect people to know, understand and have as strong a commitment to karate, it's an integral part of my life, but entertainment to most.

Edit because this site won't make me post the word S H I T O-Ryu.

 

[Paradoxium]

Chicken Scratch is right, Karate originated in from Okinawa and some of it is derived from China.

Gong Fu means martial arts in Chinese, it is arguably a even more broader term in China. You could be a good cook, and be said to have good "Gong fu". To call it the "Kung-Fu Kid" is like saying the "Martial Arts Kid". The most well known competitive full contact martial art in China is Sanshou nowadays. It appears to integrates throws, clinch techniques in wrestling and Muay Thai. But not as extensive in ground and grappling as say BJJ.

 

[LostSon88]

Based on the trailers...anyone else think that Dre could totally own Daniel? At least in regards of the first movie...

 

[TNC9852002]

pretty much, but i want to see it. Ill just call it The Kung Fu Kid

I think it's pretty presumptuous..Like someone just pointed out--in the movie, the character has had some Karate training--I'm 100% positive that it's handled in the movie how the name sticks.

 

[MAN O STEEL]

Anyone got a link for the HD version for the International trailer?. Can't find one anywhere.




Steve

 

[NewYorkSpider]

This looks pretty good. Might give it a watch when it comes out.

 

[PyroChamber]

I think it's pretty presumptuous..Like someone just pointed out--in the movie, the character has had some Karate training--I'm 100% positive that it's handled in the movie how the name sticks.

Didn't they say that "karate kid" was a nickname the bullies gave him?

 

[MAN O STEEL]

Didn't they say that "karate kid" was a nickname the bullies gave him?

Yes, they do, just like Daniel, Dre knows a bit of karate at the beggining of the movie, but the bullies in this movie, knowing full well the differences between the two forms of fighting feel thier Kung Fu is superior, so they mock him with the name. Hense the name of the movie is not supposed to reflect what he's being taught but the nickname he is given throughout the movie.




Steve

 

[GL1]

at no point did i ever say that the title offends me personally. i just like pointing out how stupid and illogical this particular decision is. if anything offends me, it's you acting like you know me and telling me how i should be practicing my art...especially after exclaiming "no one has the high ground here".

How is making more money stupid and illogical?

You're right, the 'practicing art' bit was a cheap shot. My bad. What I'm getting at is that I've found that the more acquainted I am with Kung Fu, the less I give a crap about people misunderstanding the art. A great master doesn't get angry, because a great master never feels threatened, and anger comes from the threat of loss or frustration of a goal. No one can take your Kung Fu away from you, so there's no threat from your Kung Fu being featured in 'Karate Kid.' I honestly feel that if you feel offended, or in any way affected negatively by the title of this movie, that you are missing the point of Kung Fu.

if i were a master in Kung Fu...i'd be even MORE offended by this title. anyone who prides themselves as a martial arts practitioner, regardless of discipline, should be able to see the stupidity behind calling what is essentially a KUNG FU film 'the Karate Kid'. the ones who REALLY need to gain some perspective are the ones who are perfectly fine with this film being called 'the Karate Kid'. it's like calling a Ninja movie 'Way of the Samurai'.

So now you are offended? That's what it sounded like in the first place, but i said 'IF' cuz I wasn't sure. Anyway, I see the disingenuity, and one doesn't have to be a practitioner to see it, but I also see the business savvy in it. With a balanced perspective, respecting their Marketing department's "Kung Fu" I can accept the title for what it is, instead of holding onto the misguided notion that Kung Fu is benig called Karate, which sounds like how you, and many others, are taking it.

But honestly, the whole argument seems disingenuine to me, because I find that it is a consistent gripe with people who are predisposed to disliking the film. Few, if any, that are interested in this film have a problem with the title. Most, if not all, who are not interested in this film have a problem with a title. It's an odd coincidence, one I've been around here long enough to see before. That said, I don't think we'll get to the real issue. I certainly don't have time to.

 

[DorkyFresh]

How is making more money stupid and illogical?

making decisions solely for the sake of making money isn't ALWAYS logical or smart.

What I'm getting at is that I've found that the more acquainted I am with Kung Fu, the less I give a crap about people misunderstanding the art.

being acquainted with something is one thing, actually PRACTICING the art is another. as with ANYTHING there is a certain pride that comes with whatever one is practicing. i try to be humble when i can, but i also try to call out injustice and imo this is a big injustice despite the plot trick. Jackie Chan said he has always known it to be called 'Kung Fu Kid' and that's what they're calling it in China, so aside from trying to leach off name recognition, i think calling it 'the Karate Kid' is unjustified.

A great master doesn't get angry, because a great master never feels threatened, and anger comes from the threat of loss or frustration of a goal.

well, i'm not a master. i'd like to get there, but i have no delusions of what i am and what i am not...and i'm not a master, so i can get angry when the movie industry makes a decision that will end up confusing many people pertaining a practice that i'm passionately involved in.

No one can take your Kung Fu away from you, so there's no threat from your Kung Fu being featured in 'Karate Kid.'

you're right when you said that naming it 'the Karate Kid' is not a threat to me, personally, and it's not even a THREAT to the martial arts world...but again, it will confuse many people who are unfamiliar to martial arts.

I honestly feel that if you feel offended, or in any way affected negatively by the title of this movie, that you are missing the point of Kung Fu.

well Kung Fu isn't always about being at peace with ones self or the stereotypical martial arts rhetoric. in my view, the point of Kung Fu is to have a goal in all aspects of your life and to work hard to attain those goals, but that doesn't necessarily mean not letting anything get under your skin....and again, if you're not actually practicing Kung Fu or even martial arts, then i find it offensive that you're trying to tell me that i'm missing the point of why i'm practicing Kung Fu.

So now you are offended?

again, i'm not a master so i'm not offended....but if i spent my entire life spreading the word of Kung Fu only to have a piece of entertainment come and somewhat undermine my entire life's work then you're damn right i'd be offended! any logical person would be.

With a balanced perspective, respecting their Marketing department's "Kung Fu" I can accept the title for what it is, instead of holding onto the misguided notion that Kung Fu is benig called Karate, which sounds like how you, and many others, are taking it.

with all due respect, most everyone thinks they have an 'unbiased' or 'balanced' perspective...but most times it's never the case. that being said, i never once thought that the movie is trying to pass off Kung Fu as being called Karate. my gripe is they are too greedy to appropriately name the film after the discipline that they're using in the movie.

But honestly, the whole argument seems disingenuine to me, because I find that it is a consistent gripe with people who are predisposed to disliking the film. Few, if any, that are interested in this film have a problem with the title. Most, if not all, who are not interested in this film have a problem with a title.

i honestly think it looks like a decent movie and if it were actually called 'the Kung Fu Kid' then i'd probably be there on opening day. hell, if the conditions were different (for example: he were being taught Karate to combat the domination of Kung Fu in his territory) then i probably would still see it in theaters...however, i find that the title is a huge injustice to the world of Kung Fu as it's obviously a decision made more out of greed than creativity. for that reason, i will not be seeing this in theaters.

also, calling it 'the Kung Fu Kid' would've given this movie/franchise more of a unique identity and could've possibly distanced itself from being clumped into the fad of remakes that've been plaguing the industry of late.

 

[Octoberist]

Yes, they do, just like Daniel, Dre knows a bit of karate at the beggining of the movie, but the bullies in this movie, knowing full well the differences between the two forms of fighting feel thier Kung Fu is superior, so they mock him with the name. Hense the name of the movie is not supposed to reflect what he's being taught but the nickname he is given throughout the movie.




Steve

don't buy it. i see what they're doing but it's also the '21' theory: what makes money? i'm sure that in the original draft, they made no mention to the karate kid nickname till the producers were aware of the concerns of fans/movie goers.

granted, your obviously liking the movie by your signature (snickers) I'm not gonna judge to much.

I don't know..it's like looking forward to The Smurfs movie and make an avatar and signature out of it - not of irony - but for actual enthusiasm. it's innocent as all heck but I applaud you.

 

[Octoberist]

No it didn't. Karate originated in Okinawa influenced by it's proximity and trade with China. It was originally called Naha-te or Koda-te till Japan absorbed Okinawa and the name was changed to Kara-te

I still don't get why people are hung up on the Karate and Kung Fu thing. Most of the general public does not know the difference and uses the words pretty much interchangeably. If people walk into my dojo asking about learning Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan type stuff it's easy to explain that that's not what we do. After 24 years in karate I've realized most people don't know much at all or even care to know the differences, just like I've never seen a "ninja" movie using any form of ninjitsu.

If one wanted to be pedantic I could say that the original Karate Kid was also a misnomer. The martial art used in the movie was no karate but Tang Soo Do, a Korean style that takes some influence from karate but in is not in itself karate. Rather it was developed by Hwang Kee, a Korean martial artist (who's original style was Kwon Bup) who worked as a security guard in China along side Japanes, Chinese and other Koreans. Miyagi in the original Karate Kid was from Okinawa but the style in the movie clearly was Tang Soo Do, where being from Okinawa he would have taught Daniel one of the 4 original styles, Shotokan-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Wado-Ryu, or ****o-Ryu, all styles that look quite different from what was in the movie.

It was choreographed by Pat Johnson (who also did the Ninja Turtles movies) who's one of the top Tang Soo Do instructors in the US still. I've not had the pleasure of meeting him, but know people who have and he's a pretty great guy. Either way, I've got no problem with it, I don't expect people to know, understand and have as strong a commitment to karate, it's an integral part of my life, but entertainment to most.

Edit because this site won't make me post the word S H I T O-Ryu.

the producer last year, before the last minture rewrite, stated that it only to defend the title. out of ignorance, he made that comment. the funny thing is that i couldn't find the article on mtv blog.com

strange!

and that's why they probably brought a script polish to address the karate and kung fu angles.

I think the main reason why people are bothered by karate and kung fu thing is that..out of all of the ethncities, Asians (and middle easterns for sure) have been the silent group in Hollywood. Usualy, the most outspoken groups would be Black and Hispanics when it comes to the biz, but Asians? Not a whole lot. There's so rumbings with The Last Airbender but it's not that strong.

I'm glad that finally John Cho and Ken Jeung can break through the system as successful Asian American actors. (Lucy Lui?) but people are very sensitive to the topic because there's not a whole lot of Asian American actors out there.

Plus, I read what happened to '21' (that MIT Las Vegas movie) and that's probably the worst offender. It destroy The Last Airbender and Dragon Ball because the real story had Asian students but the movie had a fairly white cast..

 

[ChickenScratch]

I still have yet to see anyone up in arms about the original Karate Kid though. Or is it selective memory, since the art used in the movie is Tang Soo Do. I guess it's selective memory or wanting to ***** about something.

If people are bothered by the ethnicity thing as Octoberist says, then they should have been just as offended by the first Karate Kid, since Japan and Korea has such a violent history up on till the '50's and there's still a lot of bad blood there. A Korean martial art being passed off as a Japanese martial art that it looks nothing like, when Japan 's military occupation of Korea banned the practice of KMA on penalty of death. Just like Hwang Kee, founder of Tang Soo Do who ran away from Korea to China so he could practice his art he was developing.

Dorkyfresh - Good to see another martial artist here in the thread. I'll say without any reservation that the name does not bother me, since Karate Kid has never had karate in it. Sure to the layman it looks all the same, but there's a huge gulf between arts that only martial artists can see.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Yes, they do, just like Daniel, Dre knows a bit of karate at the beggining of the movie, but the bullies in this movie, knowing full well the differences between the two forms of fighting feel thier Kung Fu is superior, so they mock him with the name. Hense the name of the movie is not supposed to reflect what he's being taught but the nickname he is given throughout the movie.

In that respect, the original movie should've been called The Nothing Kid.