What Do The Critics Say?

"Youngsters will be fascinated and mesmerized by Dre's amazing transformative journey. You will leave the theater with a smile on your face." Keith Cohen ENTERTAINMENT SPECTRUM "Smith Jr is really a natural. I don't think anyone's played a likable, wise-ass teen as well as this since Edward Furlong in Terminator 2." Andrew Pulver GUARDIAN "Does a nice job re-envisioning the '80s cult classic, thanks in large part to the new Kid, Jaden Smith." Kit Bowen THE MOVIE KIT "The story's good intentions survive, largely because of Chan's way of tenderising his approach to martial arts with humour and humility." Sandra Hall SYDNEY MORNING HERALD "What really makes this film feel fresh are the performances from Jackie Chan and new kid on the block, Jaden Smith. Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett-Smith produced this film for their kiddie star and Jaden certainly doesn't let them down." Karlie Jeffrey FILMINK

"Smith shows an overpowering commitment in the way his small wiry body is sculpted with training, the way he executes his kung fu with efficient skills, and the way he proves in every frame that he is a star." Andrea Chase KILLER MOVIE REVIEWS "Best movie this year and Jaden Smith is part of the reason." Diana Saenger REVIEW EXPRESS "The Karate Kid' is a visually appealing and highly engaging remake. Yay!" Betty Jo Tucker REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS "Remake has new stars, new country, but same winning spirit." Sandie Angulo Chen COMMON SENSE MEDIA "Quite possibly the crowd-pleasingest movie I've seen all year, The Karate Kid masterfully captures the charm and humanity of the 1984 original." Todd Gilchrist CINEMATICAL "The Karate Kid actually delivers a great story with great fight sequences and great heart. I found myself clapping and cheering at the end of the flick." Kevin McCarthy BDK REVIEWS

The Inside Story "Dre Parker is a cool American kid who’s left Detroit and now is just trying to make it in China," says Jaden Smith, who previously starred alongside his father in the 2006, worldwide hit "The Pursuit of Happyness" (Worldwide Gross US$307,077, 295) and now takes the star reigns himself, headlining new film, "The Karate Kid". "He’s definitely having a rough time: he feels like he just doesn’t fit in. He doesn’t mean to, but he gets on the bad side of some bullies. He’s got no friends and nowhere to go, and that’s when he finds out that his building’s maintenance man, Mr Han, is a kung fu master. Mr Han teaches him kung fu, and they end up having a special bond between them." It’s a theme that has long resonated with audiences and explored in the hit movie of the same title that starred Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita (TV's Happy Days"). Morita's portrayal of the stoic sensei, Mr. Miyagi, earned an Oscar ® nomination and passed into legend. 1975 Emmy Award winning Producer Jerry Weintraub ("An Evening With John Denver"), who in 1984 produced the first series of films as well as the new film, says that the story endures because its underlying story is universal. "Ultimately, it’s the tale of a father and son," he says. "It’s not so much about the karate. What endures, what kids look to, is the story of a boy searching for a father and a mentor." It would be up to producers Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, James Lassiter, and Ken Stovitz, as well as director Harald Zwart ("Agent Cody Banks") to bring around this new version of the classic, updating it for a new generation. "The teenagers who made the original Karate Kid a hit are now parents with kids of their own," says Lassiter who has now worked on fifteen projects involving Will Smith. "We wanted to remind them of the movie they loved so well" that we all love so well; but also make a modern movie that their kids can enjoy, too." The new film couldn’t be a remake: it would have to capture those themes while standing on its own. "The key for anybody in touching material like this is to make sure that you pay homage and respect to the original but somehow find a way to expand upon it and bring it to 2010," says Zwart. Perhaps the biggest challenge was in casting the role of the mentor. The filmmakers would need an icon and, they found one, in Jackie Chan. "Really, who else could do it?" says Stovitz. "Jackie is the only man who fits the bill. When I would say to myself, 'We’re making Karate Kid with Jackie Chan in the Mr Miyagi role,' well, frankly, that was a movie I wanted to see." Chan felt a particular affinity for the story, as he admits he can actually relate to the young American character. "I understand the fish out of water story. About thirty years ago, I went to America for the first time by myself. When you’re in a completely different culture, it’s very frightening." With Chan excited to be on board, it seemed natural to the filmmakers to open up the story. The karate kid would now pick up and move from Detroit to Beijing, China: truly upping the ante for a fish out of water. And since the setting is changed to China, it was clear that a number of things would be different; including the fighting style. "We’re in a new country, and I learn kung fu," says 2009 Saturn Award winner Jaden Smith. "The reason the movie is called "The Karate Kid" is that at the beginning of the movie, Dre thinks he can fight the bullies with a little karate he knows," Stovitz explained. "But in China even the kids know kung fu and they’re experts. So if Dre is going to survive, he has to learn kung fu." Of course, calling the movie "The Karate Kid" also seemed like a good way to honor the iconic and much-loved movie that came before. Of course, the part required Smith to learn kung fu. He would learn from the best: Wu Gang, the stunt coordinator of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. Because Chan performs most of his own stunt work in his films, Chan formed his Stunt Team in 1983 as a way to facilitate the fight choreography. "When I first met Jaden, I liked him, but you can never be sure. I wasn’t sure if he’d really be up to the task," Wu said. "He proved himself: he is very talented and he worked very hard. And it wasn’t easy. I loved training Jaden." Of course, in addition to the invaluable training from Master Wu, Smith had another way of learning kung fu. "I watched a lot of Jackie’s movies and even copied some of his moves," Smith jokes. In fact, an entire sequence: in which Mr. Han and Dre train and spar; is a reference of sorts to one of Chan’s earliest and most famous fights. Smith’s relationship with Chan really did mirror their characters’ in the film. "He is amazing. He was always teaching me things," says Smith. "How to stretch correctly, how to be in a scene, how to focus. He was right there with me the whole time." Zwart ("Agent Cody Banks") says that the young star dazzled the filmmakers with his performance. "Jaden is charismatic and charming, but he’s also a fantastic actor. He fully committed to every aspect of the part. Not just the kung fu: which he worked very hard to learn; but the emotional story of the boy who becomes a man." The director has equally high praise for Smith’s veteran co-star. "Jackie is just fantastic to work with. He never stops, and he loves the process of filmmaking, so he helps out with every practical aspect. For example, if an extra didn’t get a particular message due to the language barrier, he went over and respectfully whispered direction to them. He’s just wonderful and so helpful." The story tells the tale not only of a master and student but of the bond that’s formed between a lonely, childless man and a fatherless boy. "At first Mr Han thinks he is only helping this bullied boy, but in the end, his life is also transformed. Dre is like boys everywhere; they want to kick something, a way to get revenge," says three time Hong Kong Film Award winner Chan. "But kung fu is not about hurting people. It’s about helping people." The word kung fu has several different meanings, but it is not specifically a martial arts term. The word might be literally translated as 'work','skill' or 'time and effort'. A writer might have good kung fu at storytelling. At the same time, this term has a special meaning when applied to martial arts, and outside of China, kung fu can be used to describe the gamut of Chinese martial arts and a range of techniques. In "The Karate Kid", Dre learns wushu martial arts, a physically demanding, active kung fu sport taught and practiced in China. Master Wu, as Jaden Smith came to call him, trained Smith for three months in Los Angeles before the production began in Beijing, then continued to train him throughout the four-month production. "When I first met Jaden, he was just a kid," 2002 World Stunt Award winner Wu ("Rush Hour 2") recalls. "A few months later, he was at the same level as kids that have been training for five or six years. He was very focused, very talented, and never complained." Smith and all of the other kung fu kids would be taught how to fight for the camera in a choreographed match and look good doing it on the big screen. "All of the kids in the film are full time wushu students, but none of them had movie fighting experience," Wu notes. "It’s not easy to get the timing, the rhythm, and the reaction when you get hit. It’s very challenging. But the big difference with this movie is that the movements are real." In adapting "The Karate Kid" for modern audiences, the filmmakers sought a location that would place as many obstacles in Dre’s path as possible. "We wondered, could we find a location that would be like dropping Dre in another world?", says four time ShoWest Award winner, Will Smith (1995, '07, '09 & 2002). "When we cast Jackie Chan as Dre’s mentor, it struck us: China. We knew we’d be asking for a challenge, but in the end, the setting not only made the theme stronger, but made the film epic. I couldn’t be more proud of what we accomplished in China. When you see Jaden and Jackie training together on the Great Wall, it strikes you: there’s no way we could have made this movie in L.A." The decision to take the entire production to China was not taken lightly. Because many of the desired settings in the story are off-limits and difficult to access, the producers turned to the China Film Group, the largest and most influential state-run film enterprise in the country, to assist in securing locations. "One little shot took months of planning," says Zwart. "Just as an example, we are the first film to be given permission to shoot inside the Tiananmen Gate and the Forbidden City since Bertolucci’s 1987 film, "The Last Emperor". For Chan, this film was both a homecoming and a dream come true. "I am so thankful to the production company for filming in China. We may have a five thousand year old history but our government is only sixty years young, a new government. This movie will give audiences a chance to learn about Chinese culture as well as Chinese martial arts. Such a wonderful promotion." Jada Pinkett Smith (TV'S "All of Us") observed that filming at actual historical locations only adds to an actor’s strength of performance. "You can’t beat the energy that such a place can bring. You can’t recreate it. It’s a very special thing giving the movie authentic texture. China is extremely unique, and this has been a really powerful experience for us as a family, working together in a place like this. It’s one of those once in a lifetime opportunities, one we’ll always remember. And of course, we’ll have a wonderful film to remember it by." The production was headquartered out of the old Beiying Film Studios. The "backlot" is essentially filled with hutong or passages between rows of siheyuan courtyard houses. Siheyuan is the traditional, albeit disappearing, style of residence of Beijingers, each consisting of a rectangular courtyard surrounded by one-storied tile-roofed houses, usually one to six meters wide. An empty seven-story building, doubled as the exterior of Dre’s apartment building, 'The Beverly Hills Apartments'. A Beijing location; the Staff Residence Building #3 at the Beijing Forest University doubled as the Detroit street where Dre and his mother start out. One visually stunning scene was shot at the prestigious Beijing Shaolin Wushu School where 400 students dressed in traditional red gi did their morning lawn routine. Established in 1991, the school features education (primary through senior high) with a wushu-style philosophy. Shooting at the Tiananmen Gate and inside the Forbidden City was a thrilling yet daunting experience for both cast and crew alike. Zwart says: "We only had two hours to shoot the entire scene. One of the most moving and impactful scenes in the film occurs when Mr Han takes Dre on a spiritual pilgrimage to the Wudang Mountains. This site was discovered while Zwart was surfing the Internet. Jaden's toughest moment came in the 'kiss segment'. Both he and Wenwen Han (who plays Mei Ying) were very nervous. Han recalls: "I was really nervous about our kissing scene, and my legs were shaking." "It was my first screen kiss, too," Jaden revealed. What's It All About?

Twelve year old Dre Parker could have been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother’s career takes them both to China. Dre has a hard time making friends at first but he does make a connection with his classmate Mei Ying and the feeling is mutual; until cultural differences make such a friendship impossible,when he makes an enemy of the class bully, Cheng. Dre knows only a little karate, and in the land of kung fu, Cheng puts 'the karate kid' on the floor with ease. Feeling alone in a foreign land, Dre has no friends to turn to, until he is rescued from his tormentors by local maintenance man, Mr Han. Secretly a master of kung fu, Mr Han trains Dre, building a friendship and moving toward a final showdown with Cheng at a kung fu tournament. As Mr Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not only about punches and parries, Dre realizes that facing down bullies like Cheng, will be the fight of his life.

The Verdict "Hats off to Will Smith, Ken Stovitz and James Lassiter of Overbrook Entertainment whose long list of credits includes films such as: "Hitch", "Seven Pounds", "The Pursuit of Happyness", "The Secret Life of Bees", "Lakeview Terrace", "The Human Contract" and now "The Karate Kid". Their foresight in bringing this new version of the iconic classic to the screen, will, no doubt, bring great joy to, not only todays young generation of cinemagoers, but also to their parents and grandparents who will remember with great affection the thrill of seeing the 1984 original (starring Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso and Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita as Mr Kesuke Miyagi), which by the way was directed by 1977 Oscar winner John G Avildsen ("Rocky"). "The Karate Kid" is a family event in more ways than one. Jada Pinkett Smith, who has her own production company, 100% Womon Productions, came on-board as a producer and the Smith's son Jaden, shares the lead actor credits with two time Golden Horse Award winner Jackie Chan. The look of the film (shot on location in China) is stunning, thanks to acclaimed British cinematograher Roger Pratt B.S.C. whose film credits include, "Batman", "The End of the Affair" & "Iris". Sadly, so much of what has gone into making "The Karate Kid" is easily overlooked. Like the work of renowned Costume Designer Han Feng and the music of six time Grammy, two time Oscar ® and two time Golden Globe winning composer James Horner. I have no doubts at all, that like its predecessor, this version will become a part of cinema history. It's a film everyone can enjoy. I also expect that when "The Karate Kid" finishes its cinema run, the DVD and Bluray releases will go gangbuster. Will there be a 'Karate Kid 2'? Only time will tell. As long as it stars Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, 'I'll be back' for another round of kick-ass fun and thrills. With a timely, moral message, "The Karate Kid" is highly recommendable. 4 1/2 STARS." The Production Team

Director Screenplay Story Producers Original Music Cinematography Film Editing Casting Production Design Art Direction

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Harald Zwart Christopher Murphey Robert Mark Kamen James Lassiter/Jada Pinkett Smith/Will Smith Ken Stovitz/Jerry Weintraub James Horner Roger Pratt Joel Negron PoPing AuYeung & Zoe Thompson François Séguin Second Chan

Who Is Playing Who?

Jaden Smith Jackie Chan Taraji P Henson Wenwen Han Rongguang Yu Zhensu Wu Zhiheng Wang Zhenwei Wang Jared Minns Shijia Lü Yi Zhao Bo Zhang

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Dre Parker Mr Han Sherry Parker Meiying Master Li Meiying's Dad Meiying's Mom Cheng Dre's Detroit Friend Liang Zhuang Song

Run Time 140 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2010 - Sony Pictures - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2010 The Movie Pages & impact Internet Services. All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian and International Copyright. Trademark Laws and Intellectual Property Rights apply.