The Karate Kid

Full of clichés, but still very likeable. The protagonist is okay, and so are the supporting characters – very good chemistry and quality dialogue scenes. The action is solid, the fights are very well done. Jackie Chan finally is not playing an idiot, but a character deserving of his age and experience. And he still knows how to handle himself decently, so another plus for him. For kids up to 15 years old, this must be a captivating spectacle, understandably so. (14/01/2011)

There’s no need to say much about the plot. It's a remake, only instead of waxing on and off, it’s about hanging up that jacket, and the kid’s younger. It is obviously aimed at a younger audience, so besides the requisite melodrama, there are life lessons to be taken away from this film. I was surprised by Jackie Chan, whom I normally don't like but I actually didn't mind him here. The same can't be said for Jaden Smith, who kept getting on my nerves. (01/01/2017)

Never underestimate putting a jacket on a coatrack, putting it on, and picking it up off the ground. Too bad the guy isn't like three or four years older, it would have made his relationship look better right away. Unnecessary scenes; unnecessarily long. If Jackie had one more gray hair and less of a painful past, it would have been much better. Otherwise, a run-of-the-mill movie about fair play, friendship, and appreciation between "men", that romanticizes China. Some of the scenes smack too much of America – and that's a bummer when it's in China... :-D A weaker 3 stars. (08/07/2010)

Everyone, and especially the target audience of this film, must find it too long-winded, with unnecessary dramatic detours (digging into Jackie Chan’s past). And Jaden Smith would be a nice fit for the role of a young skateboarding enthusiast, but he is terribly miscast here. The fights are good and the final tournament is emotional enough, but you can say that about most of the Rocky movies, which don’t waste time with unnecessary padding. (15/09/2010)

The new classic of all children cannot happen from a similar theme today, but hats off for the fact that such a simple story, especially at a literal killer length, did not fall apart in the hands of the creators. However, I have to admit that after the opening classic of "moving-disappointment-bullying", it was more of a regular boredom rather than disappointment. Surprisingly cool and totally natural Jaden, solid training, classic editing, and divine Jackie Chan eventually brought me so high that I couldn't believe it during the closing credits. 70% and eventually even a fourth star. Remaking a classic so that the resulting film can breathe on its own is not a joke. (01/10/2010)