According to Variety, Jaden Smith, Will’s son, is set to star in a remake of The Karate Kid. Now usually, I laugh at people when they get upset over a planned redux. (Here’s an idea: Don’t watch it! Problem solved!) But this one got to me.
I understand why you’d want a new generation to see The Karate Kid: They’ve got Cobra Kai problems that they need to learn how to deal with, too. But the thing is, they are seeing it. I remember chatting with Ralph Macchio when The Karate Kid Collection DVD was released in 2005 and him telling me how often he hears that parents, who were fans of the film 20+ years ago, are now showing it to their children. The movie still holds up, and, more importantly, it has the late Pat Morita, who earned an Oscar nomination as Mr. Miyagi (and who tears up while talking about the role on that aforementioned DVD). Why would you want to show a child a Karate Kid that doesn’t have Morita?!
So am I just biased because I wrote Pat Morita’s remembrance for EW when he passed in November 2005, as well as the Karate Kid entries on our lists of the 50 best high school movies and the 20 Movie Endings We Love, or do you agree? And what planned remake has elicited the strongest negative reaction from you?
More on Teen Cinema:
50 Best High School Movies, Nos. 50-26
The 25 All-Time Best High School Movies
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I agree that this remake (like most remakes) is a terrible idea. I usually don’t bag on remakes either because a) I think they can raise awareness and appreciation for the original film or b) I can just choose not to watch them, but this is one is particularly irritating.
Jaden Smith’s casting is bad enough (I couldn’t care less that he’s black, but I DO care that he’s 10!), but who in the world are they going to get to play Mr. Miyagi? Morita was absolutely indispensable.
As for planned remakes that solicited a negative reaction, I don’t think it ever came to be, but I remember hearing about a “Sound of Music” remake with Cameron Diaz and being personally offended.
Oh, this is just about as bad as it gets as far as remakes go. There is no need whatsoever to make this movie. Especially with so young a lead actor and, as you pointed out, no Arnold from “Happy Days.” This is a new low.
I know Hollywood’s grasping straws with old franchises they want to remake, but The Karate Kid? Come on. It’s not even that old to begin with. The numerous iterations of The Karate Kid still gets replayed on both ABC Family and the Disney Channel to this day (between HSM/Camp Rock airings, anyway). There’s absolutely no point in remaking this.
Jaden Smith the the epitome of bad child actors. Every time i see him I cringe. He should be on some syndicated sitcom, not starring in movies.
And a ten year old remaking Karate Kid? I can’t even imagine. Terrible.
Who will play Miyagi? Either Morgan Freeman or Samuel L. Jackson of course. The whole thing will be set in the inner city. It’ll be comparable to the Honeymooners remake with Cedric the Entertainer!
What bothers me about this remake is that it is only a vehicle for a kid who should do something better with his family money/status and probably excellent education then be an actor.
Amen to that!!! There is just no reason for this remake.
Finally a good remake, can’t wait for this! Just like Catwoman with Halle Berry, this sure is going to be a box office success. Jaden Smith is going to be grateful for this chance, this is going to kickstart his career, and he will have a career like his father….on a second thought, this is probably going to destroy any chances Jaden could of have, and hopefully this “remake” is going to be cancelled soon. NO MORE REMAKES HOLLYWOOD, I’M SURE SOMEONE IN TINSEL TOWN HAS A GOOD, ORIGINAL IDEA.
Yeah; this is a really lame idea. I noticed that it will be filmed in Beijing to give it an “exotic locale”, so presumably there is the easy path to a Pat Morita replacement. Clearly throwing a bone to Will Smith. I must say that this doesn’t compare to the heinous prospect Ceballos mentioned below. Egad.
… 10 year old boys don’t even appreciate girls at that age, unless the girl happens to be their mother! So how will the producers handle one of Daniel’s motivating factors (that would be Elizabeth Shue)? Will it be an outright kiddie flick with a ridiculous childhood romance? Gross. I hope not. The should at least wait 6-8 years for him to reach an appropriate age.
Also, it should be mentioned that “The Karate Kid” has already been remade…with Hilary Swank and Pat Morita, and it was called “The Next Karate Kid.” Why is this happening?!
I see The Karate Kid in the tv listings on a weekly basis, so I’m sure young kids have already seen it. Obviously, this being the case however, it’s popular, so if it’ll make money, they’ll make a movie.
I’m not always upset with remakes, as sometimes new twists can be done with older material (just look at all of the different takes on Shakespeare’s plays). I do, however, object to this remake. Not so much because the original still holds up well (although that is part of it), but because the lead is a kid! What the heck kind of life lessons can a kid learn, and why would anyone over 12 care to watch it? Sigh.
No, Mandi, you’re not biased. This is a terrible idea. Making a sequel, maybe, but a remake of the original isn’t necessary.
As for the horror that Ceballos mentioned, I hope that it was killed completely dead. I shudder to think of Cameron Diaz in a SoM remake.
The idea of a The Birds” remake makes me angry, though who knows if it will actually ever happen since it’s been “in production” for a while now. Actually any Hitchcock film being remade makes me angry I’ve recently discovered.
I’m usually down with remaking movies, but I don’t see much point in doing this one. I didn’t think the first one (or its sequels) were that great, so I probably won’t see this one either.
This is a travesty! The Karate Kid still stands up. In fact, a group called No More Kings, wrote a song called “Sweep The Leg, Johnny!”, and had a great video with all the cast members! Hysterical.
The Karate Kid should not be remade with Pat Morita and certainely not with a bad child actor! Sweep the leg of the producer who pitched this!
So does anyone else believe this movie would not be considered if the father of the kid wasn’t Will Smith?
no no NO !!!!!!!! this is just WRONG!!!
i hate jaden smith, he is so arrogant and he’s only 10. ugh doesn’t his family have enough $? go away.
I think remakes are okay when it comes to movies where today’s technology will enhance the action and overall look. What I don’t like is remaking movies that have good plots and writing or the story itself makes it a classic. If it still resonates with people today, there is no need for a remake. So I object to The Karate Kid remake because how will you make the plot and the story any better? Kids can watch the original and still understand the moral and relate to it even though it’s from the ’80s. I’m also peeved about the Footloose remake with Zac Efron because how will you update that? New dance moves? But then it would have to take place today, and are there really small towns that outlaw dancing? It’s too hard to buy.
Remember when Will Smith wasn’t a Scientology loving, narcissistic, power wielding hollywood ‘Playah’? When he smiled instead of smirked? When his son was not a posing, sunglass wearing, mini gangsta? Me too. Wonder what went wrong?
There is no way this is a good idea! I am generally a pretty big Will Smith fan, and he seems like a smart guy that should probably know better. Why didn’t he laugh at them and say, “look, there is no way you’re putting my kid in some crappy Karate Kid remake!!”!? I’m sure there are plenty of other scripts that could serve as the “star vehicle” for his son.
There’s no reason to remake this movie. The original was plenty good for many generations. It’s like trying to remake Star Wars or Gone With the Wind. The original will always be far superior.
It would be sacrilege to my youth – haven’t they taken enough 80’s crap (mostly toys) and used them with this new generation. I agree that it would not be the same without Pat Morina. Lame idea period.
This is a ridiculous idea for a remake. I don’t see how it can be anything but bad. Leave the classics alone!
I really wish that Hollywood would stop toying with my childhood movie memories. I can remember watching it at a young age–thinking that Ralph Macchio was so cute and Mr. Miyagi was the funniest old man ever. It’s depressing to think that if the remake does come out that my image of the movie will be destroyed forever. . . sigh
NO!!!!!
I could care less about remaking this mediocre, waste-of-time flick. The real question is will Banannarama sing their smash hit”Cruel Summer”.
usually i cringe and then laugh off the remake rumors, BUT THIS ONE- actually made me a bit sad. the ending alone still gives me the chills.