This 2010 remake of the Karate kid was surprising. Although it was different from the original, I found it enjoyable and more family friendly then the first. At first I was worried that Jaden Smith would act like an idiot and ruin the whole, but he actually did a pretty good job. I think the reason why its technically not “better” then the older one, is because the story was very ripped off, and had a lot of holes in it. The romance was way less believable and obnoxious, and some of the Kung Fu was played in rather long segments of slow motion.
On the good side though, it was a lot more family friendly then the original, it had its little laughs, and there were messages of respect, compassion and other good values thrown in. Go for the fun of it. It’s plot is a little holey, but its still a pretty fun movie. Parents Guide below.
Parents Guide:
Sexual Content: 12 year old’s share a rather long kiss. Dre’s mom briefly talks about accidentally going into the men’s restroom. When Dre and his girlfriend play a dance game, his girlfriend dances suggestively. They dance to the songs “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga and “Low” by Flo Rida.
Language: Dre says “ass” about 4 times in a row, but is corrected by Mr. Han. One use of d–mit. God’s name is used improperly a few times.
Violence: It has constant Kung Fu Violence. Lots of hitting, kicking, punching, throwing, pushing and flipping, and a lot of it is done by 12-14 year old’s. Dre is beat up in 6 against 1 fights. The violence is bloodless, but enough to make you wince. A Character get a black eye, cracked ribs, and bad leg injuries. One character smashes his car with an ax like tool. A certain Kung Fu class is taught to give no mercy to their opponents.
Drinking and Smoking: Mr. Han gets drunk on the anniversary of a death.
Other Negatives: Dre lies to his mother once or twice. Dre has trouble getting used to living in China and vents angrily to his mother.