So, anyone see the previews for it? It looks interesting. Only problem I have is that it isn't Karate, but Kung Fu.

The preview makes me wish I was wisped away by some old wise man to a peaceful temple and trained.

Pat Morita is dead. There is no more Karate Kid.
This movie is A LIE. KF

Is Shia LaBeouf playing the role of Mr. Miyagi in this movie?

Jackie Chan plays the role of Mr. Miyagi. While the original movie was indeed a classic, I feel that this one is enough of a remake that it qualifies as, basically, a whole new Karate Kid all in of itself.

The original Karate Kid is one of my favorite films of all time, but this remake doesn't look so good to me. I especially don't like how the main character is a lot younger.

China Karate Kid?

I liked the look of it, obvious terminology issues aside. It was a little disconcerting to discover that I actually want to see it.

Well, like I probably said before, I'm going to see the movie but I'm purposefully going to replace the name as Kung Fu Kid, as well as put this as a sequel rather than a remake.

I actually rather like Jackie Chan... that's the only thing that might draw me into it. KF

Jackie Chan and Jet Li are epic.

Do. Not. Want.

I actually am really looking forward to this movie. As a personal preference, I like kung fu better than karate. After I watched the previews I said the same thing "shouldn't this be called kung fu kid??" But hey, they wouldn't get nearly as many viewers if they weren't remaking an older movie. Oh, and Jackie Chan says he thinks it will be called "kung fu kid" in the release over in Asia. Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/01/07/ja ... rane-kick/

Also, there is some controversy surrounding this movie since the star is Will Smith's son, and Will Smith is one of the producers. There are some people boycotting the movie because they feel the casting was inappropriate and Will Smith is just trying to get some fame/money for his son. If you ask me though, I'd say hey that's hollywood

I honestly can't wait to see this. Ya ya ya, it's supposed to be Kung Fu and all that jazz, but in all honesty, the original movie was hardly "karate" in itself. *Goes and stands in crane position* This move can kick anyone's ass!

Actually, the "white crane" is a part of Karate. No, it's not something that is popularized by today's dumbed-down karate studios that can be found off of almost every exit off of every major highway in the United States. However, in karate's early years it was referred to as "Te" meaning "hand." It later became "karate" meaning "empty hand." Te was refined by the Okinawan people from their original teachers: the Buddhist and the Taoist pilgrims from China. Source: http://www.martialarts.org/styles/japanese02.html



It was the influence from the Shaolin Kung Fu animal styles that is seen in the various early forms of Te. Fujian White Crane in particular was the animal style that influenced Naha-te. Source: http://www.mardb.com/naha-te/



So there you have it. The influences you saw in the original Karate Kid movie, while they weren't much like modernized American Karate; they were actually very true to Karate's early forms/roots. But hey, with a bad ass teacher like Mr. Miyagi, you should expect no less!

This is discouraging. Where would I go if I wanted to do smarted-up karate? Should I just use the ears-and-eyes-open method, the review scour?

Not sure I fully understand your post, but I agree that it is discouraging. I have spent nearly four years just trying to find a decent martial arts school in Georgia. What I am against is the "black belt mills." These are the schools that will just take anyone and give anyone a black belt as long as they pay enough money. I say dumbed-down because Americanized martial arts today (especially MMA) forgets that martial arts is an art. It is a philosophy and a way of life. It's not some "lets get in shape and learn self defense" that it is advertised as. The Taoist and Buddhist monks understood the importance of balancing inner strength with outer strength (their yin with their yang). Unfortunately, martial arts in the United States has forgotten that inner aspect (although here in the south I've seen plenty try and "Christianize" it).

Sorry /rant off