The Karate Kid

[Tensei85]

But then again given its a rip off of Karate Kid, I suppose overly generic is in the lineup.

[doug maverick]

But then again given its a rip off of Karate Kid, I suppose overly generic is in the lineup.

actually if you would have read the many other post you would have known its not a ripoff but an official remake.it was changed to the kung fu kid, after many chinese elements such as jackie chan and the local "china" was added to the story.

[Tensei85]

actually if you would have read the many other post you would have known its not a ripoff but an official remake.it was changed to the kung fu kid, after many chinese elements such as jackie chan and the local "china" was added to the story.

That really doesn't make a difference...

The idea is the same, with additions to the story via characters, locations, etc.. really doesn't change the concept.

btw, I read all posts up to now...

Either way it will be interesting.

[GeneChing]

Still want to know who will be Ali....

'Boston Legal' Actress Taraji P. Henson to Star in 'Karate Kid' Remake
Sunday, June 28, 2009

Taraji P. Henson, who played Whitney Rome on Boston Legal and most recently as Brad Pitt's mother in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, will soon take on yet another motherly role. This time, the BET Best Actress winner will be playing the mother of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith's son Jaden in the remake of The Karate Kid.

"I'm off to Beijing [soon] to work on a film," actress Taraji P. Henson revealed to MTV News. "They're remaking The Karate Kid."

The original Karate Kid is a 1984 film starring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue. Upon its first theatrical release, it became a commercial success and has retained its popular following, spawning a short-lived animated series spin-off and three movie sequels.

The remake of the '80s classic is reportedly called Kung Fu Kid, though Henson referred to the film by its original title. Will Smith, who serves as producer to the project, has cast his real life son and Pursuit of Happyness co-star in the role originally played by Macchio, as well as action star Jackie Chan.

"Jaden Smith -- Will and Jada's son -- is playing the karate kid. I'm playing his mom," Taraji P. Henson explained. "And Jackie Chan is playing Mr. Miyagi."

According to reports, Henson's character is a single mother named Sherry who is forced to move with her son to China in order to keep her job.

Aside from Boston Legal, Taraji P. Henson has appeared on various TV series, including Eli Stone, CSI, The Division and Smart Guy. In the silver screen, she is also credited for her roles in The Family that Preys, Not Easily Broken, and Hustle & Flow. At present, she's working on the comedy Date Night starring 30 Rock star Tina Fey and The Office actor Steve Carell.

Some new writing chops for Karate Kid reboot
By Steven Zeitchik

Kar It looks like the Karate Kid will get a dose of Happyness.

Columbia has brought on Steven Conrad, who penned 2006’s “The Pursuit of Happyness,” to work on the studio’s reboot of the 1980s film.

The studio has also signed Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson to play the mother in the pic. Henson said on the red carpet at the recent MTV Movie Awards that she was soon off to work on the film, but this marks the first time the studio has confirmed the news.

Relative newcomer Chris Murphy was originally hired to write the script of the reboot. Conrad has a relationship with two of “Karate’s” producers, James Lassiter and Will Smith, via “Happyness,” which the pair’s Overbrook Entertainment produced and in which Smith starred.

The CAA-repped screenwriter also penned the Nicolas Cage family tale “The Weather Man” and is attached to write the Scott Rudin-produced drama “Aloft” and the celebrity look-alike dramedy “Chad Schmidt,” the latter also with Sony.

Production will begin next month on the new “Karate,” which Harald Zwart is directing. Jaden Smith occupies the role played by Ralph Macchio in the 1984 film, while Jackie Chan takes on the Pat Morita part.

The pic moves from Japanese themes and a California setting to Beijing where, according to reports, Smith’s character has just moved with his single mother and finds himself the target of bullies before turning to Chan’s character as a mentor.

[GeneChing]

Or does Will Smith look a little like Samuel L. Jackson in the 1st pic?

Will Smith brings Kung Fu kid to Beijing
(CRI)Updated: 2009-07-09 15:12

Oscar-nominated American actor Will Smith was spotted in Beijing on Wednesday with his wife and children. But this time, he was not the biggest star.

Smith was escorting Jaden, his 11-year-old son, to meet the crew of the upcoming Sino-American film "Kung Fu Kid", which will feature the award-winning child actor, Sohu.com reported.

The Smiths also met with Jackie Chan, who will play Jaden's mentor. Will Smith will play the antagonist and is also one of the film's producers.

"Kung Fu Kid", a remake of the 1984 American blockbuster "The Karate Kid", will be filmed in Beijing and is expected to be released in June 2010.

Will Smith was nominated for Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the 2006 family drama "The Pursuit of Happyness", in which he worked with his son. The film also won the younger Smith a Breakthrough Performance honor at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Will Smith and Family: Chillin’ in China

They’re no strangers to massive media attention, and as they made their way through the streets of Beijing, China, Will Smith and his family attracted plenty of paparazzi.

The “I am Legend” stud was joined by his wife Jada Pinkett Smith and son Jaden as he made his way to Beijing Film Studio.

And this time, it’s Jaden who’s the star - he’ll be filming a new martial arts movie called “Kung Fu Kid” along with living legend Jackie Chan.

In the film (due out June 11th 2010) Jaden plays a boy whose mother moves to China for work. Over time he develops a love for martial arts and is taught by a Karate master (Chan).

Karate master

[Shaolinlueb]

its called kung fu kid, be he is going to be taught by a karate master. god people are idiots.

to me calling kung fu karate is like calling a muslim a jew.

[GeneChing]

Anyone else see Pink Panther 2? There was a nunchuk scene...

Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith start 'Karate Kid' remake
By MIN LEE – 3 hours ago

BEIJING (AP) — Jackie Chan will play the wise kung-fu master in a Hollywood-Chinese remake of the 1984 hit "The Karate Kid" that kicked off filming in the Chinese capital at the weekend, a movie company publicist said Monday.

Chan's young disciple in "Kung Fu Kid" will be played by Jaden Smith, the son of Hollywood superstars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, China Film Group spokesman Weng Li told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

In "The Karate Kid," Pat Morita plays the iconic building handyman Mr. Miyagi who trains one of his young tenants, portrayed by Ralph Macchio, into an accomplished fighter.

The co-production between the state-run China Film Group and Columbia Pictures started shooting Saturday in Beijing, Weng said.

"Kung Fu Kid" is being directed by Harald Zwart, who also directed "One Night at McCool's" and "The Pink Panther 2," Solon So, the chief executive of Chan's company, JC Group, told the AP.

Chan and Smith, along with Smith's parents and sister Willow, attended a traditional Chinese ceremony to mark the start of the shoot Saturday. Photos on China Film Group's movie news Web site show the Smith family and Chan holding incense sticks.

Will Smith — one of the film's producers — Chan, Zwart and others symbolically removed a piece of red cloth covering a movie camera, after which Smith gave Chan a hug, according to video posted on Chinese news Web site Sina.com. His hair done in a huge Afro and wearing a bright red track jacket and blue pants, Jaden Smith stood and waved when he was introduced. His father ruffled his hair when he sat down.

Chan said on his Web site he also attended the younger Smith's 11th birthday party last Wednesday, where he and Will Smith posed for pictures with young performers wearing red and yellow costumes with dragon patterns.

Ken Stovitz, one of Will Smith's partners in the production company Overbrook Entertainment, said at the ceremony Saturday that "Kung Fu Kid" will be set in modern-day Beijing. China Film Group chairman Han Sanping said shooting will last three months.

Chan juggles careers in Hollywood and Chinese-language film. The veteran 55-year-old Hong Kong action star will be seen in the upcoming the Hollywood action comedy "The Spy Next Door," about an undercover Chinese spy whose cover is blown, and the Chinese production, "Big Soldier," about the friendship between two soldiers set in China's ancient Qin dynasty.

Jaden Smith costarred with his father in the 2006 movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" and appeared in the 2008 Keanu Reeves sci-fi movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still."

[GeneChing]

I re-hyperlinked this article directly to the sina.com vid of the red cloth removal ceremony.

Shooting Begins On Officially Retitled ‘Kung Fu Kid’

A remake of the classic ’80s movie, The Karate Kid, is something that, when announced, was met with the same groans and “Please no!” responses (from most folks out there) similar to about every other dreaded remake. The fact that they reportedly changed the name to Kung Fu Kid, as well as the storyline that was reported being a bit on the cheesy side, didn’t exactly help matters.

Today we get the news that the title of this remake has officially been changed to Kung Fu Kid.

Admittedly it makes sense since it’s Kung Fu our lead learns and not Karate as in the original. Playing the lead is Will Smith’s son, Jayden, as a kid (would you have guessed it?) who moves to China with his mum, gets bullied at school, and eventually ends up learning Kung Fu from Mr. Han (Jackie Chan, playing the remake’s equivalent of Mr. Miyagi). I’ve said it before - it’s not the absolute worst idea in the world, but couldn’t they have conjured something a bit better?

The Harald Zwart (Pink Panther 2) directed martial arts remake actually started filming this weekend in Beijing (heck, at least they’re shooting the camera’s in the right location…), where the story it will take place in modern day. The shooting schedule of the film is set to last for three months, and to celebrate the start of production, a traditional Chinese ceremony was held on Saturday.

Jayden Smith was there at the ceremony with his father, Will, mother, Jada Pinkett, and sister, Willow. In a video shot of the ceremony put online at Sina.com, Will Smith, Chan, and Zwart, “symbolically removed a piece of red cloth covering a movie camera, after which Smith gave Chan a hug.” If you want to take a look at the ten-minute video of the ceremony, you can head here.
Kung Fu Kid ceremony

'Kung Fu Kid' Beijing ceremony

Even if the title change from The Karate Kid to Kung Fu Kid does distance the remake to the ’80s original, I still fear it will soil the reputation of it. I fully realize that if the remake sucks, we’ve still got the original, but as I have said on a number of occasions, today’s audiences might automatically think of this remake whenever “The Karate Kid” gets mentioned. It’s happened numerous times with all the remakes of classic horror movies (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, House of Wax, The Amityville Horror, on and on...), where most likely today’s (young) audiences will not even be aware there was one before these relentless 21st century rehashes.

I suppose that’s what the title change is for, but will the same happen with Kung Fu Kid? I believe it just might…

What do you think of this remake now officially being retitled Kung Fu Kid? Do you think there’s a chance it may turn out to be any good?

As stated, Kung Fu Kid started production last weekend in Beijing, but it doesn’t have a release date set as of yet. The film is directed by Harald Zwart, and written by Steven Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness).

[GeneChing]

I've been thinking...if this film is one tenth as successful as Karate Kid was back in the day, it's going to be great for kung fu schools nationwide, a real boon for our industry. I'm crossing my fingers for that.

Jackie Chan praises kung fu of Will Smith's son
By MIN LEE (AP) – 2 days ago

HONG KONG — Jackie Chan says "Kung Fu Kid" co-star Jaden Smith's dedication to martial arts puts his own son to shame.

The 11-year-old son of Hollywood stars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith has been training under Chan's stunt co-ordinator for his role in the China Film Group-Columbia Pictures remake of the 1984 hit "The Karate Kid," which kicked off filming in Beijing on July 11.

In a diary entry on his official Web site, Chan said he was deeply impressed by the younger Smith's progress when he visited Los Angeles last month.

The veteran Hong Kong action star said Jaden Smith learned the Chinese phrases for different kung fu moves, responded to orders in Mandarin, and treated his teacher, Wu Gang, according to traditional Chinese custom.

"When he was thirsty, he gave the traditional hand gesture, putting one fist into the palm of the other, bowed and asked permission to drink some water," Chan said.

Chan said Smith even learned the drunken fighter routine he made famous in his 1978 film "Drunken Master."

"He put my son to shame! I provided my son with the best martial artists in the world, and he could not be persuaded to try it. In just two months, Jaden had learned so much. He is truly a talented boy," he said, adding he felt Smith was ready to perform his own stunts in "Kung Fu Kid."

Chan's son, Jaycee, is a singer and actor but has not followed in his father's footsteps as an action star.

Chan posted several photos with the diary entry showing him with Jaden Smith and his father.

He said he was skeptical at first of Jaden Smith's work ethic because he was born into a privileged family.

"Training in martial arts is hard work. It takes years to perfect even one punch or kick. Jaden's father is a famous celebrity, and Jaden probably knows he could get away without having to work very hard. If I couldn't get my own son to train in martial arts, how could anybody else succeed?" Chan said.

Chan said he suggested to Will Smith that he send his son to China for a few years of kung fu training, predicting "when he returns, his martial arts will be truly incredible."

Jaden Smith costarred with his father in the 2006 movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" and appeared in the 2008 Keanu Reeves sci-fi movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still."

[Lucas]

part of me wonders how much of this project involved 'dad i really want to meet jackie chan and learn some kungfu stuff from him.'

[taai gihk yahn]

from the blog:

"What also impressed me about Jaden is that he comes from an affluent and famous family, and you would never guess that when you interact with him. I went to Will and shook his hands, telling him how proud I was that he had raised such a good boy. I know that Jaden is going to be a big movie star some day. He has all the qualities to become successful in whatever he does in the future. I wish I had a son like this. "

that is just so wrong...

[Lucas]

ouch........

[GeneChing]

Click for pics.

Wed, 16 September 2009 at 11:27 am
Jaden Smith is the Kung Fu Kid

Jaden Smith learns some kung fu fighting moves from master Jackie Chan as they continue to film scenes for their upcoming movie, Kung Fu Kid.

The 11-year-old son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith has been training a long time for this role. According to Jackie Chan, via his official website, he shared that Jaden is a master. “He put my son to shame! I provided my son with the best martial artists in the world, and he could not be persuaded to try it. In just two months, Jaden had learned so much. He is truly a talented boy,” he wrote.

Kung Fu Kid, being filmed in Beijing, China and Wudangshan in central China’s Hubei province, is set to hit theaters Summer 2010.

10+ pics inside of Kung Fu Kid Jaden Smith…

If this film does one tenth of what the original did for the martial arts industry, it'll be a welcome (and much needed) boon to our economy. I've got my fingers crossed.

[yutyeesam]

My prediction is that this movie will be mediocre at best. It's most probably going to suck, unfortunately.

But, the release of the movie will be what school owners can take advantage of.

What would really help our industry is another Kung-Fu Panda type thing happening.

[doug maverick]

i think this film is going to be a smash hit...wheather its good or not doesnt matter. this is gonna be a critic proof film. and probably a tent pole movie.