The current remake of the the classic film, "The Karate Kid" is thankfully not a cheap cinematic carbon copy of that sentimental 1984 favorite.

Instead, this film is a wonderfully well scripted re-imagining of the original's basic premise... adding it's own unique flavor while successfully maintaining the joyous spirit of the beloved original.

The first "Karate Kid" starring Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki "Pat" Morita was one of those films that sweetly crept into our hearts and pop-culture psyche with it's young underdog, Daniel LaRusso ( Macchio )

and the quiet and wise, Mr. Miyagi ( Morita )

In the original "Karate Kid" when Daniel is bullied and beaten by a group of local teenage martial arts students... it's Miyagi who befriends young Daniel... and teaches him, in rather unorthodox ways, not only how to defend himself; but also, he teaches Daniel  valuable lessons about life and honor in the process.

This simple story of Daniel and Miyagi's friendship touched audiences in a lasting heartwarming way... and also forever introduced into the American lexicon the phrase, "Wax On... Wax Off" as a form of humorous shorthand for referencing the film. 

It deserves it's fond, somewhat cheesy, place in filmgoers' memory and will never be replaced. 

Fortunately, the new updated 2010 version of "The Karate Kid" starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith doesn't try to completely mimic the original... but instead, takes the best elements of that story and fills it with perhaps even greater depth, scope and excitement for a new generation to admire. 

Jaden Smith plays Dre Parker, who's mother Sherri ( a terrific Taraji P. Henson ) gets a job transfer out of financially depressed Detroit to Beijing, China.  Upon their arrival, Sherri is full of renewed hopes and expectations of a better life for her and Dre in their new surroundings.

However, Dre is a bit reticent about his strange new surroundings where he doesn't even speak the language... though, he quickly makes a new friend in a pretty young classmate and classical musician.  Soon, young adolescent puppy love sparks between the two... and a mutual crush begins to ignite.  However, their friendly attraction also ignites the anger of the leader of a group of local Chinese boys from the local martial arts school.  

The leader doesn't like Dre talking to "his girl"... and what follows is a brutal playground beating where Dre quickly and painfully learns his novice American fighting style is no match against the skilled kung fu kicks and punches of the local bullies.

In the days following, Dre is tormented, threatened and bullied by the pack of boys... until, during one attack his tormentors are beaten back by an unexpected savior, Dre's low-key apartment building maintenance man, Mr. Han. ( Jackie Chan )

Mr. Han dispatches the multiple bullies with such speed, ease, grace and skill that he amazes Dre... and Dre asks him to intervene for him against the bullies and their brutish martial arts teacher.  In a plot twist that mirrors the original film, Dre and Han go to the gang's training studio seeking a truce... only to find themselves agreeing to a compromise.   The gang will leave Dre alone... while Han teaches Dre the skills of kung fu to fight the gang's members in an upcoming martial arts tournament.

What follows is basically the same story as the original film.  Mr. Han begins to teach Dre the skills he will need to survive and perhaps triumph in the tournament to come.  However, in the process, Han teaches Dre about discipline, respect and honor.

Significantly, what sets this film apart from the original "Karate Kid" film is it's locale.  By setting the film in far off China... and not in Southern California as in the original, Dre's sense of isolation and lack of self-confidence is only heightened in these unfamiliar surroundings of unknown language, culture, and fighting skills.

Indeed, despite the familiar film title... there is no "karate" to be found in this film.  Karate is a Japanese martial art.  Here, Chinese Kung Fu is the skill that is highlighted to great and spectacular effect.

At the same time, the film greatly benefits cinematically taking full advantage of the scope, splendor and beauty of the Chinese landscape including spectacular scenes shot on location throughout Beijing, including the new Olympic Village, the legendary Great Wall and the awe-inspiring Forbidden City.   

However, the biggest revelations to come out of this "Karate Kid" includes young Jaden Smith in what could be a star-making turn for this young actor.  While, Jaden certainly made a significant mark co-starring with his superstar father, Will Smith ( who also co-produced this film ) in "The Pursuit of Happyness"... it's in this film where Jaden Smith truly stands on his own as a growing actor.

His scenes and character not only evoke the confidence and swagger that reminds one of his world famous father; but also, Jaden possesses the requisite vulnerability and innocence that one expects a 12-year-old to experience.   Dre is a mix of foolish young bravado combined with a frightened young man facing an unknown world... with only Mr. Han to guide him through it.  

Young Jaden Smith skillfully accomplishes this balancing act with impressive results that must certainly make his famous parents proud.

Equally revelatory in this film is Jackie Chan's performance as the quiet, subdued and seemingly centered Mr. Han.   American audiences have long been entertained by Jackie Chan's martial arts skills on screen.  However, even Chan's most spectacular stunts and fights on-screen have been couched within the context of comedy.

Here, in "The Karate Kid", the audience gets a chance to see an effectively serious performance by Chan.  Indeed, even his extended initial fight scene to defend Dre against the bullies is not at all played for laughs.  Here, we wonderfully see Jackie Chan's fighting and acrobatic skills played with stern, protective seriousness.

It's a moment of freshness within Chan's martial arts choreography that's a joy to watch and for American audiences to finally appreciate unfettered by slap-stick comedy... or Chris Tucker. 

The sequence is like seeing Jackie Chan fight on-screen for the first time in a new light... presenting the opportunity to see his exquisite martial arts talent without a laugh track.

Also, Chan displays unexpected dramatic acting ability as Mr. Han that one hopes he gets a chance to display in future films.   Indeed, Mr. Han is played with slight touches of humor here and there... but, Han is far more subtle and serious overall than even Pat Morita's Mr. Miyagi character in the original.

A pivotal scene where Mr. Han tearfully and angrily divulges a painful and tragic secret to Dre could have been a disaster for Chan, given the audience's close identification with him as on over-the-top comedic action hero.  However, Chan successfully pulls off this seriously poignant and touching moment of vulnerability and inner pain... effectively washing away any type-casting of him as a one-note comedic actor.

Kudos to Taraji P. Henson as Dre's no-nonense, loving mother.  Her scenes are often played for comic relief, but she also brings a strong motherly presence as a single mom who wants to provide the best for her son.

Finally, the film's training sequences and the ultimate climactic tournament are full of excitement and spectacle.   As mentioned earlier, there is thankfully no effort to mimic the original film's trademark "Wax On... Wax Off" teaching.   In this version, Han trains Dre in his own admittedly unique way that subtly evokes the unorthodox methods of Mr. Miyagi... but, Han / Chan makes the training his own.

Additionally, if there's a notable improvement in this film over the original, it's that Dre's training comes across more plausible and authentic... making the audience really believe he is truly ready to face off against his extraordinarily skilled adversaries in the tournament.

The climatic tournament itself is well staged and realistic in creating the necessary tension and building excitement.  Again, the screenplay returns to familiar ground in certain places... but the resolution of the final fight stages it's own unique conclusion.

"The Karate Kid" is a wonderfully well written and performed re-imagination of a classic film concept.  There are subtle homages to the original here and there;  but overall... this is a film that earns it's place to stand alone on it's own merits.

Indeed, "The Karate Kid" re-booted... possesses it's own unique charm, locale and enough fresh new elements to be it's own entity worth seeing, more than once

... without competing with the legacy of the classic original.

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