Will Smith's Son Is The New Karate Kid

By Josh Tyler: 2008-11-11 02:47:33

It was way back in September of 2007 that we first heard the Will Smith is remaking The Karate Kid with his son rumors. Now they’re confirmed. Variety says that Jaden Smith, last seen by most huddling next to his real life dad Will Smith on the floor of a subway station bathroom in Pursuit of Happyness, will be the new Ralph Macchio.

Columbia Pictures is backing the remake, with Will Smith involved in producing it. The script is being written by Chris Murphy, but what they have right now is mostly just an idea that they want to use karate 10-year-old Jaden a star. They’ll shoot it on location in Beijing and in other cities, lifting pieces of the original plot while almost certainly new ideas. Someone should probably tell them that karate is no longer cool, and if they really want to make this thing revision it should probably be called The Ultimate Fighting Kid. Let Jaden get a little bloody.

So here’s the weird thing in all of this. Ralph Macchio was actually in his twenties when he made the first karate kid back in 1984. In the movie, he played a teenager. Jaden Smith is 10, which makes this remake closer to Karate Babies than Karate Kid. Most 10-year-olds cannot act, let alone pull off karate moves cool enough to engage a modern audience. Neither can most teenagers for that matter, which is I suppose why they cast a 23-year-old Ralph Macchio. I guess they could always CGI in some convincing karate chops. Still, casting a 10-year-old instantly makes this a completely different movie from the original. Maybe that’s for the best, especially since they’ll never replace Pat Morita, and it’ll make it easier for us all to pretend this remake doesn’t exist.

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Deb Shiflett
May 17, 2009 at 11:42

Yes, I agree, John. Who says karate is no longer cool? My 7-year-old has only been in karate for 2 years, and is already a green belt, soon to test for his blue. His first competition ever garnered him a gold medal in kata and a bronze in kumite (sparring). Then he went to the Jr. Olympics and US Open Karate Championships in Vegas (an international competition) and won a silver in kumite. What's not cool about that? Maybe these loser "gang-banger wanna-be" kids these days should take up karate and actually make something of themselves instead of contributing to the degradation of society! You're WRONG, Josh!! Yes, I would LOVE for Josh to step into our dojo and tell them karate isn't cool. My son's sensei is a 10-time National Champion and the World Champion in kumite in 2005. Again, what's not cool about that? And besides, why don't you let them MAKE the movie and actually WATCH it before you criticize it?

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Dan
December 9, 2008 at 03:19

Back in the day "The Karate Kid" was what was entertaining along with "No Retreat no Surrender" and "The Last Dragon". They are just movies that should just be left as is. No disrespect to Will or his kid but first of all, I don't think it would be nothing like the original or even close to it. I feel you would be dissing the original. Will's son is to young and .......I don't know, just don't do it. I was and still am a fan of the Karate Kid Movies except for the one with the girl. So if the movie is going to be remade use someone else.

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viv
November 12, 2008 at 16:52

Hey Guys - just keep repeating to yourselves - its only a movie, its only a movie. I think it will be great entertainment myself.

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Viv
November 12, 2008 at 16:50

John and Josh - Keep repeating to yourselves - its only a movie, its only a movie! Should be great entertainment.

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Kris
November 12, 2008 at 13:12

John,

I think what Josh means is that the idea of Karate is no longer mainstream Pop... back when Karate Kid was made kids all over instantly wanted to know Karate, to them it was popular, it was cool, it was a fad. Im not saying Karate ITSELF was a fad. but the idea of it was. Like other kids I took Karate and it lasted about 3 months, and that was longer then most is my class.
Karate will always be a respected Martial Art and will always be cool to some people, but these days kids arent clamoring to learn Karate like they were in the late 80's/early 90's, I mean thats when people like Steven Segal, Van Damme, Chuck Norris and the Ninja Turtles were at the height of thier popularity... so are you seeing what Josh is saying? Kids now are more interested in becoming Batman or other such pop-culture phenom than being the next Ralph Macchio.

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John
November 11, 2008 at 20:38

Karate is no longer cool?

I know a few people who would disagree. Go to a dojo and tell them that, Josh.

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Scott
November 11, 2008 at 16:32

Ugh. What a waste of time and money.

There's already a "new" Karate Kid. Wouldn't this be the "new new" karate kid?

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