Sunday
14Dec2008
Will Smith Moving 'Karate Kid' to China
Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 8:17PM
I watched a little more intently as I normally would
have this week when
Jaden Smith co-starred in
The Day the Earth Stood Still. The kid was
great in The Pursuit of Happyness, opposite his dad,
Will.
But he was atrocious in the sci-fi remake. I might put some of the blame at
director Scott Derrickson, but some of it is that Smith is only ten years old.
But that's not the only change in the works. Will told MTV that the remake is moving from southern California to China. China?
"We’re making it with the China Film Group, so it’ll be based in Beijing," explained Big Willie Style. "Mr. Miyagi was originally Japanese, so there’ll be a Chinese adaptation to it." Um...OK, but you lose the name "Mr. Miyagi." That's like ordering Chicken McGeometric Chicken. Plain doesn't sound right.
Perhaps that's not your biggest concern. Perhaps you're wondering how karate works in China. '"Fortunately," answers Smith, "karate is originally a Chinese art form, so that’s the area we’re playing around in."
Playing around sounds about right. I didn't exactly have high hopes for this before - outside of a possible resurgence of Peter Cetera music when the inevitable sequel comes out - but it's just sounding more and more lame.
Colin Boyd | Permalink | in Karate Kid, Remakes, Will Smith | Print Article | Email Article | 2 Comments | Share Article
Reader Comments (2)
Smith has also announced plans to remake and ruin The Goonies with starring roles for his kids...
Me to want to learn Karate like smith.