The Karate...I mean, Kung-fu Kid

[Hobbs]

All right, I don't really care that Will Smith's son is the main character. My main peeve is that, you can't call something the Karate Kid and have them not have karate. I think this is a bigger insult (and makes more sense to be upset about) than when Zhang Zi Yi was the main character of Memoirs of a Geisha. The Japanese and Chinese cultures are vastly different, and returning to the motif of "It all looks the same," is a move backwards from what has been largely a biased cinema.

Also, no offense to Jackie Chan, but Pat Morita will always be Sensei.

[BlaqueKatt]

Memoirs of a Geisha.[/I]

well remember Madonna was trying very hard to get that role-at least Zhang was from the same general region(note region being globe cut into smaller parts, four parts per hemisphere basically in my estimation)

[Hobbs]

I don't remember that at all, actually. But she didn't get the role, did she?

It's like casting Ken Watanabe (great actor) as Bruce Lee.

[fireheart17]

well remember Madonna was trying very hard to get that role-at least Zhang was from the same general region(note region being globe cut into smaller parts, four parts per hemisphere basically in my estimation)

That is true. I think that the director tried to argue that Sandra Oh could be cast as being from any asian country and still pull off the role.

[Fryk]

You know what the Pat Morita vs Jackie Chan as Mr Mitagi thing reminds me of?

Muppet Yoda vs CGI Yoda. And, just as Muppet Yoda wins over CGI Yoda, so too Pat Morita Miyagi beats Jackie Chan Miyagi.

[jackfaire]

Anyone who has an issue with Japanese actors playing chinese and vice versa I have to ask what about Australians playing Canadian mutants, English actors playing American Doctors etc.

I wonder about this because I do know some people who treat Japanese, Chinese basically any culture in that region like it is sacred while all others are trash.

[Greenday]

Except Jackie Chan is a bad ass mofo. I'm not a big fan of his comedies but his older action movies are insane. He also does the majority of his own stunts. The guy is absolutely amazing.

And as jack pointed out, you should probably have an issue with Australians playing Canadians, or English playing Americans, etc. etc. Otherwise...I don't see what your beef is.

[Hobbs]

According to who you ask, there are portions of Asian societies that are better than European ones. But that's not my main point. I mean; sure you could pick Jackie Chan to play him, but no one would really think of him as Miyagi-sensei (At least, I hope they wouldn't). My main point is that you can't have something that's a relaunch of a well-known representation of Japanese culture and re-write it as Chinese.

[crashhelmet]

Not to go too geek here, but the style of martial arts Mr. Miyagi taught is Goju-Ryu, an off-shoot of what is commonly referred to as Okinawan Kenpo. Okinawan Kenpo was "created" when Shaolin Monks traveled to Okinawa and taught the farmers their style of martial arts and adapted it to their every day tasks. Chōjun Miyagi later modified it again and called it Goju-Ryu. The "Mr. Miyagi" character is based off of Chōjun Miyagi.

Kenpo, or sometimes called Kempo, is the Japanese translation for the Chinese word Chuan'fa. It means "Chinese Hands"

Kenpo/Kempo. Shaolin Chuan'Fa, and the Korean art of Tang Soo Do (Way of Chinese Hands) are all basically the same Martial Art. The Japanese and Korean styles have been adapted for the region and lifestyles. Chuan'Fa later had its name changed to "Kung Fu" due to government fear of a rebellion. That's an even longer story than I've already typed out.

Back on topic though, I can understand the beef between taking a franchise based off of a Japanese character and making it Chinese. Both cultures pretty much hate and despise each other for various legitimate reasons.

I'm still looking forward to seeing the movie. The trailer shows you the conversion of the wax on wax off training by hanging up and taking down his coat. I'd like to see what more they do.

CH

[AdminAssistant]

Except Jackie Chan is a bad ass mofo. I'm not a big fan of his comedies but his older action movies are insane. He also does the majority of his own stunts. The guy is absolutely amazing.

Have you seen The Forbidden Kingdom? The plot is trash, but - Jackie Chan/Jet Li throwdown. It's AMAZING.

I mean; sure you could pick Jackie Chan to play him, but no one would really think of him as Miyagi-sensei (At least, I hope they wouldn't). My main point is that you can't have something that's a relaunch of a well-known representation of Japanese culture and re-write it as Chinese.

Jackie Chan is simply playing a different incarnation of Miyagi-sensei, and his work won't ever detract from the amazing Pat Morita. Also, I don't know that I'd call The Karate Kid a representation of Japanese culture.

Let's take a different legend - Robin Hood. A character that has been played recently by an American (Costner), a Brit (Elwes), and an Aussie (Crowe). Actors are cast cross-culturally all the time. Frankly, I don't think there's anyone better right now to play Mr. Miyagi than Jackie Chan.

[Hobbs]

I just can't see why people don't have a bigger problem with this. It's the Karate Kid, NOT the Kung-fu Kid!!

[the_std]

I just can't see why people don't have a bigger problem with this.

I truly don't mean to sound condescending here, but it's probably because most people don't care enough to make a big deal out of it. What is that going to do? The movie has already been shot and produced, what's done is done, and getting upset about it isn't going to change anything. It's just a movie.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

I've long since given up on the idea that a remake can hold a candle to the old movie it's remaking. Anything worth the effort is far too often a product of it's time beyond the point where something new can faithfully follow in it's footsteps to say nothing of the fact that nostalgia can't be generated at will. The best bet is to remake something in the spirit of the old movie, along similar lines but nevertheless make it "It's own thing" so to speak. Failure to make a movie that stands on it's own is synonymous with failure anywhere else, why should remakes be any different?

[draggar]

Did Hollywood run out of ideas? It's been a long time since I've seen anything do well that's original.

[the_std]

Uhm, how about every single one of Pixar's creations? They've almost all been massive hits, and they were all originals.

I hate it when people say that Hollywood no longer does anything original. Yes, the remake factory sucks (they've even remade Death At A Funeral, for crying out loud and the original wasn't even five years old!), I hate that they can't just let things go without trying to make money out of them one more time, but that isn't *all* they do. Hollywood still does good things... On occasion.