‘Karate Kid: Legends' movie review: Jackie Chan and Ben Wang star in sweet, ‘80s-style martial arts drama
As Rod Stewart's raspy voice croons, 'If you want my body, and you think I'm sexy,' with that disco drumbeat, you know you are in for a good time in Karate Kid: Legends, the sixth movie in the franchise.
Karate Kid: Legends (English)
Director: Jonathan Entwistle
Starring: Jackie Chan, Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Wyatt Oleff, Aramis Knight, Ralph Macchio
Runtime: 94 minutes
Storyline: A teenager moves from Beijing to New York, finds a friend, crosses paths with a bully and makes it all right in a karate tournament
It has been a long wait from 2010's The Karate Kid starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. Karate Kid: Legends is in the same universe as the series, Cobra Kai, which concluded this (2025) February.
Li Fong (Ben Wang) is a quiet and sensitive teenager hiding out in his great uncle, Mr. Han's (Chan) Kung Fu's school, in Beijing. His mother, Dr. Fong (Ming-Na Wen), is against her son learning Kung Fu after her son, Li's elder brother, was killed by a rival. She takes up a job in New York for a new start.
Li finds it difficult to make friends in his new school, in the new city and country. He is helped by Mia (Sadie Stanley), who runs a traditional Italian pizzeria with her father, Victor (Joshua Jackson). Li learns that Victor owes money to a wicked loan shark, O'Shea (Tim Rozon).
O'Shea is twice as horrid as he runs the Demolition dojo and is Conor's (Aramis Knight) Karate sensei. Conor is Mia's nasty boyfriend and all round bad guy. Victor was a boxer who hung up his gloves after Mia was born. In a bid to make money to pay back O'Shea, Victor plans a comeback and after seeing Li's fighting skills, asks him to teach some of his cool 'flowing water not stone' moves.
There is a comforting predictability about Karate Kid: Legends. You know the first fight when the hero will be knocked down, the antagonist will use illegal means to win, the training montage and the wisdom of the ages delivered by old timers, this time Mr Han and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio from the earlier movies and Kobra Kai).
There is the big fight, the Five Boroughs Tournament, the run up to the final fight as well as the beats of the last fight where the lead character is beaten to the ground only to rise up from the ashes of defeat to the golden glow of victory.
ALSO READ:'The Last of Us' Season 2 finale review: A somewhat jumbled set-up for Season 3
The fights are well choreographed without being too bloody and it is lovely seeing Jackie Chan do his stuff with his impish smile. The Big Apple looks charming with all those wide shots showing the soaring skyscrapers. Li's training at his tutor's Alan (Wyatt Oleff) rooftop garden is dreamy. The Five Boroughs Tournament final fought atop a skyscraper is cool too.
William Zabka, who played the antagonist, Johnny, from the earlier movies and series, makes an appearance at the end for some more retro fun. Entirely predictable and eminently watchable, Karate Kid: Legends delivers on its promises without overstaying a minute of its welcome. Now, if only there would be theatrical re-runs of Jackie Chan's Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, Drunken Master or Project A, that would be bliss indeed.
Karate Kid: Legends is currently running in theatres
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Arbaaz Khan's wife Sshura Khan spotted with visible baby bump as she steps out in the city, fans say, 'Pregnancy glow is obvious'
Arbaaz Khan , who married makeup artist Sshura Khan on December 24, 2023, is once again making headlines — this time for a possible new addition to the family. Rumours are rife that the 57-year-old star is set to become a father again, as a video of Sshura Khan has gone viral, with fans claiming her baby bump is visible. In the video, Sshura is seen stepping out of an eyewear store in Mumbai. Wearing a loose-fitting outfit, she carefully descended the stairs while paparazzi captured the moment. Unlike earlier times when she would shy away from cameras, Sshura appeared calm, confident, and even greeted the photographers with a smile. Her body language and radiant glow instantly sparked speculation online. Social media users were quick to react. 'MashaAllah,' wrote one fan, while another commented, 'The pregnancy glow is so obvious.' Many others sent the couple blessings and love in the comments section. The video has only added fuel to the buzz that Arbaaz and Sshura are expecting their first child together. There's a 22-year age difference between Arbaaz and Sshura — he is 57, while she is 35. Addressing the age gap in an earlier interview, Arbaaz had said, 'Yes, she's younger than me, but she's not 16. She knows what she wants from life.' He also emphasized the strength and maturity in their relationship. Arbaaz was previously married to Malaika Arora . The two tied the knot in 1998 and share a son, Arhaan Khan. They got divorced in 2017 after 19 years of marriage. Post-divorce, both moved on — Malaika with Arjun Kapoor and Arbaaz with Sshura, after his brief relationship with Giorgia Andriani . While the couple has not officially confirmed the pregnancy, the viral video has certainly stirred excitement among fans. If true, Arbaaz Khan is set to embrace fatherhood again, this time with his second wife, Sshura Khan. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Punjab Kings' batter Priyansh Arya scripts massive milestone in IPL 2025 final
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 3 (ANI): Punjab Kings' young sensation Priyansh Arya shattered Devdutt Padikkal's record for the most runs by an uncapped Indian batter in a debut Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Priyansh came out to open for Punjab in the final of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the world's largest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. In pursuit of Bengaluru's daunting 191-run target, Priyansh provided a quick-fire start and struck 24 from 19 deliveries, laced with four boundaries. He finished the season with a tally of 475 runs from 17 appearances at 27.94. The 24-year-old surpassed Padikkal's tally of 473 for most runs by an uncapped Indian batter in the debut IPL season. It took a stunner from Phil Salt at the edge of the boundary rope off Josh Hazlewood on the final delivery of the fifth over. He tried to flick the ball away for a maximum, but his attempt was intercepted by the English top-order batter. Salt released the ball in the air before crossing the boundary rope and then returned to the field to complete the catch. Even though Priyansh provided the required tempo, Punjab failed to gun down Bengaluru's competitive total. Throughout the chase, Punjab kept itself in the affair but kept losing wickets at regular intervals, which hurt their chances of lifting their maiden title. At the end, PBKS fell six runs short, which ensured that the wait for the title continued for Punjab, who reached their first final in 11 years under the exceptional leadership of Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting. While it was agony for Punjab, skipper Rajat Patidar steered RCB to its first trophy in 18 years. With the end of adding the coveted IPL title to RCB's trophy cabinet, the special moment was met by tears in Virat Kohli's eyes. (ANI)
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
‘Adolescence' overtakes ‘Stranger Things 4' to become Netflix's No. 2 most-watched English-language series ever
British limited series 'Adolescence' has become Netflix's second most-watched English-language show of all time, surpassing the popular 'Stranger Things' Season 4. As of June 1, 'Adolescence' has gathered 141.2 million views since its release on March 13, just 80 days ago. Netflix ranks its top shows based on views gathered in the first 91 days of release, and in that same timeframe, 'Stranger Things 4' had recorded 140.7 million views in 2022. Only Wednesday, the gothic teen mystery series, 'Wednesday', starring Jenna Ortega, holds a stronger position in Netflix's English-language rankings, with a remarkable 252.1 million views in its first 91 days. The success of 'Adolescence' marks a significant moment for British storytelling on the global stage, showing strong viewership across different countries. When expanding the list to include all languages, Korean sensation 'Squid Game' Season 1 remains Netflix's most-watched series ever, with 265.2 million views. Its upcoming second season has also performed strongly in early data, reaching 192.6 million views and placing just behind Wednesday and ahead of Adolescence. With still a few days left in its 91-day tracking window, 'Adolescence' may yet widen the gap between itself and Stranger Things, solidifying its spot in Netflix's streaming history. 'Adolescence' has gained praise for its emotional storytelling, sharp performances, and thought-provoking themes, resonating strongly with both teen and adult audiences. Created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham and directed by Philip Barantini, 'Adolescence' is a four-part mini-series that tells the powerful and emotional story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper), who is arrested after being accused of murdering a classmate. Each episode is filmed in a single continuous take, a creative choice that heightens the drama and makes the viewer feel as though they are right there with the characters, living each moment in real time. With its raw performances, bold direction, and unique storytelling approach, 'Adolescence' has received critical acclaim and strong word-of-mouth support, which have helped propel its global popularity.
