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USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Karate Kid' spoilers! 'Legends' director talks ending, 'Cobra Kai' connection
'Karate Kid' spoilers! 'Legends' director talks ending, 'Cobra Kai' connection Show Caption Hide Caption 'Karate Kid: Legends' trailer: Ralph Macchio teams with Jackie Chan Ralph Macchio's karate sensei and Jackie Chan's kung fu shifu work together to train a martial arts prodigy in "Karate Kid: Legends." Spoiler alert! We're discussing important plot points and the ending of 'Karate Kid: Legends' (in theaters now), so beware if you haven't seen it yet. A big tournament championship between rivals is the hallmark of any 'Karate Kid' movie, and the latest installment in the Miyagi-verse literally takes the competition to new heights. In 'Karate Kid: Legends,' Ben Wang is the latest actor to wear the franchise's underdog mantle as Li Fong, a kung fu-trained transplant from China to America. He makes an enemy out of Conor (Aramis Knight), a Brooklyn karate champ and ex-boyfriend of Li's friend Mia (Sadie Stanley). Unsurprisingly, they're on course for a high-stakes matchup when Li enters the famed Five Boroughs tourney to win money to help Mia's dad Victor (Joshua Jackson) pay off a loan shark. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox To conquer Conor, though, he's going to need more than just kung fu moves. So his sifu Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) travels to Southern California to recruit sensei Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) to teach Li some karate skills with just days to spare. Let's dig into all the best spoilers, from a different sort of 'Karate Kid' ending to a mid-credits scene with a surprise 'Cobra Kai' connection. What happens in the ending of 'Karate Kid: Legends'? 'Karate Kid' tourneys have leveled up since the days of the original film's 1984 All Valley championship where teen Daniel tussled with Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). Li conquers several foes via montage in the Five Boroughs, with each match taking place at a street location, leading to the final on top of a skyscraper against Conor. And like four decades ago, a signature kick is significant to the climax: Earlier in 'Legends,' Li tried to do his late brother's acrobatic Dragon Kick on Conor, which the bully easily countered. In the tourney, Li uses it as a trap, unleashing the kick, ducking under Conor's counterattack, and landing a decisive blow that leads to his victory. Director Jonathan Entwistle explains that he wanted to honor past movies but also avoid what he calls 'the tournament trap.' So his twist on the familiar was 'based on how kung fu itself is perceived in Western movies,' he says. 'What we had with kung fu and karate was this idea of street fighting and Bruce Lee vs. the sports movie.' The climactic match was built to be 'my 'Lord of the Rings' moment," Entwistle adds, "where we get to the top of the mountain and the wind's blowing, and that's where the fight is. That's what I wanted, to buy myself the ability to have a 12-minute martial arts finale with very little dialogue in a perpetual sunset.' Does 'Karate Kid: Legends' have a post-credits scene? Yes, it does! And it ties into the final scene where Li is working at Victor's pizza shop following his tourney win. After the end title card and before the credits roll, the movie cuts back to LaRusso's SoCal dojo and Daniel gets a surprise pizza delivery. He opens the box, sees a thank you note from Li and brings it into the house where Johnny's hanging out – a familiar sight for lovers of Netflix's 'Cobra Kai' series. Daniel tells him he needs to try this pie but Johnny argues that 'the best pizzas are in Encino.' Then Johnny has the great idea to do a karate-themed pizza parlor called Miyagi-Dough (a play on LaRusso's Miyagi-do karate). 'That's disrespectful,' Daniel says. 'To pizza?' Johnny counters. 'To Mr. Miyagi!' Daniel replies. Johnny then brainstorms some punny advertising: 'Miyagi-Dough: Pepperoni's the best defense,' 'Slice first, slice hard, no anchovies' and 'Olives on, olives off.' A 'Cobra Kai' fan himself, Entwistle wanted to further connect the dots in the Miyagi-verse. 'We just let Billy and Ralph go because that's the joy of where we were,' he says. 'I hope that that alone helps make people realize we didn't make a 'Cobra Kai' movie. We made a 'Karate Kid' movie. "But it's the homage to what has just finished to lead us on to a brand new chapter, a brand new novel in the series that hopefully can go on.'
Pink Villa
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Karate Kid Legends Review: Ben Wang, under the guidance of Jackie Chan, delivers a nostalgia-filled kick with familiar punches
Plot Li Fong (Ben Wang), a kung fu prodigy, moves from Beijing to New York City with his mother (Ming-Na Wen) after a family tragedy. Struggling to fit in, Li befriends Mia (Sadie Stanley), the daughter of a pizzeria owner Victor (Joshua Jackson), who's tangled in debt. When Li's skills catch attention, he's pulled into a rivalry with Connor (Aramis Knight), a local karate champ and Mia's jealous ex. To help Victor and face his own fears, Li enters the Five Boroughs karate tournament, training under Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio). Will Li Fong overcome his fears, win against Connor and ensure Victor comes out of debt? Watch Karate Kid: Legends to find out. What Works for Karate Kid: Legends The karate and kung fu sequences in the film are a visual treat.. Each fight, especially Li's dragon kick, is aesthetic and thrilling to watch. The action choreography is impeccable. The humor delivers the cute, fuzzy vibe reminiscent of early 2000s family films. The goofy training montages and lighthearted banter shall make you smile. The cinematography captures New York's vibrant streets and rooftop showdowns with flair. The background score adds a fun, upbeat pulse that keeps the mood lively. Jackie Chan 's presence as Mr. Han is pure gold. His charm and warmth shine, even if he's not on screen enough. At a crisp 94 minutes, the film doesn't overstay its welcome. What Doesn't Work for Karate Kid Legends The story is where Legends stumbles. It is ultra-generic, hitting every predictable beat of the Karate Kid formula. Boy moves to a new city, gets bullied, falls for a girl, and fights in a tournament? We've seen it before, and there's no intrigue to keep you guessing. The plot could've been more layered, diving deeper into Li's grief or the cultural clash of his move. Instead, it plays it safe, recycling clichés without adding fresh twists. Also, the villain, Connor, lacks depth, coming off as a one-dimensional bad guy with no real arc. Lastly, while Jackie Chan is a delight, his limited screen time feels like a missed opportunity. Watch the Karate Kid: Legends Trailer Performances in Karate Kid: Legends Ben Wang stands out as Li Fong. He is lovable and you can do nothing but root for him. Jackie Chan is effortlessly charismatic as Mr. Han, though his reduced role leaves you wanting more. Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso is terrific. His scenes with Jackie Chan spark nostalgic joy. Joshua Jackson adds warmth and humor as Victor. Sadie Stanley as Mia is sweet and relatable, though her role fades in the second half. Aramis Knight does well as Connor, but the script gives him little to work with. Ming-Na Wen as Li's mother is good but again, her character feels too bland to care. Final Verdict of Karate Kid: Legends Karate Kid: Legends is a fun, nostalgic ride that delivers dazzling karate moves and early 2000s-style humor. Ben Wang shines as the new kid, and Jackie Chan's presence is a treat, even if he's underutilized. The overly familiar story, lack of depth and flat villain arc hold it back, though. Regardless, it is a solid, feel-good entry in the franchise, although it doesn't break new ground. You can watch Karate Kid: Legends at a theatre near you.
