Latest news with #TheKarateKid
Pink Villa
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Karate Kid: Legends Not a Cobra Kai Sequel But It's Still Connected: Know How
Karate Kid: Legends, the newest addition to the beloved Karate Kid universe, is set to hit theaters in 2025, bringing together Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan's Mr. Han for the first time. The film continues the story of Daniel, who first appeared in the 1984 classic The Karate Kid and re-emerged in Netflix's hit series Cobra Kai, which wrapped up its six-season run in February 2025. Now, Daniel finds himself crossing paths with Mr. Han, the kung-fu master from the 2010 reboot starring Jaden Smith. 'This franchise doesn't know how to not do it right when we care,' Macchio told The Hollywood Reporter, adding that connecting Daniel and Mr. Han, both students of Mr. Miyagi, brings 'another ecosystem in the grand universe' of The Karate Kid. Karate Kid: Legends is not a Cobra Kai sequel, but it's still connected. Director Jonathan Entwistle clarified that Karate Kid: Legends isn't a direct sequel to Cobra Kai, but it exists in the same universe. 'This is not a Cobra Kai movie. It's another chapter in the story,' he explained to Collider. Set three years after the events of Cobra Kai, the movie introduces a new hero: Li Fong, played by American Born Chinese star Ben Wang. Li is a martial arts student from Beijing who learns kung-fu from Mr. Han and karate from Daniel after moving to New York City. While the focus is on Li's journey, fans will be thrilled to see a familiar face. William Zabka returns as Johnny Lawrence in a surprise cameo near the end of the film. Director Entwistle revealed that Zabka's role was a 'very hard' secret to keep. Macchio also praised Zabka's inclusion, stating, 'He graces Cobra Kai with a brilliant performance, and he graces us here with a tip of the hat to the legendary Johnny Lawrence.'
Mint
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
‘Karate Kid: Legends' review: A respectful retread
The sixth film in the martial arts franchise that debuted in 1984, Karate Kid: Legends flings open the dojo doors to deliver chops, blocks, and kicks in a nostalgic throwback for fans of the Karate Kid movies. This latest entry, a legacy sequel, deftly combines former franchise stars, elements from the last five films, and updated threads from the Cobra Kai television series, while introducing a new Chinese lead in a familiar underdog-turned-hero arc. But the tropes remain the same. The underdog journey of Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) in 1984's The Karate Kid—waxing on and off under Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita)—is mirrored in a contemporary New York setting, where Chinese student Li Fong must navigate a new world. The franchise has always been about mentorship, honour, and a game-changing final kick—even in the 2010 reboot with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, which leaned more into kung fu. Cobra Kai flipped the script, featuring Macchio as LaRusso and giving Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) a redemptive arc. In the 2025 film, directed by Jonathan Entwistle, writer Rob Lieber echoes the beats of the 1984 original. The film smartly opens with a scene between Miyagi-san and Daniel that underlines the connection between kung fu and karate—"two branches, one tree"—signifying that while kung fu and karate are different styles, they share philosophical and cultural roots. The new protagonist has old challenges. When Li Fong (an earnest Ben Wang) moves to New York City with his single, working mother, he leaves his kung fu shifu, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), behind in Beijing. Li struggles with the guilt and trauma of his brother's death and the promise he made to his mother to give up fighting. In New York, he befriends pizza parlour owner Victor (Joshua Jackson) and Victor's daughter Mia (Sadie Stanley), only to be pulled into a rivalry with Mia's ex, Connor Day (Aramis Knight), a champion fighter from a local dojo. The plot is predictable as is the outcome, with one big difference. Taking Li from troubled outsider to local hero requires mentorship not just from Shifu Han, but also from Master Daniel LaRusso—thus tying in the 1986, 1989, and 2010 films, as well as the Cobra Kai series, which picked up 34 years after LaRusso defeated Lawrence. (Look out for Zabka's cameo.) Karate Kid: Legends unites all corners of the Karate Kid universe with surprising grace and grit. Jackie Chan is in fine form as Mr. Han, his cheeky wit intact. Ralph Macchio is still appealing as Master Daniel, bringing Miyagi-Do wisdom back into the mix. The real joy lies in watching these two mentors bridge their philosophies—kung fu meets karate—blending into a reboot that respects the past. Even if 'jacket on, jacket off' doesn't quite hit like 'wax on, wax off.' The action highlight is a rooftop tournament with fast cuts and sharp choreography. Though it holds back on the emotional punches and occasionally plays it safe with crowd-pleasers, Legends remains a respectful, heartfelt, and surprisingly fresh fusion of everything that's made the franchise endure.
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Karate Kid Legends Day 1 India Box Office: Modest Rs 75 lakh start for Jackie Chan-Ralph Macchio's franchise film
Karate Kid: Legends opened in India today with a modest Rs 75 lakh nett. While the collection isn't particularly impressive for a franchise-driven film featuring Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, it isn't entirely disappointing either. Given the legacy of The Karate Kid and the popularity of Cobra Kai in the streaming landscape, a stronger start was expected. However, if the film builds decent word of mouth, it may gain momentum over the weekend. Directed by Jonathan Entwistle and written by Rob Lieber, Karate Kid: Legends serves as the sixth film in The Karate Kid franchise and directly connects the world of both the original trilogy and the 2010 reboot. The film stars Chan and Macchio reprising their roles while introducing Ben Wang as the new lead. The supporting cast includes Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, and Ming-Na Wen. Clocking in at a crisp 94 minutes, the film doesn't overstay its welcome. Viewers have praised its slick action choreography, humor, and nostalgic elements connecting to previous installments. Performances, particularly those of Wang, have been described as solid, although the overall narrative has received mixed reactions from critics. The film was first announced in September 2022 and went into production in April 2024. It was shot over two months and is the first entry in the franchise to carry a PG-13 rating. Notably, this is also the first Karate Kid film not produced by the late Jerry Weintraub. After premiering in South American markets on May 8 and in Europe and Scandinavia on May 29, the film will be released in the United States on the morning of May 30. While the reviews have been mixed, there's a clear sense of goodwill among fans, which could propel the endeavor to a USD 25 million three-day weekend. While that will put it below Disney's holdover family entertainer Lilo & Stitch, it could still top Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Both the latter films will observe their second weekend between May 30 and June 1. Karate Kid: Legends was made on an economical USD 45 million budget; hence, even the most conservative projections would be a respectable result for the sequel. The film is available in India in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I Like All Of The Karate Kid Movies, But The 2010 One Is My Favorite. Here's Why
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. When I ranked all five Karate Kid movies, I put the original at number one because, you know, I like to give the people what they want. Even though The Karate Kid Part II and III each have their fans, and The Next Karate Kid…is a film that exists, I know that everybody loves the original. Inversely, I also know that pretty much nobody thinks the 2010 The Karate Kid, starring Jaden Smith, is the best movie in the franchise. But, do you want to know a little secret that the above headline kind of already spoiled? I think it's the best. And, with the upcoming Karate Kid Legends (which looked awesome at CinemaCon) bridging the gap between the old Karate Kid, and the more recent one, I thought that now was as good a time as any to sing the 2010 movie's praises. We once ranked the most vicious villains of The Karate Kid franchise, and many of the characters that you might expect made the list, such as John Kreese, Johnny Lawrence, and Terry Silver. However, while I'm not completely on board with the whole 'Daniel LaRusso is the REAL villain theory' that's been floating around the internet for awhile, what I will say is that Daniel isn't the most likeable protagonist. For example, in The Karate Kid Part II, he asks mentor,Mr. Miyagi why he doesn't just kill John Kreese when given the chance. I'll repeat that. Daniel asks his mentor, who is a man of peace, why he doesn't KILL another human being. So, yeah. I'm not sure if Daniel has the best motives when it comes to the fine art of karate. That said, do you know what character doesn't have murderous intent? Dre Parker, played by Castle headpiece-wearing aficionado Jaden Smith. You see, Dre, just like Daniel, finds himself being a stranger in a strange land (But this time, in China rather than California). And, like Daniel, Dre finds himself in trouble because he likes a girl. That said, Dre's worst behavior in the movie involves throwing dirty water on some punks, and convincing the girl he likes to play hooky from school for one day. He doesn't throw the first punch when facing his bully, nor does he seem like the kind of person who can't accept that people can change in the future. In truth, Dre seems like the kind of kid who avoids seeking out trouble, but is willing to stand his ground if it finds him, and I really like that about him. I'm not sure if I can say the same for Daniel-san, however. Jackie Chan is a legend. Everybody knows that. In fact, I grew up watching all of the best Jackie Chan movies when I was little, and I share a lot of those movies with my own children. Like I said, the man's a legend. So, it's been interesting to watch one of the greatest action heroes of all time transition into becoming the wise old man character. And, no offense to Pat Morita, as he carried all four of those Karate Kid movies, but I just don't see him as being the kind of guy who could kick everybody's butt in a room if he had the opportunity. But Jackie Chan? Well, I've seen him do it. In other movies, sure, but that's how I know him. Plus, I just like Jackie Chan's performance as Mr. Han better than Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi. Both Miyagi and Han have a dark past, and both of them act as father figures to Daniel and Dre, respectively. However, I just have more of a connection with Jackie Chan, given my history watching so many of his movies. It's almost like, similar to Dre, I grew up with Jackie Chan as well, so I just like him better. It's a personal thing, I know, but this is a personal article. I kind of brought this up with the first entry on why I prefer Dre over Daniel, but Daniel seems like he causes a lot of his own problems. Yes, he shouldn't be bullied by the members of Cobra Kai, but he should also kind of mind his own business, especially when moving to a new area. Daniel is also a teenager, and even turns 18 in the movie. So, in a lot of ways, I feel like Daniel could possibly make better decisions, or at least know not to spray water at Johnny as payback. Because in a lot of ways, I kind of don't feel bad when Daniel gets the snot beaten out of him in the first movie. He kind of deserves it. I don't feel that way about Dre though. For one thing, Dre is only 12, so I'm more okay with him making bad decisions (like throwing dirty water on his bully). I also feel like Dre has more to deal with in his life, what with moving to a different continent, and the fact that his mentor, Mr. Han has a lot of trauma, as exhibited by the part where he's wrecking the car that he killed his wife and child in, and that's a lot for a 12-year-old to witness. Finally, I think the tournament itself seems more important for Dre, even though the set-up is similar to the original The Karate Kid. Dre, being a foreigner, really only has this opportunity to find happiness in China, whereas I think Daniel would get by, even if he lost the tournament and continued to get bullied (I mean, he got a car, right? He could drive away from his troubles). So, in every way, I just think the stakes are higher for Dre, and I like that about the 2010 film. I prefer it, even. I've never been to China, and I don't see myself ever going there, unfortunately. So, that's where movies come in (Inversely, the Chinese audience seems to like our movies, too…though, some of the movies they like might be questionable). Since I won't travel there, I enjoy seeing characters go there, and that's where 2010's The Karate Kid takes place–Right in Beijing, China. This is a great setting, because again, Dre is a kid out of his element. He originally lived in Detroit, Michigan, but once the auto industry went belly up, his mother had to move them. And, I love this element about the film. In the original movie, Daniel moved from Newark (Whoop whoop. New Jersey, representing!) to Los Angeles, California. But, I'm sorry. As somebody who has been to both Newark and Los Angeles, I don't feel anything is exotic about either location. Daniel moving there changes the locale, sure, but not in a way like Detroit does to China. In fact, this adds to a lot of the conflict in 2010's The Karate Kid. Because while yes, The Karate Kid Part II takes place in Japan, Daniel is with Mr. Miyagi. But, Dre is all alone in China, for the most part, and trying to navigate this new setting while his mother's at work really adds to the tension. In that way, I think China is the most interesting setting this series has ever had. But, that also adds to another reason why this is my favorite 'The Karate Kid' movie. I put 'The Karate Kid' in quotes before because it's a complete misnomer, as this movie is not about karate, which is Japanese in origin (Which is why Part II takes place in Okinawa). Instead, it's about kung fu, which is from China. In fact, 2010's The Karate Kid wasn't even titled that in China. Instead, it was titled, Kung Fu Dream, which makes sense, since the 2010 movie was only called The Karate Kid in America since people already know the title, and it loosely followed the same events from the first film. But, I much prefer kung fu to karate. No disrespect to Japan (I mean, I LOVE Japan…and Godzilla), but I've always found karate to be kind of boring. In fact, I even find it boring in the original Karate Kid movies, as the actual fighting has always been the least interesting part to me about those first four films. However, the combat in the 2010 film is awesome. I love all of the fluid movements and martial arts that take place, and that alone makes this movie superior in my eyes, since I genuinely enjoy watching the fight scenes. I think they're all great. I think I've waxed on enough here, but what do you think? Does anyone else out there also love the 2010 film as much as I do? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Hire Me As The Iron Man': Jackie Chan Talked To Me About Doing Stunts Into His 70s, And Why He's ‘Happy' To Keep Doing Them
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Where did the time go? Jackie Chan just turned 71 in April, but you wouldn't know it considering all the work he's been up to, primarily in Chinese cinema. It's been a little while since the actor has been aroun Hollywood, but he's back for the upcoming 2025 movie Karate Kid: Legends! When CinemaBlend spoke to the actor about his current thoughts on doing his own stunts in movies, he shared with us why he's ready to deliver more punches and kicks now and for years to come. When I spoke to Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio and Ben Wang, the leads of Karate Kid: Legends, I had to ask Chan about his stunt work ethic nowadays and how it's changed over the years. In his words: I'm so happy to see the technology coming up and AI, but for me, useless. The audience still likes to see Jackie do the real things, and poor me. I always tell all directors, please hire me as the Iron Man, Spider-Man, Batman [so my character can wear a mask]. And, [that way I can do] more acting than fighting, more story... As Chan pointed out, while the advancement in technology may have had a large impact on Hollywood movies in recent years, it's all 'useless' to his own career because audiences want to see him really fight. The actor quipped that he'd love to play a masked superhero like Iron Man, Spider-Man and Batman so he can focus more on the story aspects of his character. At the same time, though, he cannot deny what he's been famous for since finding his first starring martial arts role in Hong Kong's New Fist Of Fury back in 1976. As Chan continued: But they say 'No, they want to see Jackie do the real things.' I know 20, 40 years ago, you could do a triple kick in the sky, and later on, 40 years later, then you [could] do a double kick. Now, you do one kick. We like to see Jackie do only one kick. Poor me, but I'm happy to do that. In the end, they like it. I will tell all my friends, 'No matter if I still can act, I still can fight. Every year I release one movie for the fans around the world.' Chan got honest about how his limits as a fighter have somewhat declined with age, but that's not going to stop people from loving to see him do stunts. His comments to me come after he told Haute Living he will 'of course' 'always' do his own stunts and that wouldn't change 'until the day I retire, which is never!' He also told the magazine that since he's been doing it for the past 64 years, 'there's no physical preparation anymore,' but it's rather 'muscle memory' for him. I also spoke to Karate Kid: Legends director Jonathan Entwistle, who set out to make a movie likened to an early Jackie Chan movie with the star's return to the franchise for the first time since 2010's The Karate Kid with Jaden Smith. He recalled Jackie Chan getting injured on the first day of shooting, taking it like a champ and going right back into filming the movie. Entwistle also detailed Chan coming on set, and witnessing him choose which different size pans (for a kitchen-set fight scene) he would utilize them for his trademark comedic fighting style. Chan's comments highlight his commitment to fans who've helped make him as successful as he is, while also pointing out the actor's desire to not only be known for fighting. In fact, he recently also told People he wants audiences to know 'I'm the actor who can fight' rather than simply an action star, and doesn't want to 'always do the same character.' You can check out the latest Karate Kid: Legends trailer and see Jackie Chan help train Ben Wang's Li Fong alongside Ralph Macchio's Daniel, only in theaters on Friday, May 30. (And, heads up there's an exclusive popcorn bucket for the release!)
