Karate kid, kung-fu and beauty

I saw the latest Karate Kid movie with Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith and Taraji P. Henson. It was quite a fun and inspiring re-do of a classic. I won’t call it a remake because it did not pretend to be the original movie, but it stayed true to the original themes. Being deeply interested in both physical activity and art I thoroughly enjoyed the awesome fighting, the kung-fu insights as well as the beauty and artistic subtleties of the film. When I think about it, physical activity and art are not necessarily separate realms. Grace and creativity of movement can be seen everywhere from dance to kung-fu, gymnastics to football (aka soccer).

There was certainly no lack of creative movement in Karate Kid. The choreography of the training scenes with the bamboo posts, the “wow” moves of the fight scenes, the awe-inspiring physical control of the kung-fu masters or the breathtaking unity of hundreds of students practicing a kata were all well presented. The raw beauty of China as well as the juxtaposition of the traditional and the modern, the east and the west, were elements well displayed in this film. I particularly loved the contrast of the delicately patterned traditional walls of Mr. Han’s home and the old beaten up car in his living room. The infusion of humor was also nicely achieved throughout the story. One subtle joke (intentional or not) that you should keep a keen eye out for is on Mrs. Parker’s t-shirt which says “Beware of naked Emperors.”

I am no movie critic and I have no desire to get into the nitty gritty of the film. All I do is appreciate beauty and I saw plenty of it in Karate Kid. As for how good it is – well I loved it and would definitely tell my friends to go see it. Take from that what you will young grasshopper.