"SLC-S25/W1-Movie Snapshots|Around the world | Karate Kid: Legends"

ᴼᶠᶠᶦᶜᶦᵃˡ ᵀʳᵃᶦˡᵉʳ

The plot and setting of the movie.

But let me go into the detail and I will go back a little in the background and describe it from the beginning. I guess it started a couple of decades ago, when the martial arts drama 'The Karate Kid' based on Kung Fu-Karate was released. It became such a popular franchise in the world that it had three sequels within the next 10 years that ended in 1994.

Then in 2010 it was done once again with Jackie Chan in the lead role and the TV series 'Cobra Kai' produced. Now the one I am writing about is the next of the series 'Karate Kid: Legends' that I saw in the theatre. Obviously, it's natural for me to have high expectations from such a successful franchise, but unfortunately, it sounds like a Bollywood (Indian) tried-and-tested formula that leaves the film far from becoming a 'legend' like its title says. It leaves much to be desired even if it was a great entertainer.

Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, the film is the story of a young man Lee Fong (Ben Wang) from Beijing. Lee is the star student of Mr Han's (Jackie Chan) kung-fu school, but his doctor mother does not want Lee to have anything to do with martial arts. In fact, she has lost her kung-fu champion elder son in a fight, so to keep Lee away from it, she starts a new life in New York.

ˢᶜʳᵉᵉⁿˢʰᵒᵗ ᴸᶦ ˡᵉᵃᵛᶦⁿᵍ for ᴺᵉʷ ʸᵒʳᵏ ʷᶦᵗʰ ʰᶦˢ ᵐᵒᵐ

In the meantime the kid meets Mia (Sadie Stanley), the daughter of former boxer Victor (Joshua Jackson). After a few dramatic encounters, Mia and Li get close which to me sounds another predictable drama.

The film takes an interesting turn when Li learns that Victor wants to get back into the ring to earn money as he is heavily in debt. At this time he saw Li's talent and asked to train him.

But after Victor gets injured in the ring, Li loses interest in martial arts. Then his mentor and guide Mr. Han returns to his life, who encourages him to participate in the prestigious Karate tournament there.

The film is about how they combined two forms of martial arts, Kung-Fu and Karate, into one to counter his opponent. But let me give it to Mr. Han who requests his old friend and Karate master Miyagi's successor Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) to train him. The two former champions, "The Legends" come together to train him, that makes all the difference.

I must give it to Li Fong's girlfriend, she plays a vital role and she does it beautifully. As the daughter of a ex boxer and as she helps her father at the shop, she has done her job beautifully.

When Chan needs his help, I wonder, Li Fong (Ben Wang) enters a karate competition, but he also knows that his skills alone were not enough. So what does Mr. Han do? He contacts the original Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) for help.

ˢᶜʳᵉᵉⁿˢʰᵒᵗ ⁻ᴴᵃⁿ ᴹᵉᵉᵗˢ ᵒʳᶦᵍᶦⁿᵃˡ ᴷᵃʳᵃᵗᵉ ᴷᶦᵈ ᴰᵃⁿᶦᵉˡ ᴸᵃᴿᵘˢˢᵒ ⁽ᴿᵃˡᵖʰ ᴹᵃᶜᶜʰᶦᵒ⁾ ᶠᵒʳ ʰᵉˡᵖ.

This combined training helps Lie learns a new tricks of the trade and he learns two martial arts with a faster technique and it works in the end.

I would say, it is a one time watch film with a normal story line. We have heard such stories a lot in Bollywood films so there is nothing new in this story. But why I recommend this movie is because its fight scenes are good and on a fast pace. The locations of New York look good and the entire city where the movie is shot at looks cool. The only problem with the movie I see is that this film is quite predictable, I could easily tell what will happen next.

You just have to see how it will happen and how it will happen is also not so amazing that you can say wow. Had I been associated with the movie, I would cut short the role of college drama with Mia's ex and added some more martial art in the final scenes.

ᴴᵉ ʷᶦⁿˢ ᶦⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵉⁿᵈ. ᵀʰᶦˢ ᶦˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗᵒᵗᵃˡ ˢᵗᵒʳʸ.

Ben Wang has done good acting. His expressions are amazing, whether it is romance, fear, fight. Jackie Chan's work is fine, and worth giving credit.

If you were the Director of the movie what would you do differently?

I would have given this other important character champion fighter Connor (Aramis Knight) who is also Mia's ex, so obviously Li will compete with Connor in that championship and even if it's not hard to guess who will win. Our very own Karate Kid but the end scenes were not as impressive as a movie in this genre should be.

ᶜᵒⁿⁿᵒʳ ⁽ᴬʳᵃᵐᶦˢ ᴷⁿᶦᵍʰᵗ⁾

We know Connor (Aramis Knight) has been added to this story, to keep the story going I would have given him more footage and also the end fighting scenes more realastic and bit longer. After all this is a martial arts related movie so the fight was an important aspect.

I am Inviting my friends @kouba01, @sualeha, @waterjoe and @josepha to Participate in this contest by @ruthjoe.

Note- I watched this American movie recently in Australia and all the shots used in this post are screenshots from official trailer. I used the first image from my email with tickets and all.