Karate Kid: Legends

This Karate Kid movie is OKAY but unfortunately, the writers just went with the most classic combination of clichés, some examples without spoilers, just what you can see in the trailer:

-boy moves to a new city -boy is bullied -boy meets girl -girl loves boy -bully is the main boss

Yet, the movie manages itself to not be annoying and extense. The pace is certainly fast, but I insist, there's no character development because everything is just too obvious from the very beginning.

There are some Artificial Intelligence effects involved which really surprised me. This is just getting better and who knows? We might see a spin-off of a young Miyagi sensei one day haha.

All in all, I kinda enjoyed Karate Kid: Legends even though it was one of the most obvious storylines I watched.

PS: The best scene will come just before the credits. Trust me.

Listen, this film has it's flaws. But it does not deserve the hate it's getting right now. Is it the best karate kid movie I have watched NO. BUT it's not the worst either. People are saying this film is HEAVILY flawed. What? Did I just watch the same movie as other people YES. This film is good, just good, it has a very similar story but changed a few things which I liked not ALL of them but yeah. Yes I know they back half is rushed but we know the main character is gonna fight the villain at the end so why spend time for the climax when we know what's gonna happen?

Conclusion: Cinematography - 8 Acting - 6.5 Story - 6 Action - 10 Pacing - 6

That's my thoughts of Karate Kid : Legends.

Karate Kid: Legends might be the only movie with such a rushed pacing that i still end up recommending, i completely understand why some people might not enjoy it, the pacing really is all over the place, and the story editing moves way too fast, but despite that, Ben Wang, Sadie Stanley, and the rest of the cast brought enough charm and authenticity to their characters that i found myself liking them in a surprisingly short amount of time.

And yes i was desperate with the movie when they trying to get Daniel finally on the screen, but when the time comes, it's a great relief, also lifted by the spark Jackie Chan brought to the film, his portrayal felt like another version of Mr. Han, not quite the same one who trained Jaden Smith in the 2010 Karate Kid remake, but still recognizably Jackie, wise, quirky, and effortlessly entertaining.

Ralph Macchio return as Daniel was brief, but enjoyable enough, there's a fun, short-lived chemistry between him and Jackie Chan, and that alone made parts of the movie worth watching, if only the film had taken a bit more time to develop its story and give these likeable characters more room to breathe, it could've been something really special.

The fighting sequences and choreography are exciting, charismatic, energetic, and fun, there are some genuinely funny moments too, and a fun surprise at the end that left me smiling.

Yes, it's incredibly rushed, and especially after watching the whole saga of Cobra Kai, what a weird timeline and little visit Daniel had during this whole movie, but in the end, i had fun, and maybe even more on a rewatch.

This movie delivers a good dose of nostalgia while attempting to carve out its own path, though not always successfully. The characters, both new and returning, are undeniably charming. It's genuinely a pleasure to see familiar faces back in action.

The action sequences are surprisingly well-executed, boasting a decently done style that feels both modern and respectful of the franchise's roots.

Where the film stumbles is in its plot. While the main story unfolds exactly as you'd anticipate from a Karate Kid movie, a huge, wholly new subplot arrives almost entirely out of nowhere. This unexpected diversion nearly derails the movie, feeling jarringly out of place. On one hand, it's refreshing to see such a predictable franchise attempt something genuinely different. However, its resolution is incredibly abrupt, as if the filmmakers suddenly remembered they had to get back to the main plot, leaving the intriguing new elements feeling underdeveloped and rushed.

This rushed feeling extends to the film's overall pacing. At only 90 minutes, Karate Kid Legends is far too short. With so many new characters to introduce and returning characters to give their due, the movie feels like it's racing through its narrative. This is heavily emphasized by the sheer number of montages, which, while efficient, contribute to the sense of a story being told in fast-forward. The last 30 minutes in particular feel like a mad dash to a conclusion you've seen coming since the opening scene.

Ultimately, Karate Kid Legends possesses a nice and charming soul, a warmth that harks back to the original films. However, this inherent charm isn't followed through on almost any aspect. The film hints at deeper emotional beats and intriguing new directions but consistently pulls back, leaving you wishing it had committed more fully to its own potential. It's an enjoyable watch for fans, but one that leaves you wanting more substance beneath its familiar surface.

It was a typical boy meets girl, girl has crazy ex story but it worked well.

I liked the combination of king fu and karate and liked that they also threw in some boxing too.

Jackie chan added some humour to it which was good.

Would have liked to have seen Daniel in it more but overall I was very impressed with the movie. Wasn't sure what to expect after cobra Kai and thought they would destroy the karate kid universe with this new film but I think it stands as a good film to join the universe of Miyagi Do.

Loved the very beginning when it explains the tie between kung fu and karate and loved the end just before the credits....that was a great well thought out touch.

Still felt it would have been nice for some of the cast from cobra Kai to make a slight cameo but the film was very fast paced so not a huge amount of time I guess.

I'll deff watch it again and will deff get the blu ray to add to the collection when it comes out.