Karate Kid: Legends

I took my dad to see this and overall we both enjoyed it. I guess this is what Karate Kid is, pit main person in a different environment that makes said protagonist new and awkward but with a love interest linked to the bully who will challenge protagonist to some big tournament where main protagonist wins.

So formulaic is the best way to describe this movie but maybe it's about the journey itself. It's about this kid named Li and his mom moves out of Beijing to New York because his mom wants away from Jackie Chan who reprises his role as Mr Han from that other Karate Kid movie.

So when Li gets to New York he finds his love interest at a pizza place of all places after asking about stuffed crust. Believe it or not, his love interest is actually wonderful in this role. Shes very good and full of personality. In fact, both leads are really good.

Then a bunch of stuff happens and then you realize that the trailer you saw of Mr Han and Daniel-San interacting is scarcely absent. I don't even think they even show up until an hour into this movie.

But the characters are very likable. I really like her dad who is the best character in the movie. He has this story about owing money and challenging at a boxing match which is a strange distraction in the film.

But even though I enjoyed the film, I'll most likely forget it existed. It just doesn't offer anything new other than seeing two world collide when Daniel-San teams up with Rumble in the Bronx.

I thought the film was fine. It doesn't leave you with much but I'm glad I saw it. I hope the filmmakers makes a film that gives a good sendoff to the characters. I'd see it.

Only the final scene with Johnny (after the fight) was good. The rest felt like a long cinematic from a Need for Speed game. Too rushed, too irrational, too obious and boring, too... American.

A weak scenario, with chinese people speaking English between them - so the brain of the average American viewer doesn't get overwhelmed, listening to a foreign language for more than 10 minutes.

Cliché scenes, typical disney-channel-like smart-ass dialogues, leading to an emotianlly weak, typical "I'm proud of you" moment.

If you are over 13 years old, don't waste your time with it. Watch the original one instead!

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.

Unlike some other reviews, I appreciated that it honored the same clichés of this franchise: moves to a new city, meets a girl, run into trouble with girl's ex, fight it out in tournament. For what this movie offered, I really wish the movie was a bit longer for more character and plot developments without feeling so rushed and choppy. It felt like 2 separate movies compacted into one short movie of only 1.5 hours. Especially the entire second half which felt like a montage throughout to the end. One thing I did not appreciate was the animations with big fonts and vivid colors. It seemed like they were targeting more younger audiences to join the Karate Kid fandom which is fine, but the animations were just too much and felt over-done. Really wish they used Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio better throughout the entire movie. It was a little disappointing to get so little of them in the movie. Did love getting Joshua Jackson though. The final scene before rolling into the end credits was extremely appreciated. Ultimately, the movie was a fun watch and overall enjoyable thanks to the awesome choreographies. The movie was good but it could've been great. If they continue to expand this franchise, which I hope they do, I hope they will put the actors to better use for better storytelling than trying so hard to appeal to a younger audience.

There is no relationship building between the characters, it's like the director thought "let me take all the cliches and make this predictable garbage". Should not count as a Karate Kid movie. I do not remember a movie that has ever been so rushed. Don't know why haven't they used a different director, there was a lot of potential but, sadly it was all wasted.

The emotional stakes are nonexistent, and every scene feels like it's checking off a box rather than telling a story. Even the choreography-something you'd expect to shine-felt uninspired and repetitive. Fans of the original deserved much more.