The Karate Kid Movie Trailer

MPAA Rating: PG, for bullying, martial arts action violence and some mild language
Genre: Action
Runtime: 140 minutes
Starring: Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Director: Harald Zwart
Release Date: June 11, 2010

The Karate Kid - Official Synopsis

In Columbia Pictures' The Karate Kid, 12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) could've been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother's (Taraji P.

Henson) latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying—and the feeling is mutual—but cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, Dre's feelings make an enemy of the class bully, Cheng. In the land of kung fu, Dre knows only a little karate, and Cheng puts "the karate kid" on the floor with ease. With no friends in a strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but maintenance man Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), who is secretly a master of kung fu. As Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not about punches and parries, but maturity and calm, Dre realizes that facing down the bullies will be the fight of his life.

The Karate Kid - A Remake of an '80s Classic

How similar the remake of The Karate Kid is to the original (1984) remains to be seen. But, they both follow the same general storyline: bullied boy is taught martial arts by a maintenance man/martial arts master. The kid in the remake, Dre (Jaden Smith), is a bit younger than the character in the original movie, but he still goes through similar challenges of moving to a new place, not fitting in, falling for a girl, and falling prey to the local bully.

Dre also seems to have similar misgivings about some of his master's teaching methods (remember the old "Wax on, wax off"?), but follows the old man anyway and learns much in the process.