VALDOSTA —
“The Karate Kid” (Drama/Martial Arts: 2 hours, 20 minutes); Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan and Taraji P. Henson; Director: Harald Zwart; Rated: PG (Violence, including bullying, and strong language)
Movie Review: Dre Parker (Smith) and his mother, Sherry (Henson), move to Beijing, China. Dre does not like China, but his mother’s job is an improvement for their lives. As Dre adapts to a new culture, he is bullied by martial arts students at his school. Enter Mr. Hun (Chan), the maintenance supervisor at Dre’s apartment complex. Dre becomes Mr. Hun’s padewan, training Dre kung-fu.
“Karate Kid” surprises. It is a dramatic screenplay with nice artistic cinematography. After two shabby turns with films like “The Pink Panther 2” (2009) and “Agent Cody Banks” (2003), Director Zwart proves he has skills this outing.
This piece is very much like 1984’s “The Karate Kid.” The movie involves a bullied student who befriends and becomes a student practicing martial arts with an excellent mentor.
Therefore, the script is a cookie-cutter one. Only the title should read “The Kung-Fu Kid,” as that is the martial-arts style presented here.
However, the story works; audiences love to see the protagonist win. The protagonist in this case is a young but able 11-year-old Jaden Smith, who rivals the acting of his parents Will and Jada Smith. Jaden Smith is dynamic as a young dramatic actor. He is also very dedicated to his craft, undergoing martial training to excel in this role.
A major surprise in this film is Jackie Chan. Audiences are accustomed to watching Chan perform comical roles. Chan works charmingly in this very dramatic role. His performance is noteworthy, and his skills as a martial artist still reign supreme.
Smith and Chan make an awesome duo, especially the father-son element that exists with this script. Taraji P. Henson, a swell actress in a correct role, joins them.
The three are nice together and leave you wanting more. Their dramatic turns are nice, even though this script lets down near its conclusion.
After nearly two hours, the last 20 minutes are rushed, not allowing adequate time for immersion into the trials and triumphs the characters endure.
Still, the drama and the lessons learned are nice for parents and their mature children. They are kung fu fighting, and their skills are sharp as lightning.
Grade: B+ (Here’s looking at you kid.)
“The A-Team” (Action: 1 hour, 59 minutes); Starring: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel and Patrick Wilson; Director: Joe Carnahan; Rated: PG-13 (Intense action sequences, violence, and strong language)
Movie Review: Col. Jon “Hannibal” Smith (Neeson), Lt. Templeton “Face” Peck (Cooper), Cpl. B.A. Baracus (Jackson), and Capt. “Howling Mad” Murdock (Copley) are the A-Team, a special, clandestine military unit.
They have unorthodox methodology, but they always accomplish their missions. After the war veterans are framed for a crime they did not commit, they enact a most brilliant plan to clear their names. Yet the task will not be easy. Army officials led by Lt. Charisa Sosa (Biel) and CIA agents under the direction of Agent Lynch (Wilson) pursue the A-Team.
Energetically directed by Carnahan (“Smokin’ Aces,” 2006) and penned by actor Brian Bloom, “The A-Team” remains true to the original television series that ran 1983-1987. This big screen version shows how the four men became a team.
“The A-Team” is a popcorn action flick. The stunts are unbelievable and plot even iffy. None of this matters.
Fine action scenes, comedy and outrageously interesting machismo are entertaining treats. This film knows it’s pushing the envelope — a characteristic that rivals that of the interesting characters presented.
“The A-Team” is just plain fun, and the producers did not intend for this to be anything but a wild rollercoaster ride. Neeson, Cooper, Jackson and Copley are amusing, entertainment times two.
Stay through the end credits for one scene, one that involves original “A-Team” cast members Dirk Benedict and Dwight Schultz (the original Face and Murdock). George Peppard, who played the original Hannibal, is deceased, but it is odd Mr. T., the original B.A., is missing.
Grade: B (I like it when a plan comes together)
Movies
Related Photos
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In this publicity image released by Columbia Pictures, Jaden Smith as "Dre", left, and Jackie Chan as Mr. Han, are shown in "The Karate Kid." The Associated Press
Discussion
The 1980s are back
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No need to ‘Switch’ theaters
“The Switch” (Comedy: 1 hour, 28 minutes); Starring: Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Thomas Robinson and Patrick Wilson; Directors: Josh Gordon and Will Speck; Rated: PG-13 (Thematic elements including sexual material, profanity, nudity, brief violence, and drug-alcohol usage)
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Find some Other movie, Guys
“The Other Guys” (Comedy/Action: 1 hour, 47 minutes); Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, and Dwayne Johnson; Director: Adam McKay; Rated: PG-13 (Violence, profanity, sexual innuendo and mature themes)
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Like ‘Salt’ in a wound
“Salt” (Action/Thriller: 1 hour, 30 minutes); Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor; Director: Phillip Noyce; Rated: PG-13 (Intense sequences of violence and action including brief torture and profanity)
Movie Review: The Cold War officially ceased about 20 years ago. Too bad, “Salt” would have been a hit at its height. -
Movie reviews: "Knight and Day," "Grown Ups"
“Knight and Day” (Action: 1 hour, 50 minutes); Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano and Viola Davis; Director: James Mangold; Rated: PG-13 (Violence and profanity)
“Grown Ups” (Comedy: 1 hour, 42 minutes); Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider; Director: Dennis Dugan; Rated: PG-13 (Thematic elements, sexual innuendo and strong language)
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‘Toy Story 3’: Third time still charmed
“Toy Story 3” (Animation/Adventure/Family: 1 hour, 43 minutes); Starring Voices: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty and Don Rickles; Director: Lee Unkrich; Rated: G (Violence and some suggestive humor)
Movie Review: Woody (voice of Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Allen), and the rest have not been played with in sometime. Their owner, Andy (John Morris), is now a young man, heading to college. Andy’s mother donates his toys to Sunnyside Daycare Center. Woody, Buzz and the gang of toys just want some human to play with them, so the toys are thrilled to be at a daycare center where they will bring joy to several children. -
The 1980s are back
“The Karate Kid” (Drama/Martial Arts: 2 hours, 20 minutes); Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan and Taraji P. Henson; Director: Harald Zwart; Rated: PG (Violence, including bullying, and strong language)
Movie Review: Dre Parker (Smith) and his mother, Sherry (Henson), move to Beijing, China. Dre does not like China, but his mother’s job is an improvement for their lives. As Dre adapts to a new culture, he is bullied by martial arts students at his school. Enter Mr. Hun (Chan), the maintenance supervisor at Dre’s apartment complex. Dre becomes Mr. Hun’s padewan, training Dre kung-fu. -
What a pity, new ‘Sex and the City’
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Seek a different ‘Back-up Plan’
“The Back-up Plan” (Romantic Comedy: 1 hour, 38 minutes); Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin and Anthony Anderson; Director: Alan Poul; Rated: PG-13 (Profanity, mature themes, and sexual innuendo and some crude mature themes)
Movie Review: While this may be Jennifer Lopez at her best, the plot for this romantic comedy is one mess. Lopez stars as Zoe, a lady thinking she will never find “Mr. Right” with whom to have children and live happily ever after. As fate should prescribe, Zoe meets Stan (Australian actor O’Loughlin), a cheese farmer. -
Visit ‘Shutter Island’
“Shutter Island” (Thriller/Mystery: 2 hours, 18 minutes); Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams and Max von Sydow; Director: Martin Scorsese; Rated: R (Violence, profanity, disturbing imagery and nudity)
- A movie as endearing, and as flimsy, as a ‘Valentine’s Day’ card
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