Family Affairs and other matters

Builder Bloke and I have just been to see the remake of “Karate Kid” with lots of kids. I thought it was brilliant and judging by the amount of children all leaping about attempting to high kick anything that would stand still long enough on the pavement at the end of the film, I wasn’t the only one. Beautiful cinematography filmed in Beijing kept me interested for the whole of the 2 hours and 20 minutes. Jaden Smith, albeit perhaps a little bit small for the role was surprisingly good. A real star in the making (perhaps not surprisingly), with well timed humour being an added bonus. Jackie Chan was brilliant as the maintenance man/Martial arts expert/role model/new age modern man complete with tears and much emotional damage.

The fight scenes were well filmed and exciting, as were the scenes with the bullies/baddies – both were at times violent, but at other times Jaden Smith managed to ooze fear simply by being near them.

I liked the China/Black America combination – and the messages were clear and strong. Stand up for yourself but do it with humility and respect. We can all get knocked down but you have a choice as to whether or not we get back up again (isn’t that a song?). It doesn’t matter if you win or lose. just do your best. The young American was taught about discipline, focus and control – “being still and doing nothing are two very different things” and in return he succeeded in injecting a little fun into his love interest’s ordered and strict regime and teaching his mentor a thing or two about perseverance and determination.

I thoroughly recommend it.