I just watched the trailer for the new Karate Kid movie. It looks pretty good, and actually follows the storyline of the original movie pretty closely.
But here’s the thing: It is a movie about Kung Fu (Chinese martial arts) set in China.
Karate is a Japanese martial art.
Karate Kid.
Kung Fu.
Now, as much as I know that in general China and Japan love each other with the kind of love that can only come from a long history of beautiful and peaceful coexistence and cultural exchange (ahem), and I know that all that there “Oriental” stuff is all the same, and I understand the franchise branding issue, I still find it odd that the name made it past any Hollywood marketing person with an ounce of intelligence.
Oh wait …
Well, still, what are they going to do next? Cast a dorky white dude (of Hebrew descent) as the Prince of Persia (aka Iran)? I mean, come on! Try to have some common sense Hollywood peoples!
EDIT: Tarrell Childs pointed out the following on Facebook in response to my comment on this subject:
“There is actually a reason within the story that explains them using the Title. Most people with half a brain know that Kung Fu is not Karate. The kid knows a little karate, but obviously not enough to deal with kids who learn Kung Fu from the time they can walk. So he has to learn the local martial art. Remember, Daniel-san in the first movie was teaching hisself ‘karate’ from a book before he got his butt kicked and Mr. Miyagi saved his ass. Story still fits here, except with a slight twist.”
And so I stand corrected 🙂 There is a thin excuse to still call the film “Karate Kid.” Just as they could call it “American Beats Chinese at Chinese Martial Arts” because, you know, the story technically supports that title as well.
All I’m saying is, I’m glad to see their choices in casting, and in moving the movie to China, but they really dropped the ball in naming the movie, at least in my humble opinion.
