JADEN SMITH possesses genes that have positioned him for stardom—Vanity Fair

 

 

 

Remake of THE KARATE KID kicked off production on Saturday, July 11, 2009, on mainland China, featuring Jaden Smith (who turned 11 on Wednesday, July 8th) in the title role and co-starring Jackie Chan (age 55) playing the role of the kid's mentor. Filmed in Beijing over the course of three months, the movie is a co-production of Columbia Pictures and state-run China Film Group. Actor Will Smith is one of the movie's producing partners in Overbrook Entertainment.

 

 Will the REMAKE OF THE KARATE KID have a better chance of succeeding with at least a cameo by Ralph Macchio? Will the movie bomb if Macchio isn’t in it?  At age 47, the Italian-American native New Yorker doesn’t do much acting. He runs a string of Laundromats, but last year appeared on NBC-TV’s “Ugly Betty” in a guest-starring role. Ralph Macchio’s career has been pretty quiet since MY COUSIN VINNY (1992) so if the opportunity presented itself, one could be almost certain he would jump at the chance to jump-start his calling—or give it a “last hurrah”. Not that the remake will bomb if Macchio doesn’t appear in it (with at least a cameo role). But the former “Karate Kid” has given his very critical view to MTV on the potential reworking of the film.

On Jaden Smith: “Listen, here’s my take on it. I think Jaden - you know, Will Smith’s kid - the kid’s got chops. He’s young; he’s like eleven. That story will work forever, when well-told. So, it makes sense in that respect.”

 

On the role of Mr. Miyagi: “From my personal view, the filling the void of what Mr. Miyagi was—and the magic of that character—is going to be the toughest task.

 

On the role of the Karate Kid: “I (also) don’t know where the romantic story-arc goes (with Jaden Smith’s character) at that age. That's one of the things that worries me about the remake, that the main character is too young; that we might end up with more of a Disney film.”  

 

On the original film version: “(The ‘Karate Kid’ remake is) going to be interesting, from the respect that I think if they intend on copying some of the elements that are still present now (it won’t be easy). Reruns of the movie play a lot on television, so the now-generation knows it. It’s not like OCEAN’S 11. When they remade that, no one had seen the other one in thirty years. They do have a pretty damn good original to emulate. I still watch it today if it's on TV.”  

 

On the fate of the Remake: “If they separate themselves from (the original) but still hold true to the human message behind the movie, I think that story could last forever.”

On fans reaction to the news: “It feels pretty good that some people are pretty angry that they're trying to remake The Karate Kid. It feels good that the public feels you don't touch certain things. Some times you go back to that, and probably shouldn't.”

 

Yet what could put more of a spin on the original movie than to have a black African-American 11-year-old replace an Italian-American 16-year-old in the central role; or having the story set in exotic Beijing instead of Southern California? Jaden Smith’s character won’t have the Daniel Laruso name, still, the fledgling actor remains a box office featherweight.

Jaden Smith still a pre-teen at the box office without the support of a major (international) star like his father, Will Smith, does the heavy lifting in carrying the heft of a multimillion dollar production. Of course, Columbia Pictures and their partners could very well be hedging their bet by turning the film into a family affair, requiring Mr. Smith (even his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith) to make an important or prominent appearance.

The fate of the film will rest firmly on Jaden’s boyish shoulders. So what will be needed is some serious Asian talent. The role of the mentor or Sensei is the common Japanese martial arts title, the word itself offered as a courtesy shown to a person of stature, and addresses a teacher or professional such as lawyer, doctor, politician, clergyman and others in authority. Its primary use is to show “respect” to someone who has achieved a certain level of mastery. The term shares the same definition (and characters) as the Chinese xiānshēng (Mandarin); the English translation being “gentleman” but more often “mister.”

This is where “Mr. Miyagi” comes in.

 The late Noriyuki “Pat” Morita played Kesuke Miyagi in the original 1984 motion picture version.

 The 55-year-old Hong Kong born international martial-arts star Jackie Chan joins the Columbia Pictures remake to put his skills to good use as Miyagi’s doppelganger, Li Quan Ha in the role of the mentor, Li Quan Ha. During his interview with New Zealand’s 3 News in Hong Kong, the actor revealed that instead of using “The Karate Kid” as the title, the studio opted to name the films something else: "They don't want to call it ‘Karate Kid’ anymore. They want to call it ‘Kung Fu Kid’.” Chan didn't elaborate, and Columbia Pictures haven’t enlightened upon his comment with any remarks regarding some possible change in the title.

  Of course, Jackie Chan—or Jet Li (FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, 2008) or Chow Yun-Fat (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, 2003)—the obvious and familiar choice in casting the role, since already hanging from their résumés is the role of a benevolent teacher coaching a protégé into superior talent.

Would it be too cute to cast Lucy Liu (KILL BILL, 2003) Gong Li (CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER, 2006) Sandra Oh (BLINDNESS, 2008)?

     

Not too cute, but too late.

 

 

Jaden Christopher Syre Smith was born July 8, 1998 to actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith.

As far back as last Decembers there were rumors that Jaden Smith, the son of actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith  had been set to play “the Karate Kid” in a redo of the film relating the story of an American adolescent’s introduction to the martial arts in fending off a gang of bullies. Jerry Weintraub who launched the original franchise (and its three sequels) would produce along with Overbrook Entertainment's James Lassiter, Will Smith and Ken Stovitz—company that also produced the 2006 THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS.  In that film Jaden Smith at age 8 debuted opposite his dad; and at age 9 co-starred with Keanu Reeves in the 2008 sci-fi remake of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL.

 

 After a slow, steady IV drip of TV and video credits, Jaden made his feature film debut in THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, invited to the 79th Academy Awards® ceremony where he presented the Oscar for Best Animated Short and Best Live Action Short with acting nominee Abigail Breslin. After having received the Best Breakthrough Performance honors at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards, in addition, Jaden for his performance in HAPPYNESS was nominated for the Black Reel Awards (Breakthrough Performance) Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (Best Young Actor) and the Image Awards (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture). He was also the winner of the Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards (Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role—Male) and Teen Choice Awards (with his father, Will Smith)

Making his impressive acting debut alongside his dad in HAPPYNESS, the adorable neophyte has a natural ease and winning way about him before the camera; and being a martial arts practitioner in real life (and a keen dancer) should help in playing the role. But people are putting up a lot of cash and rolling the dice on an adorable pre-teen with a cut face and insufficient track record. If nothing else, it’s a large bet and a huge vote of confidence.

As one might imagine, Jaden's father, Will Smith (the most consistently successful movie actor on the planet) has convinced himself as well as the other producers, studio executives and film financiers that Jaden is capable of portraying the character that represents the film’s narrative conscience in pulling this thing off. So who are we to argue?

After all, Columbia Pictures recently renewed its deal with James Lassiter, Will Smith and Ken Stovitz's Overbrook Entertainment, re-upping for five more years that keeps the production company shingle hanging at the studio through 2013, where Smith has been based since 2001; Overbrook having become one of the most successful star-driven banners in showbiz, producing such recent Sony hits as HANCOCK (2008) and HITCH (2005).

 

The word is that Smith along with his partners has consistently strived “creatively and artistically to make interesting, challenging and brave films," according to co-chairman of the studio’s parent company, Sony Pictures Entertainment who is credited with helping nurture Smith and company into becoming the power producers they are today. At Columbia, Smith has made or produced eleven (11) films for Sony that have generated more than $2.9 billion worldwide at the box office, including MEN IN BLACK (1997) and BAD BODYS I&II (1995, 2003 respectively)

 

Overbrook has also begun to branch out to produce non-Smith starring film-fare such as LAKEVIEW TERRACE and THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES ( both 2008). Similarly, as the company plans to produce for Sony a remake of THE KARATE KID which will star Smith’s son, Jaden, executives Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach express how Overbrook has “achieved an unprecedented level of success over the past several years, and they constantly seek new challenges and push for creative excellence.”

Anticipating turning a profit, Columbia pictures will retell the story of THE KARATE KID, revivifying the 1980s hit as a star vehicle for 10-year-old Jaden Smith in the title role. The resurgent update will retell elements of the original story about a young boy who learns to stand up for himself with the help of an eccentric mentor.

THE KARATE KID (1984) directed by John G. Avildsen and starring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue is as much the story of an underdog as it is a martial arts film. (Bullied kid seeks solace in the martial arts; taken under the wing of eccentric tutor.) Upon its release, the movie attracted a large audience, and for 25 years has sustained a loyal following.

Variety.com on 10 November 2008 reported that work on a new film based on the original had begun, “refashioned as a star vehicle for 10-year-old Jaden Smith.” He’ll turn eleven July 8th (possibly while filming) what is now being called THE KARATE KID REMAKE.

 

Jaden’s casting is a surprise to die-hard fans, as it immediately tilts the remake into an update, years younger than Macchio who played the title character at the age of 24 in the original film but looked like a kid in his mid-teen. This reboot, naturally, will go in an altogether different direction. Not only that; Jaden Smith is expected to begin his work on THE KARATE KID REMAKE in a new dojo, the City of Beijing, as well as many other exotic locales inside the People’s Republic of China. It follows then that the China Film Group Corp. will co-produce with the movie set for a 2010 release. The plot of the reboot will hew closely to that of the original film’s central character, Daniel Laruso:

The story opens with a 12-year-old kid named Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) living in America with his single mom, Sherry (played by Academy Award™ Nominee, Taraji Henson). But the economic downturn in the United States has Sherry on the verge of losing her employment until the company offers her the position in their branch office inside the People’s Republic of China, which she accepts.

 

So off they go.

But mother and son arrive in Beijing with no understanding of the language or cultural ways, and while his mom works hard to support them, Dre struggles to fit in, running afoul of the local bully who begins a campaign of physical harassment.

 

After moving to Beijing, Dre meets Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). The boy by this time is smittened by a female classmate, Mei Ying (Wenwen Han) but of course Mei's father does not approve of the relationship. He also encounters a teenage bully, Cheng (Zhenwei Wang) giving Dre a ribbing by ridiculing the young American as "the Karate Kid" due to his limited skill in the martial arts. (And thus the title.)

By the way, Dre is an avid gamer, an expert at “fighting” on his computer, winning games of pugilism in that virtual world but nowhere else. This is when Li Quan Han, the local Kung-Fu master comes in, offering to school the boy in martial arts and to teach him how to speak Chinese.

Mr. Han agrees to train Dre in the art of kung-fu for an upcoming martial arts tournament. The training is both unconventional and effective—a homage to the original film—building to a grand finale with Dre facing Cheng and his friends in a climatic battle.

THE KARATE KID REMAKE will steer clear of the Japanese leitmotif that marks the original; and, like its predecessor, avoid altogether the comic book from which the character of the Karate Kid is derived.

  The Karate Kid/Art by Ed Benes

Contrary to popular belief, the Karate Kid first appeared in Adventure Comics #346, the character created by Jim Shooter and published in 1966 by D.C. Comics, later licensed by the producers of the original film. In the comic book, the Karate Kid (alter ego: Val Armorr) is a fictional superhero living in the 31st Century, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes and master of every known form of martial arts. The extent of his skill is so great that he can severely damage hard material with a single blow using what he calls “Super Karate.” Val was the son of Japan’s greatest crime lord, Kirau Nezumi, aka the Black Dragon. Val’s mother, an American secret agent, tried to hide him from his father following his birth, but she failed and was killed for the affront. Japan's greatest hero, Sensei Toshiaki (the White Crane) eventually killed Black Dragon for his crimes and adopted the infant Val, raised the boy as if he were his own son, and trained him in all manners of the martial arts. Eventually, Val became the youngest warrior ever to earn the title of “Samurai” then went on to work for his local shogun.

However, after trying his best but failing to please his superiors, Val quit the association to search the galaxy for new forms of martial arts to master (later killed in battle).

 The 2005 resurrection of the character had Val Armorr, very much alive (without explanation) and depicted with more Asian features, although presently he appears predominantly Caucasian.

Jaden Smith doesn’t look at all Asian. And since it’s very doubtful they will be taking the movie character into the sacred niche of the “superhero” genre, the producers of THE KARATE KID REMAKE will more likely refashion “the kid” for an unspecified demographic.

So, there will be no revamping of Jim Shooter’s comic creation. In fact, nothing on film will resemble it. In the original version, “the Kid” is merely a teenager from New Jersey adjusting to living in a Southern California community, dealing with bullies, and finding love in a girl sweet sixteen. This latest version will retell the 1984 film while ignoring the comic book from which the character is derived (if not based).

Perhaps, the producers had seriously considered the origin of the karate itself, an art form that evolved not only from Japanese culture but also came under the influence of the Ming Dynasty.

In Okinawa (Japan) Karate-do was developed from indigenous fighting common among the territorial Ryukyu Islands, known as "ti" or "te" used among a class of Ryukyuans. Following trade relations with the Ming dynasty in 1372, many forms of martial arts were introduced. And together with the Chinese kenpō method, what evolved was the art of punching and kicking with knee and elbow strikes; grappling, throwing and restraining; open-hand techniques, hitting vital points of the human body taught in various styles. A karate practitioner is called karateka.

  

The first-ever fight scene in an American motion picture in which a karateka faced off against a karateka occurs between actors Frank Sinatra and Henry Silva in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962). But the first karate “chop” filmed in a more conventional fracas happened when Spencer Tracy (the karate expert) and Ernest Borgnine faced off in BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK (1955). 

There has been plenty of bile spewing over the Internet about rebooting THE KARATE KID. But that's not the same thing as hating the completed film. So far, what’s to hate? Shouldn’t anger about re-doing a beloved movie wait on the actual screening of the remake before exacting righteous indignation?

Hating the idea of remaking THE KARATE KID is not the same thing as hating the completed film, which doesn’t exist yet. So what’s to hate? Shouldn’t the vitriol about re-doing a beloved movie wait on the actual screening of the flick before exacting righteous indignation?

Harald Zwart (THE PINK PANTHER 2, 2009) directs the film. Born in the Netherlands and raised in Norway, Zwart has directed several short films, music videos and commercials in addition to mediocre feature films such as AGENT CODY BANKS and ONE NIGHT AT MC COOLS.

Jerry Weintraub, who launched the original 1984 pic, is producing alongside Overbrook Entertainment’s James Lassiter, Will Smith and Ken Stovitz with Jada Pinkett Smith with China Film Group Corp co-producing.

THE KARATE KID REMAKE in theaters June 11, 2010

 

 

Frederick Louis Richardson

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