First Look: The Karate Kid Teaser Trailer

Published on December 23, 2009 by Craig Sharp · View Comments

Karate Kid Screen Cap The first teaser trailer has landed for Columbia Pictures’ remake of the 1984 hit movie, The Karate Kid and my initial impression? It actually looks pretty damn good!

It’s worth bearing in mind that as a kid, The Karate Kid was one of my favourite movies, it led me and scores of others to take an interest in martial arts for a time and it also made Mr. Miyagi’s arcane teachings popular household references (wax on, wax off!). So when news broke that the film was being remade and yet, drastically altered beyond recognition, alarms bells started ringing. But having just watch the trailer (which you can see below), I was surprised to find that even with the change of location, characters and other elements, the story feels like a very familiar, if modern take on the treasured original. All of my fears have currently been allayed, here’s hoping that the film delivers just as much as the teaser!

When a 12 year old from Detroit moves to China with his mother and incurs the wrath of the class bully at his new school, he makes an unlikely ally in the form of his ageing maintenance man, a kung fu master who teaches him the secrets to self-defense. Upon arriving at his new school, Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) develops a powerful crush on pretty classmate Mei Ying. The feeling is mutual, although the cultural divide between Dre and Mei Ying makes a friendship unlikely, and romance impossible.

When cruel classmate and kung fu prodigy Cheng learns of Dre’s feelings for Mei Ying, he harasses and humiliates the young outsider in front of the entire school. With no one to turn to for help, Dre confides his fears in kindly maintenance man Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), a kung fu master who knows that serenity and maturity – not punches and power – are the true keys to mastering the martial arts. As Dre prepares to face down his intimidating tormentor, he begins to realize that the real fight is just beginning.

US Release: 11th June 2010
UK Release: 16th July 2010
Australian Release: TBC