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Why China – not Jackie Chan, nor even Jaden Smith – is the real star of 2010 co-production The Karate Kid

  • The 2010 remake of The Karate Kid, a US-Hong Kong-China co-production, makes the most of its location shooting in China, from Forbidden City to Great Wall
  • Jackie Chan plays Mr Han, the janitor who teaches Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker kung fu, but it is China’s visual majesty and discipline that are really on show

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Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, co-stars of The Karate Kid. The real star of the 2010 co-production is arguably China, where the film was shot in locations including the Forbidden City, Great Wall and Wudang mountains. Photo: AP
Matt Glasby

Compared to the 1984 original, Harold Zwart’s 2010 Karate Kid remake really rings the changes.

Instead of the unknown Ralph Macchio as the eponymous kid, we get Jaden Smith, son of international megastar Will Smith and nobody’s idea of an underdog. Instead of kindly Pat Morita as his reluctant teacher, we get Jackie Chan, perhaps the most famous martial artist in the world.

And instead of the karate we get kung fu, although nobody bothered to change the title.

But neither Chan nor Smith are the real stars here – and nor is the fighting. The Karate Kid is an international co-production between China, Hong Kong and the USA, but it quickly becomes clear which of these is the real power player.

As young Dre Parker (Smith) and his mother, Sherry (Taraji P. Henson), drive to Detroit airport bound for Beijing, they pass a derelict factory just as the credit for the China Film Group production company flashes on-screen. China may be many things, but derelict isn’t one of them.

Sherry’s Beijing job comes with accommodation at the Beverly Hills Luxury Apartments. In most Hollywood movies, the joke would be that it’s as far from luxury as it is from Beverly Hills, but it’s surprisingly nice. There’s a park outside full of smiling locals doing tai chi, and the janitor, Mr Han (Chan), takes Dre under this wing and teaches him kung fu.

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