The Karate Kid

Directed by: Harald Zwart Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P. Henson Rating: NR Release Date: June 11, 2010

TRAILER SCORE: 4/10

MY THOUGHTS: When it comes to violence in the movies, there are a few rules:

Adult beating up kid = Bad. Kid beating up kid = OK. Kid beating up kid with martial arts = Awesome!

The third rule was proven effective in G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra, which had two hooligans charged on ragev and Mountain Dew battling each other like they were competing for the kiddie remake of Enter the Dragon. (Don't get any ideas!) It was over the top, extremely choreographed, and no punches werepulled. Those kids kicked the living crap out of each other, all for the sake of my immense amusement. Add an actual dojo to that mix, and that's basically all I'm expecting of The Karate Kid. And with the glorifying slow motion used in this trailer, looks like schoolyard fighting is about to get an upgrade!

I can't help but notice that Jaden Smith appears a little small to give the impression that he can actually hurt someone. Ralph Macchio actually had a chance. Here, I look at Jaden and I think of what his father once said in Men in Black: "I feel like I'm gonna break this damn thing." Jaden should be in a 3 Ninjas remake instead. I'm not kidding.

Though, as a fan of trailers, you got to appreciate a dramatic insert short of Jaden getting his food knocked out of his hand (in slow motion!). That happens at 0:35.