A Classic Tale from a Modern Perspective: the Karate Kid

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The Karate Kid has been a treasured film since it hit theatres in 1984. Since then, several remakes have been made to relive this inspirational journey. Set in Beijing, China, the 2010 version of The Karate Kid attracted millions of people to witness this interesting new twist on a California based classic. The emotionally driven 2010 remake of The Karate Kid captures the viewers’ hearts virtually from the beginning; showcasing an enchanting love at first sight scene, powerfully portrayed martial arts master, and an inspirational conclusion making this modern rendition more suitable to the audience. On the California coast is where Daniel Larusso, played by Ralph Maccio, first sees his love interest. Ali Mills, played by Elisabeth Shue, sits with an exclusive group of friends. This gives the audience an unapproachable impression of Ali, occupying herself with peers. The only way to grab her attention is to impress her, which Daniel seems to pull off quite nicely. However, this typical teenage encounter gives absolutely nothing to reflect upon for the audience. On the other hand, this scene in the 2010 remake has more of an appealing, young love feel. In the park right outside his new apartment, Dre Parker, played by Jaden Smith, unexpectedly catches a glimpse of love at first sight. Mei Ying, played by Wenwen Han, innocently sits alone on an adjacent park bench. This makes her seem easier to approach, giving the audience a sense that it was fate for the two to meet. Unlike grabbing her attention from the get-go, Dre begins a bit subtler: Ping-Pong with elderly men. As it soon becomes evident that the self-proclaimed Ping-Pong Dre has no idea what he is doing, the hero of this story gets pummeled in the game, giving this encounter a delightful humor. The entire scene has a feel good effect, and gives the audience an infatuation with Dre early in the film. An

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