Karate Kid: Legends

June 6 – 12

7 pm
1:30 pm Sunday Matinée

Action / Family
Rated PG – 1h 53m

Karate Kid: Legends unites the iconic martial arts masters of one of the most beloved film franchises of all time to tell a completely new story full of action and heart. When kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) relocates to New York City with his mother to attend a prestigious new school, he finds solace in a new friendship with a classmate and her father. But his newfound peace is short-lived after he attracts unwanted attention from a formidable local karate champion. Driven by a desire to defend himself, Li embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), and the legendary Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown.

Ben Wang makes Li Fong a charismatic and compelling protagonist; his martial arts skills bring the action sequences to life, and he carries much of the pace throughout the film. For his part, Jackie Chan‘s return to the franchise is very well paced, and  Ralph Macchio‘s appearance delivers. Although they have a more limited participation, they serve their purpose well: to be the masters who pass the baton to the new generation, embodying the tradition of the paternal figure.

The action in Karate Kid: Legends is everything you’ve come to expect from the franchise: dynamic, well-choreographed fight sequences accompanied by classic training montages. These shots of these confrontations are carefully crafted to deliver meaningful action, rather than quick camera changes where everything gets lost. Part of the appeal of these films is seeing punches and kicks, and it delivers.

It’s an entertaining family martial arts movie, which manages to convey the messages of self-improvement while remaining faithful to the spirit of the originals. The union of the classic actors with a new generation is achieved in a well-crafted way. Despite being worked over by nostalgia, it is the story of a new generation, so both Han and Larusso are more to support than to take the lead. In the end, the film manages to keep the Karate Kid legacy alive by breathing new life into it without losing its essence.