Pop journal: The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid (MOVIE / 2010)

Here we are presented with a good reason to remake a movie with the release of The Karate Kid. Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan take us back to the realm of martial arts competitions and life lessons being learned from the most unlikely tasks. Only the plot is carried from the original movie, and even then it more resembles The Karate Kid 2, as these are new characters with new motivations. Jaden's Dre is fully capable in all of the scenes we see him training to an ob absurd degree. Even more remarkable is the performance of Jackie Chan who is finally allowed to play a roll other than that of comic relief or pure fighting. There are real emotions evoked and we learn the same lessons from the first film, which is why I enjoy these remakes. The Karate Kid, or Kung Fu Kid as it is called internationaly (and even refered to in movie as purely kung fu, never karate), teaches a lot of things in a very entertaining way. Repackaging these stories for a new generation is getting the story out there in a way that it would otherwise never be able to accomplish with the originals (seriously, try and watch the original without laughing).

Tyler Says: GREEN LIGHT

Pop Journal: The Last Airbender

The Last Airbender (MOVIE / 2010)

If you've been reading my other theatrical reviews you may have noticed that I have given Green Lights to all of the movies that I have seen in theater. A lot of this has to do with the fact that I choose to go see the movies I want to go see in theaters. I am not in any way paid to go see other movies that I would write unfavorably about. I have taken more chances on DVD, where I have handed out Yellows and Reds, but this my readers is the first review that I am handing out a RED LIGHT for a theatrical release. To even talk about M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender would be a disservice as it is truly awful. This is coming from someone who defended The Happening to a degree, and actually enjoyed Lady in the Water. You watch this movie and you wonder "who is this made for?" It jumps from plot point to plot point with little tying it together. My favorite moment comes when are heroes arrive in a new village and the narrator tell us that her brother and the princess become fast friends. That is how this movie deals with complex relationships and emotions, and in the end when sacrifices need to be made we as an audience don't care. I will say that the special effects and music were fantastic, but that just makes me wonder how all of this money got thrown at this script. M. Night had a chance to redeem himself with this film and it may become the last nail in the coffin.

Tyler Says: RED LIGHT

Pop Journal: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (MOVIE / 2010)

Every once in a while you come across a movie that you think was made specifically with you in mind. Scott Pilgrim is one of those movies. It revolves around Michael Cera's Scott Pilgrim and his quest to obtain the hand of Ramona Flowers, which he can only accomplich by defeating her 7 evil exes. The movie is fantastic, I really cannot say enough good things about it. It's based on a comic book series that incorporates a lot of video game and music references and that really shines through. The battles are shown as if you were watching someone playing Street Fighter, and with the eventual demise of the exes occurs they explode into a sea of quarters. Another interesting fact is the way they portray Scott as a imperfect person, perhaps even as jerk at times, but not enough that would stop rooting for him. The exes all give great performances, each with their own weakness and fantastical abilities. You should get to the movies to see this one as it truly is an original and entertaining gem.