 "‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Movie Review: Jackie Chan, Ben Wang, Ralph Macchio will impress you with their moves")
When you watch ‘Karate Kid: Legends’, you will feel why Bollywood cannot make movies like this? Simple, old world charm with not much twist and turns Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio brings you a delightful movie, which you can watch again and again. The best lesson from the film is ‘use your opponent’s aggression against him’.
Not denying that it’s a predictable film, but it has all the charm to keep you engaged. For adults it plays beautifully on your sense of nostalgia. Karate Kid: Legends unites OG Ralph Macchio’s Daniel and Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from the 2010 movie to help Wang’s Li Fong win a New York City karate competition. The film is not a drag like the usual we get to see at cinema halls, it’s tight narrative and brilliant performances makes it a must watch.
The hero, Li Fong (Ben Wang) , a teenager who’s been trained at the Beijing dojo of shifu Han (Jackie Chan), where he has mastered the famous kung fu move called the dragon kick. His master Han (Jackie Chan) loves him like a son. But his mother, who is a doctor, wants him to discontinue fighting (kung fu). Kung fu runs in Li Fong (Ben Wang) blood and taking kung fu out of him is like taking a fish out of water. After moving to New York, he keeps missing Beijing, his school, friends and most importantly his teacher Han.
There is a backstory to Li Fong (Ben Wang)’s mother not wanting him to fight. Li lost his brother in a fight, but how? That we get to know at the end of the film. He misses his brother at every moment of his life.
Going back to the history of the fights and managing the two styles, both karate and kung fu can be a killing combination. Both put together, the moves are smooth and it’s like flowing water. And most importantly you should get into his head and understand the opponent’s psychology. Every move matters and more than a fight for power, you need to train your mind. Your opponent can be a hulky man and may look stronger than you, but physiques really don’t matter, if you have a stronger mind. You don’t really fight to kill, you fight to win.
At the end of the film you understand how Li Fong (Ben Wang) has learned to combine both the styles, karate and kung fu with help of both his teachers, one from China and the other from the US. The movie braces two fighting traditions with grace and power. They are like two branches of one tree. Karate Kid: Legends is an incredibly relevant cinema for all of us because you have lessons to learn from this film.
Rating: 4 out of 5
WATCH the trailer of ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ movie here:
Lachmi Deb Roy is the Entertainment Editor of Firstpost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. She is a 'Rotten Tomatoes' certified critic. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes a huge interest in world cinema. She has been the winner of the prestigious Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until it's a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too.