Art-2: Film Review- KARATE KID: Your Focus Needs More Focus

KARATE KID: Your Focus Needs More Focus

Ms. Gazal Pasnani

Department of Communication Skills, MEF, Rajkot

The Karate Kid is a 2010 Chinese-American martial arts film directed by Harald Zwart. It stars Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, and it was produced by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. It is a remake of the 1984 film of the same name and the fifth installment of the Karate Kid series, serving as a reboot.

When Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) moves to China with his mother (Taraji P. Henson), he finds himself being picked on by bullies, so he convinces the building handyman Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) to train him in kung fu so that he can defend his honor at an upcoming Kung Fu Tournament.

Karate Kid had a very simple and predictable plot. The dialogues are also simple, yet in their simplicity one can catch profound virtues that teach about life.

Here are few dialogues:

“Chi. Internal energy. The essence of life. It moves inside of us. It flows through our bodies. Give us power from within.” ~ Mr. Han

We all have an amazing power within us.

You can give it whatever name feels right to you – Chi, Spirit, God, The Force. We can harness our own power, and use it to strengthen ourselves, to lift our energy, and to create our lives.

“Being still and doing nothing are two very different things.”~ Mr. Han

How many times do we choose to ‘do nothing’ over ‘being still’? We choose to turn on the TV, open the laptop, or head to the refrigerator; instead of taking one minute to just sit, and be still.

So, be still, now. Take the time to notice your breathing. Focus on your senses. What do you see, hear, feel and smell? Sit with that for a moment. Just be still.

“You have taught me very important lesson, Xiao Dre. Life will knock us down, but we can choose whether or not to stand back up.”~ Mr. Han

Watching the main character, Dre, be overwhelmed by Chinese culture, bullied by his peers, and then find his own inner strength and ‘Chi’ that leads him to overcome his fears and become a successful individual.

Knocking us down is life’s way of testing us, challenging us, and forcing us to grow.

The movie also reflects teacher-student relation. The teacher is a role model for his student. A movie is worth a watch and adding to your favorites.