Karate Kid: Legends Scores Lowest in Decades – Why Fans Are Shocked

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Following the wisdom of Karate Kid’s mentor, Mr. Miyagi, “Striking a balance is crucial. Achieving balance makes karate strong, and everything else follows suit. If balance falters, it’s best to pack up and return home.” This insightful statement holds true not only for the original Karate Kid from the 1980s, portrayed by Ralph Macchio, but also for its new iteration, Karate Kid: Legends. In this film, two distinct branches merge into a single tree: the classic franchise and its 2010 reboot, which features Jackie Chan as the martial arts mentor. The protagonist in this story is Li Fong (played by Ben Wang from American Born Chinese), a character transplanted from Beijing who receives training under both Kung Fu master Mr. Han, played by Chan, and karate sensei Daniel LaRusso, portrayed by Macchio.

On Wednesday, Sony’s Columbia Pictures removed the review restrictions for ‘Karate Kid: Legends’, and it seems that the movie struggles to strike a balance between its established characters and a worn-out, predictable storyline, infused with little novelty. (A critic described the tired plot as akin to receiving a kick from a crane in the head.)

As a movie enthusiast, I must share my thoughts on the latest installment of “Karate Kid: Legends.” Unfortunately, it’s currently receiving a 55% “rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is below the mark set by the 2010 film “The Karate Kid” (67% fresh), but it surpasses the ratings of its predecessors such as “Karate Kid II” (48% rotten) from 1986 and “Karate Kid III” (15%) from 1989. The 1994 film “The Next Karate Kid,” featuring Hilary Swank as a student of Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi, also falls short with a mere 7% fresh rating. However, it’s important to note that the original 1984 “Karate Kid” stands tall at 86% fresh. The Netflix sequel series “Cobra Kai,” spanning over four decades of the franchise, is the highest-rated entry with a staggering 94% approval from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

The sixth Karate Kid movie, titled “Legends,” is helmed by director Jonathan Entwistle (known for Netflix’s The End of the Fing World) and scripted by Rob Lieber (Peter Rabbit). This installment in the franchise, unlike its predecessors, carries a PG-13 rating instead of the usual PG. Additionally, “Legends” marks Ralph Macchio’s comeback to the big screen following his portrayal opposite William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence across six seasons of Cobra Kai.

ScreenCrush’s review states that “Karate Kid: Legends” is a sequel that retells the same story line, word-for-word, for the third time. This new installment not only reuses the basic idea of a tormented teenager being trained in martial arts by an older master … Instead of three branches from the same tree, we’re getting the first branch for the third time. In essence, they could have named it “Karate Kid: Groundhog Day.

The movie immerses you in a straightforward narrative that’s free from irony or cynicism, filled with genuine sentimentality and reminiscent of the simplicity of the ’80s. This is what makes Karate Kid: Legends special. It’s a film that proudly embraces its simplicity and wholesomeness, and at just 94 minutes long, it offers a refreshingly straightforward experience. In its predictable manner, it serves as a counterpoint to the excess and complexity often found in modern teenage or children’s films.

As a fan, I’d describe “Karate Kid: Legends” as a fascinating amalgamation of the original Karate Kid tetralogy, hints from the 2010 remake, and dashes of the Netflix series Cobra Kai. It’s intriguing to see Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan reprise their iconic roles as Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han, but this new installment fails to offer anything fresh in the tried-and-true formula.

While it’s undeniably enjoyable to see these legends back in action, “Karate Kid: Legends” doesn’t bring anything groundbreaking to the table. The plot, unfortunately, leaves much to be desired, overflowing with so many clichés that you barely have time to laugh at one before another catches you off guard. It’s a decent way to pass the time, but that’s pretty much it…

In a regrettable turn of events, the collaboration between “The Karate Kid” and “Cobra Kai” may provide enjoyment for followers of past Karate Kid movies, but it falls short in capturing the heartfelt essence that defines these growth-focused narratives. The film, titled “Karate Kid: Legends,” appears to be a clash of two separate stories. One half adheres to traditional Karate Kid themes, which could have stood alone as a compelling tale, while the other is heavily reliant on nostalgia. Unfortunately, this rendition offers minimal involvement for Mr. Han and Daniel, primarily confining them to training Li. Despite its flaws, the film maintains an endearing, if unstable, appeal that will likely captivate a new audience of young viewers. However, for older fans, the latter half of “Karate Kid: Legends” might feel like a hesitant combatant altering tactics mid-battle.

While it’s often hard not to be skeptical about sequels due to Hollywood’s history of poor follow-ups, there are exceptions that truly impress – like the fantastic sequel ‘Karate Kid: Legends’. This sequel cleverly expands on the heartwarming underdog story from the 1984 original ‘Karate Kid’ film. It introduces fresh and entertaining elements, brings back beloved characters, and showcases a captivating new talent – Ben Wang.

For fans of the classic Karate Kid and modern Cobra Kai, it’s worth noting that the movie Legends, directed by Jonathan Entwistle, is more of a semi-sequel to Chan’s Karate Kid film rather than a reboot of the franchise’s early days. It maintains the ‘Everything is martial arts’ atmosphere, particularly with Li and Han, and Daniel doesn’t appear until late in the movie. Macchio and Chan share a fun dynamic during training scenes, where they prepare Li for combat while also playfully roughing him up a bit. Wang delivers a strong straight man performance alongside them, and his youthful charm is electric yet relatable.

Evaluation of “Karate Kid: Legends”

The movie “Karate Kid: Legends” isn’t poor per se, but it falls short of expectations for fans of the franchise, which is a letdown. Given that the creators of “Cobra Kai”, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, have been successful in reviving the film franchise on the small screen, this movie misses the mark when it comes to conviction, drama, and emotional depth that “Cobra Kai” possesses. Instead of a perfect storm, it’s just an unfavorable weather condition. However, despite its shortcomings, “Karate Kid: Legends” seems like a fitting conclusion to this long-running saga. It’s passable.

Karate Kid: Legends – A New Journey of Action and Emotion”

Synopsis: This story brings together the legendary martial arts masters from one of the most cherished film series in history. In a fresh tale, Li Fong (Wang), a gifted kung fu practitioner, moves with his mother to a distinguished school in New York City. He finds comfort in a new friendship with a classmate and her father; however, this tranquility is disrupted when he catches the eye of a powerful local karate champion. To protect himself, Li decides to compete in the ultimate karate tournament. With the guidance of his kung fu mentor, Mr. Han (Chan), and the esteemed Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso (Macchio), Li blends their distinctive techniques to prepare for an extraordinary martial arts battle.

The Karate Kid: Myths (2021)

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2025-05-28 21:48