Karate Kid: Legends Should Have Focused More on New Characters and Less on Ralph Macchio

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The movie titled “Karate Kid: Legends” has made its way to theaters now, marking the sixth installment in the series. This new release acts as an introduction for younger audiences, picking up from the narrative established by the 1984 original film “The Karate Kid”, its subsequent sequels, and the widely-watched Netflix show “Cobra Kai”. It also continues the storyline from the 2010 film “The Karate Kid” and repositions what was originally intended as a remake as part of the broader “Karate Kid” franchise. The movie particularly shines when it focuses on the new protagonist, Li Fong (played by Ben Wang), and his journey. In the early stages of the film, the storyline presents a fresh take on the “Karate Kid” formula, and later, Li transitions from being a trainer to an older boxer (Joshua Jackson) and eventually steps into the ring himself, finding a fitting place in the plot.

Despite the importance of showcasing both Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio for marketing purposes, the film’s run time is limited due to this requirement. Consequently, Karate Kid: Legends falls short in terms of length among its franchise counterparts, resulting in some disjointed editing that negatively impacts the movie overall. In essence, Karate Kid: Legends had a difficult decision to make: either extend the runtime or sacrifice the legacy sequel aspect if it wished to maintain a 94-minute duration.

Expand the ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Runtime

To begin with, it’s worth noting that “Karate Kid: Legends” is a concise film compared to the usual length of movies in this franchise. With a duration of 94 minutes (or 1 hour and 34 minutes), it falls significantly shorter than the original 1984’s “The Karate Kid” (2 hours and 7 minutes) and the 2010 version (2 hours and 20 minutes). This reduced runtime implies that a significant portion of the film, approximately 30 minutes, has been condensed. As a result, the narrative of “Karate Kid: Legends” seems to race through many parts of the story. The film utilizes montages extensively, a technique often employed in the “Karate Kid” series, which means that some crucial character development may have been skipped over in this film.

The movie rushes through crucial scenes, skipping over opportunities for emotional depth, as it constantly moves forward to reach the next plot point. This hurried pace detracts from character development, particularly the relationship between Li and his mother. Her sudden appearance during Li’s final fight feels underdeveloped and lacks emotional impact, despite her telling him not to come. In contrast, the climactic tournament in Karate Kid: Legends is given short shrift with a montage, whereas it could have benefited from more detailed portrayal, showcasing not only Li and Connor’s skills but also their family’s reactions, creating suspense with each blow.

In a fresh twist of words, Director Jonathan Entwistle previously brought to life the critically acclaimed series “The End of the Fing World,” a unique blend of humor, emotion, and poignant exploration of young love and self-discovery. When “Karate Kid: Legends” zeroes in on those aspects, particularly the blossoming romance between Li and Mia, it truly excels. With an additional 20 to 30 minutes, “Karate Kid: Legends” could have delved deeper into Li’s other relationships, such as his friendship with tutor Alan (Wyatt Oleff), who leaves a lasting impact despite limited screen time. This friendship seems to evolve into a strong bond without much explanation. These personal interactions give the fights significance, just as “Cobra Kai” did, as viewers found themselves equally captivated by the various romances, love triangles, and betrayals as they were by the martial arts battles.

In the revised version, let me put it this way: The brief screen time for the film reduces its main appeal, which lies in the encounter between Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) and Mr. Han (Chan). Initially, Han is introduced but remains scarce throughout the movie’s initial section. It’s not until more than halfway through the movie that Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han finally connect. While devoted Cobra Kai fans may have anticipated more of Daniel LaRusso’s presence, their interactions can be considered more like a notable guest appearance. Most of the scenes with Daniel LaRusso are already shown in the trailer. A significant portion of the movie’s promotional material has taken footage from the later parts of the film.

A longer duration for the movie could have provided a chance to delve deeper into Mr. Han’s story, potentially revealing his activities since the conclusion of the last film, as he appears significantly different from his portrayal in The Karate Kid. Additionally, an additional 30 minutes could have enriched Daniel’s character and incorporated more beloved aspects from Cobra Kai, like introducing Courtney Henggeler as Daniel’s wife, Amanda. A more extensive runtime might have also allowed Daniel to foster a stronger bond with the young student, Li, by drawing comparisons between himself and Li. The question remains, was it necessary for Daniel to be part of this story?

‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Needed To Downplay the Legacy Sequel, Focus on a New Audience

If The Karate Kid: Legends wished to maintain a concise running time, perhaps making it suitable for family viewing, it had to confront a tough choice: eliminate the character of Daniel LaRusso.

It would have been nicer to include more references to Cobra Kai, and having Ralph Macchio on board is definitely a marketing advantage for the movie. However, it seems that his inclusion might have negatively impacted Karate Kid: Legends in its current form. Sony Pictures is capitalizing on the positive sentiment from the successful Cobra Kai series to attract fans, giving them the impression that Karate Kid: Legends is the continuation of a story that has already concluded. However, this film doesn’t fit that mold; instead, it stands as a separate tale intended for new audiences. The issue lies in trying to cater to both old and new fans simultaneously, which may have resulted in an inconsistent narrative experience.

In the movie “Karate Kid: Legends,” Li, our title character, delivers an outstanding performance, but the film spends too much time paying tribute to earlier installments in the series, leaving less time for developing Li’s character and his relationships. This is unfortunate because Li is a captivating figure. Essentially, the movie seems to be aimed at both children (who should enjoy it) and older fans (who may appreciate references to past films), but the latter group appears to have been prioritized, potentially leaving newcomers feeling shortchanged. A more balanced approach could have honored the series’ history without compromising the narrative of our new Karate Kid.

In my perspective, a more compelling choice could have been to mold “Karate Kid: Legends” as a more straightforward sequel to the 2010’s “The Karate Kid,” deepening Li’s bond with Mr. Han and making him the main mentor figure. This approach could have paved the way for potential crossovers with “Cobra Kai” characters towards the film’s climax.

Initially, Daniel serves a narrative function, as he assuages one of the major criticisms of the 2010’s “The Karate Kid,” which was its focus on kung fu rather than karate. However, if the movie hadn’t emphasized Macchio’s involvement and instead had him make a surprising cameo in a single scene, it might have been more impactful. The limited screen time should primarily be dedicated to fleshing out Li and his relationships with his mother, girlfriend Mia, her father Victor, friend Alan, and uncle Mr. Han.

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2025-06-03 00:02