"In Columbia Pictures’ The Karate Kid, 12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) could’ve been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother’s (Taraji P. Henson) latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying – and the feeling is mutual – but cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, Dre’s feelings make an enemy of the class bully, Cheng. In the land of kung fu, Dre knows only a little karate, and Cheng puts “the karate kid” on the floor with ease. With no friends in a strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but maintenance man Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), who is secretly a master of kung fu. As Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not about punches and parries, but maturity and calm, Dre realizes that facing down the bullies will be the fight of his life."

As for the studies… let's do it, Daniel! :)

Every once in awhile I pull out the trailer and watch it again – and I'm torn. On the one hand, maybe it's me but I find it a spectacularly entertaining trailer. Despite the derision and skepticism, I can really see this remake coming out as one solid film. The potential is there, anyway.

That said, you are right – there is the age thing, and its a point of minor contention. I do think the "young love, and fighting off bullies" themes are very much a part of that age group's entertainment/material culture now (and arguably have been for a long time), so I don't see this film as necessarily seeming that out of place. Really, this isn't all that much different from what you might find on the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon (Hannah, Lizzie, the Naked Brothers Band – they all started into these love/bully/social status themes pretty young).

Sure, I'm very skeptical that these themes in the entertainment/material culture are really very reflective of (most*) children's actual lives – but what degree of honesty is really necessary here? Can't an argument be made that kids know it's just entertainment? Or is there some justification in saying that it sets up somewhat encumbering social expectations for children to become engaged in those themes before they're really emotionally and developmentally ready?

* I say most because I also have a sense that the level of reflexivity involved is very geographically as well as socio-economically bound; for example, the 10-12 year old kids at the Adventure Playground I'm doing my research at seem very wrapped up in these themes in their own personal lives, way past their culture. But they also swear like bloody sailors and are involved in a lot of other things, too, so yeah, that might not be a good baseline. You know what we need, Henry? Studies! Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies!

Brian.

I've set out to think of this flick not really as a Karate Kid movie, but as a karate movie with the Karate Kid name on it. So yup, that makes me feel pretty great about it. I see your point about the semi-older themes drifting their way down to younger ages – and I suspect it might come off as a bit goofy and out of place when it comes to your antagonist being 11-years-old – but I suppose we'll see how it goes.

In the meantime: Wax on! Wax off!