Released May 30, “Karate Kid: Legends” is a long-awaited cinematic crossover that combines the original “Karate Kid” films, the 2010 reboot and the “Cobra Kai” series altogether. You could tell the filmmakers were blending two generations of Karate Kid lore into a single, cohesive story by introducing new characters and honoring the old ones. The film brought visual brilliance and hit all the emotional chords, but lacked when it came to certain areas like the script and costumes.
The cinematography is the biggest highlight from this movie. The film’s strongest sequences are visual, particularly how it contrasts the raw edge of the city with the calm feeling of martial arts. This was shown through the cleanly shot and tightly choreographed fight scenes. A standout scene was set atop a rooftop at sunset and used natural light, long takes and slow motion sparingly, but effectively. The punches were turned into poetry simply by how the camera caught them. Colors are warm in moments of growth or calmness, then cool in moments of conflict. This aspect of the movie shows the emotional tone of each act. From a purely visual standpoint, it was a polished and well-done movie.
Getting into the casting, Ben Wang delivered a breakout performance as Li Fong. He brings a layered portrayal of a teenager who battled cultural identity and violence throughout the movie. His vulnerability gave the film what it needed for emotional credibility, especially in scenes where words fail. Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) had a very authentic presence and even though his martial arts scenes scaled down, the natural evolution of his character made up for it. The few scenes with Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Han are some of the movie’s richest, as it was so cool to see them together. However, the supporting cast was a hit or miss. Kai (Aramis Knight) plays the film’s antagonist with little dimension. His motivations are dull, but that’s mostly due to the writing.
The costumes within the movie seemed to always be playing it safe. While the wardrobe choices support the realism of the setting, for example, students in hoodies, simple linen layers, and polos, they don’t do much to express character evolution or the culture of the movie. The training outfits that members of dojos wore were basic and lacked creativity. In a film about identity and legacy, the more creative and fun costume ideas could have added meaningful visual appeal. Either way, the costumes are fine, just not that memorable.
The script doesn’t aim to reinvent the franchise of “Karate Kid” and maybe that is just by design. The flow of the story is similar: a reluctant student, a wise mentor, and a final confrontation that’s more about inner strength than anything else. The story’s framework is definitely solid, but the execution is a little uneven. The dialogue went back and forth between heartfelt and heavy-handed. One piece of dialogue that stood out to me was when Mr. Han says, “To fight is easy. To forgive is harder,” since it really correlated with the movie’s core themes. The script succeeds in tying together the two timelines and sensibilities of the franchise, though. It’s clear that the creators of the film cared deeply about all versions of “The Karate Kid.” Even though the film didn’t always surprise me with the plot twists, it rarely disrespected the originals.
The soundtrack does a good job of complementing the emotional swings of the film without overwhelming them. There were some orchestral melodies and instrumentation that fit in with some scenes. The music hit all the expected beats, like with drums in action scenes and strings during emotional times. The music may not be noticeable as much for others, but for me, it stood out a lot. Overall, the soundtrack does its job and a little more.
“Karate Kids: Legends” is a heartfelt and engaging film of a beloved legacy that’s been around for decades. Ben Wang’s compelling performance, cinematography and the soundtrack are all strong enough to make up for the writing and few shallow side characters. Fans of the original films and the 2010 reboot will find something to love here. But despite its noble intentions and polished visuals, the film doesn’t quite achieve greatness. It plays safe more often than not. Still, “Karate Kids: Legends” earns enough goodwill to keep the series alive and hopefully evolving.
“Karate Kids: Legends:” ★★★☆☆
