Image via WikipediaSaw Karate Kid(Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan) today. Great movie, watched with a great friend, forgot everything except that a wishful thinking was lingering in back of my mind. Why not?
I didn't expect crowd on a working day noon show, and that too for a Hollywood movie, but once there, and seeing the crowd, I realized that Jackie Chan is even more bigger star than SRK in Kerala. Hey, you should have heard the crowd when Jackie came in first shot, that too with his back turned to the shot. As usual, this first shot drew lots of laughs. And I could see the smile which made my own heart yearn. The cat calls and jeers for some scenes were vulgar, but hey, it is all in fun. Me and my friend commented on them being from our old college, we were remembering our days in college. It was funny to think exactly the same thing, on same topic, on two different days by two different people.
The movie started with a great visual of markings on wall, giving a flash back any number of frames and rolls of shot can give; could debate a lot on it with another of my friend on that issue, with respect to an older advertisement. The movie had lots of funny incidents which shows the multicultural American way.
Hey, China is really beautiful. I hope it is shot in 'somewhere in China' itself, and not in any studio. Its so wonderfully alive, and people are so much into living. And this movie is very pro China too. Beijing is said as the new Detroit in the movie, a subtle hint at Chinese growing presence in auto industry. It shows Beijing with lots of people living freely together, a lot of luxury is there around, and the determination and rituals in life is shown starkly. The level of rigor being put in practice sessions, making the Polgars a parody of the whole country. Jaden Smith is so good, and cute too. The kid shows real punk, and makings of a star in Bollywood rather than Hollywood(he sings, he dances and he fights;and it is not fifty's anymore in America). Taraji Henson(is she from Caribbean?) is not what I remember of her from a photo shoot(sic), but still very licious. Jackie Chan is wonderful as usual, but very subdued acting as per his standards.
The superb cinematography makes the whole movie even more beautiful. The hazy lights and vapors makes some of the scenes ethereal. The Forbidden City, Great wall of China, Chinese festival and theater are shown so beautifully that anyone who sees it will surely think at least for once to go there and see it.
The music. The soundtrack is arranged by James Horner(of Braveheart fame), and it is really good. The song by John Mayer is too good. It gave the move from Detroit to Beijing a very poignant touch. Hey, the song which the kid plays on piano before the Chinese girl comes is by Chopin, I don't remember the name. Man, these Chinese know how to take care of prodigies. And nowadays, no movie soundtrack is complete without an AC/DC song, which all started with School of Rock, and reached peak with Iron Man series, and now with the tournament in the movie getting its share of adrenalin with the ultimate AC/DC song 'Back in Black'. End credits started with song 'Never say Never', which I think is absolutely perfect to end the movie.
The entire movie is so predictable, but as with any feel good movie, this is best watched in company. If this was a review, I would have given a four and a half star, it losing out only on some small improvements needed in dialogues. This is best movie to come out this year which you can see on that day, when you are home after a bad episode in office/wherever, and see it(not alone, please) and you feel so much better.
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