Jaden Smith
Thanks to Leon, who sent this article written by RiceDaddy Jeff Yang. In the article, Yang addresses the backlash against Jaden Smith’s starring role as the new Karate Kid by retelling the story of how African Americans were instrumental in promoting the martial arts in America.
So just three quick comments:
1. I thought the article was very good from a historical perspective. I knew that African Americans had been active–I remember Malcolm’s proclamation that all African American males should study karate and judo–but I didn’t know the details. I thank Jeff and Leon for educating me.
2. On the other hand, I think the protesters against this remake are not bemoaning the fact that black people don’t do martial arts; they’re bemoaning the fact that even though karate is an Asian art, one rarely sees an Asian American protagonist in a big martial arts film. It’s the same issue that Asian American actors and audiences always have–where are we?
3. As for Asian American cinema, although I empathize with the protesters, I do think there are probably better vehicles for Asian American self-discovery than the Karate Kid. It’s a very limited story in terms of the human range of emotion that most Asian American viewers desire. You won’t see me protesting this one.
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I agree with everything you said. About #1…I think...
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When I first heard about this remake, I groaned when I heard that the new kid was going to be Jaden Smith, just on general principle. It didn’t make me quite as mad as the Speed Racer remake movie, starring Emile Hirsch, or the Akira live action remake, starring Joseph Gordon Levitt.
But then I remembered that Karate Kid was basically a hack movie in the first place—full of stupid stereotypes and a sappy plot. Would casting an Asian kid in this movie in 2010 really do anything positive for the Asian Community? I doubt it.
I mean, another Asian kid doing karate is just feeding the same old stereotypes.
Better to see Asian actors in breakout roles that make people reassess their perceptions of who Asian are, and how they can be portrayed.
Either way, I’m not going to waste my money on karate Kid.
That’s exactly it, King.
I think the Karate Kid worked during the 1980′s, back when karate was cool, and there wasn’t quite yet a movie to express it. Cobra Kai, Miyagi, and Daniel-san will live forever in people’s imaginations. But now it’s done, and as you said, it’s full of stupid stereotypes and a goofy lil’ plot. It’s not going to harm anyone, but it won’t be doing much for anyone either.
And not only would another Asian kid doing karate feed the old stereotypes of Asian kids doing karate, but producing this movie with a Chinese lead would also feed the old stereotypes of Chinese knockoff imitations.
I don’t like Will Smith, and I’m tired of him trying to make a star out of his little brat, the same way Spielberg is trying to pimp Shia LaBoof to audiences. If somebody has the goods let them make themselves a star.
And as for African-Americans in martial arts, what can I say? Black people embraced Asian cinema in the 70′s (Shaw Bros films and the like) because we were glad to see movies where the non-white people lived in splendor and high culture. It was just great to see a validation of that idea, especially after seeing Hollywood so resistant to the idea of black people seeing great non-white civilizations that they had Olivier running around in blackface to play Othello.
Not to mention as a people we are very physical. So naturally martial arts would say something to us that it perhaps wouldn’t/didn’t say to other non-Asian groups. I mean, who else would have made a movie like The Last Dragon?
Or those god-awful Dolemite films? Jesus those were horrible!
I have yet to have heard of any controversy surrounding the casting of Will Smith’s little brat in the KK. But then again I was following that movie either.
Am I gathering the facts correctly in that there are some Asian Americans who feel that Asians haven’t been cast in a big enough martial arts production? I would think the last thing any Asian person would want at this point would be an Asian lead in a martial arts movie, especially not a crappy franchise like karate kid.
If people want to protest something, protest the fact this sure-to-be piece of dogcrap is even getting made.
I don’t even know why Smith thinks his pre-teen punk would be believable or any good in it, but this is a patronage project. The studio making it probably hopes that Smith will do a movie for them after this.
This thing CLEARLY has “suck” written all over it.
“And as for African-Americans in martial arts, what can I say? Black people embraced Asian cinema in the 70’s (Shaw Bros films and the like) because we were glad to see movies where the non-white people lived in splendor and high culture.”
Quoted for truth, Neutral is right on.
At least, Will Smith is not making a remake of the immortal classic, Dogs of Chinatown!
yea i agree w/Neutral, having an asian lead for Karate Kid is not going to help, might only enforce current kung fu stereotypes. we have plenty of jet li, jackie chan & ninja assassins.
now the movie 21, was a whole other story. they took reality and whitewashed it.
that said, i’d still like to see an asian best friend to that black kid or something.
Neutral:
“I mean, who else would have made a movie like The Last Dragon?”
OMG, I thought I was the only one who remembered the Last Dragon! That was my favorite movie for the longest time. I remember when it came out, I was in grade school, I saw it right away, and when the reviews were bad, I just didn’t get it. I thought it was SO much fun.
Now I can’t get “Rhythm of the Night” out of my head!
By the way, has anyone else been watching “FlashForward?” I like the multiethnic portrayals. Not super crazy about the WM/AF that’s about to come up (and I thought it was so typical when they started with the Japanesy music when showing the woman), but everything else has been really good. All the agents have been humanized beyond most typical American shows.
Yeah, no protest here but just to point out for distinction @ asianguy’ comment…Jet li, Jackie chain, and Rain in Ninja Assassins are not Asian Americans. There is rarely a movie from an Asian American protagonist perspective, martial arts or otherwise. That makes a huge difference in the direction, feel, and types of movies and storylines that are created or is it the other way around. Either way it sucks. But any protest is miscalculated.
I am digging Flashforward so far. It is the only show I am regularly following. I think the premise is interesting. Yeah, mysterious Japanese woman might be where the show will start sucking. But until then, the show breaks new ground as there are many things on this show you typically don’t see on any other show at once at the onset.
Did anyone see the ‘game changer’? Shit. Shows that mess around with the whole time and space continuum always end up messy like Lost and Heroes. I hope Flashforward doesn’t go crazy with that stuff just because they want to get 10 seasons out of it. I hope they keep a nice balance between sci-fi, the philosophical, and the development of the characters.
Byron:
Yeah, Last Dragon is a cult classic. I howled at that scene where the hero is looking for “Sum Dum Goy” and when he tells the asians he’s there on behalf of his master one of the asians replies, “Ain’t no masters around here. Ain’t no slaves neither!”
And I know nobody has brought this up, but perhaps some of the people who want this KK remake to be recast think Afr Americans secretly believe themselves to be on par with saw the likes of Jakcie Chan etc. I will tell you now that nobody in our community has ever said anything even like that. I love Wesley Snipes but he can’t compare to Donnie Yen, and neither one of them compares to Gordon Liu.
Watch Kill Bill during the montage where he’s “training” whatshername, and when you see them in silhouette just look at Gordon Liu. The guy is unreal!
His movements flow like water. You can’t tell where one movement ends and the other begins. It’s just one smooth stream.
Don’t get me started on martial arts flicks!
To hell with the karate kid. Better to aim for a project that Asian Americans can actually be proud of rather than wasting their time kvetching over Will Smith’s vanity project, which we all know will bomb like Jennifer’s Body.
My favorite Kung Fu movie: the incomparable cult classic, Master of the Flying Guillotine!
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/master_of_the_flying_guillotine.htm
Neutral,
What an awesome movie. My favorite line was when the little kid tells Shogun, “Get your hands off my woman!” That killed me! Man, I really need to watch that again. It’s been too long.
Speaking of Donnie Yen, have you seen this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OOsorMPTw0
Unbelievable.
I need to check out Gordon Liu. I haven’t seen as many kung fu movies as I should be seeing!
King,
My uncle had that movie on VHS!
mT:
I think the crucial advantage of FlashForward is that there is no actual time travel. People just saw the future once, so it could all technically be wrong, as would be the case of the “game changer.”
By the way, do you remember that one scene where the game changer is cooking and getting pensive as he considers changing the game up? I thought that was one of the best minority portrayals I’ve seen. It was so natural, so real. The portrayal of the man cooking really humanized him and showed his vulnerable side. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that for a minority man in the American media before.
I’m dreading the mysterious Japanese woman thing. I just don’t think there’s a way they can do it right. I’m going to be getting Karate Kid II flashbacks as it comes closer and closer. If the doctor gets to fight and kill Chozen, I’m going to throw something at my TV.