Kung Fu Kid, The Karate Kid Remake Starts Shooting In China
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By Dave Gonzales on
July 13, 2009
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China Film Group and Columbia Pictures have united to bring two countries together over our mutual confusion that re-imagining The Karate Kid as Kung Fu Kid will be enough for us to look at Jackie Chan and think: "That is a totally original character, certainly not a more child-friendly and action-capable echo of Pat Morita's Mr. Miyagi." Certainly a new title and the casting of the son of the world's most bankable movie star will have us saying: "In 25 years, there's no way Jaden Smith will be on Ugly Betty, his version of Daniel is so awesome."
Regardless of whatever slant you're developing as I'm spinning this news, the nitty-gritty remains the same: Jackie Chan and Jayden Smith have begun shooting The Kung Fu Kid in Beijing, where the film will take place ("modern day Beijing, specifically). Filming is supposed to last three months under director Harald Zwart (Pink Panther 2).
Not to mention that AP has some crazy China-side PR already going down:
Chan and Smith, along with Smith's parents and sister Willow, attended a traditional Chinese ceremony to mark the start of the shoot Saturday. Photos on China Film Group's movie news Web site show the Smith family and Chan holding incense sticks.
Will Smith - one of the film's producers - Chan, Zwart and others symbolically removed a piece of red cloth covering a movie camera, after which Smith gave Chan a hug, according to video posted on Chinese news Web site Sina.com. His hair done in a huge Afro and wearing a bright red track jacket and blue pants, Jaden Smith stood and waved when he was introduced. His father ruffled his hair when he sat down.
Chan said on his Web site he also attended the younger Smith's 11th birthday party last Wednesday, where he and Will Smith posed for pictures with young performers wearing red and yellow costumes with dragon patterns.
"His father ruffled his hair when he sat down." That's so cute, it makes me wish my dad could finance putting me in the remake of my choice while simultaniously improving cinematic relationships between different countries.
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Tags: The Karate Kid, News |
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