Karate Kid Legends | The nostalgic movie is back and delivers what it promises  

Fifteen years after the legendary Karate Kid that was streamed on TV until we could memorize the whole thing came the sequel: Karate Kid Legends. The storyline is just slightly different with a Chinese lead replacing Jaden Smith, but the nostalgic element of hardcore Karate is intact. Jackie Chan has aged, but his charm is as eternal as ever. Karate Kid Legends amalgamates two forms of self defence – Karate and Kung Fu, and pays a small homage to boxing as well. I think the movie is a worthwhile watch just for that reason – the genuine love for Karate and Kung Fu shines through unadulterated throughout the movie, amongst pretty much all the characters. Other than that, the storyline is pretty basic and there isn’t much depth to explore in the movie. I would say that Karate Kid Legends’ popularity primarily bases upon the element of nostalgia and Jackie Chan’s unmatchable presence in a movie of this genre.

Jaden Smith was an absolute hero in the 2010 film. Ben Wang, who plays the lead character Li Fong in Karate Kid Legends is a worthy successor because he relates to the Kung Fu and Karate element better and displays a natural, awe-inspiring talent in it. However, I personally did feel like Aramis Knight, who plays the anti-character Conor Day stole the show in Karate Kid Legends with that dangerously charming persona of his that convinced the audience rather easily that he is a formidable opponent Li must be very worried about. Casting is certainly a strong point in this movie.

Karate Kid Legends stands true to the legacy of the Karate Kid series. You get what you expect – a lot of Karate and Kung Fu showcased in a way that makes us admire the art forms and respect those who practice it. It touches upon a small part of the history of both the art forms and introduces two characters seasoned in both, creating an appealing dynamic between them that is later on reflected in Li’s final performance. That, it seems, is after all the main goal of the movie and having achieved that, Karate Kid Legends is a success.