Sweep the Leg of Hollywood Execs
Unoriginal A-Team and Karate Kid remakes rob our generation of its own quirky,surprise hits
There is no Plan B and no critic love for the new A-Team.
Mr. T, as the original Barcus, won't be in the sequel, pity the fool.
The new Karate Kid has a cocky star rather than an unknown one.
Just like Johnny from the Cobra Kai crew was mentored to "Sweep the Leg," in the original The Karate Kid (considered a dishonorable use of karate), I say it's time to do the same to these Hollywood executives fixated on remaking movies from our pop-culture lexicon.
The A-Team and The Karate Kid (both opening this weekend) are redos of the original TV show and movie series respectively. Both The Karate Kid and The A-Team have been receiving mixed reviews, with The A-Team leaning toward negative reviews.
Why attempt to revamp these two classic franchises? Easy money.
More often then not, executives assume you will gain similar feelings from watching Jaden Smith being bullied instead of Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan mentoring instead of Noriyuki Morita. But there is a certain charm of this iconic movie taking place in the '80s that gives it staying power. Compared to today, the lower film quality, small budget, and lack of star-power made the original The Karate Kid a successfully charming, surprise hit.
Now, the Karate Kid moves to China and there's obviously a gigantic budget required to shoot on the Great Wall of China with a well known celebrity child — who has since become a little cocky in interviews. The execs are clearly trying to revive this for more than one sequel.
As for The A-Team, it seems like this obvious flop that will likely be a one-time deal even though everyone wants to see the new "Face" (Bradley Cooper). And why isn't B. A. Barcus Mr. T instead of an MMA fighter?
If you do give these movies your money, please look at yourself in the mirror and remember, we're in a recession. We have to send a message to Hollywood that even though something may be crappy sometimes, it is still original. So instead of paying in-house script writers, please accept original screenplays dying to be made. That's the only way this generation will have a chance at creating a movie as surprising iconic as the original The Karate Kid.
I so want to crane kick Gene Shalit — the critic who loves everything.
Pity the fool.
