I've viewed loads of trailers for the Karate Kid, it looks like its going to be really good.
The trailers have reminded me of a TV series that I watched many years ago. It was called "Kung Fu" and was shown around 1972/73 I think.
Heck, was it that long ago? I bet loads of you weren't even born then!!
I thought it was a great series and it was very popular at that time. It followed the adventures of a half Chinese, half American called Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine). He had been trained to be a Shaolin priest in China, but had been forced to flee the country and was travelling across the American Southwest in the 1870's. He got into loads of scrapes but because of his great skills in "Kung Fu" he was able to see his tormentors off with little trouble.
Caine was a sort of quietly spoken, humble, Clint Eastwood "Man with no name" character but with a stricter moral code. Sure, he could "kick six shades of purple" out of anyone who asked for trouble, but he only applied his martial art skills with extreme reluctance when all other avenues had failed. The series showed Caine's journey across America and flashed back to his previous life in China to the time when he was undergoing his Shaolin priest training.
I liked that kind of "bullied underdog overcomes adversity by facing and conquering his internal fears" feeling that the series had. It's pretty obvious that the film "The Karate Kid" is in the same vein (especially as the Kid is now learning Kung Fu - rather than Karate).
Apparently, although the phrase 'Kung Fu' tends to refer to the Chinese martial arts disciplines in current English usage, it actually translates more accurately as something like 'human effort' , 'skill' or 'ability.'
It's a real nuisance that there are no free showings of Karate Kid within 40 miles of where I live, but I'm looking forward to this one so much that I've snagged 4 tickets for the Harlepool showing (42.5 miles away) and will be taking all the family to see it (kicking and screaming whether they want to go or not perhaps
).
