HOLLYWOOD — He's featured in more than 100 movies spanning six decades, holds the Guinness World Record for most stunts by a living actor, and has enjoyed a career as one of China's truly global superstars. And despite all this, Jackie Chan continues to dazzle audiences and critics alike — well, most of the time. While recent Hollywood kids' flick "The Spy Next Door" was generally panned by critics, his latest foray, a remake of 1984's "The Karate Kid," has won praise for the natural chemistry between Chan and his costar, 12-year-old Jaden Smith.
A remake of "The Karate Kid" seemed almost inevitable. The original hit movie spawned three sequels, made young actor Ralph Macchio a star — for a while — and brought new prominence to Japanese- American character actor Noriyuki "Pat" Morita (previously known for TV's "Happy Days"), playing the wise karate master Mr. Miyagi. The movie boasted a great kid's role and a powerful but lovable East Asian character, and it featured conflict, action, martial arts, a thwarted bully and innocent romance in bloom.
Unlike the originals, which were set in the U.S. and Japan, the 2010 retread is set in China; and rather than a young caucasian unknown, the youthful star is African-American: Smith, the rising-star son of actors Will and Jada Pinkett Smith.