In the Karate Kid, Mr. Han, an aging building superintendent, and as we soon learn, martial artist, saves the young underdog outsider from continued ass kicking by school bullies. Faithful to the classic remake, he reluctantly teaches the young boy, whose brash behavior covers childhood fears and anger, eager for revenge.
While the audience naturally identifies with Dre the young underdog, the old master – with a quiet, nuanced performance from a usually upbeat Jackie Chan – is haunting. Of course this remake is fun popcorn melodrama. It’s upbeat. Han transmits kung fu’s physical and mental powers. Dre eventually triumphs over his tormentors, attesting to the transformative aspect of kung fu. Especially highlighted is the exotic Wu Dang Monastery, with spectacular aerial shots of monks serenely practicing flowing martial forms in the mountain mist. David Carradine’s Kwai Chang Cain would be envious. It’s the hub of the inner mysteries of martial arts.
Still, there was something disturbing about the old martial artist. Sadly, it seems the sorrowful old master, though physically skilled, is disconnected from the deeper spiritual side of the art. Although he is never shown practicing, from Chan’s portrayal of the emotionally wounded character, it seems that he has not found solace in kung fu’s meditative side or internal qi training.
Though he reveals himself as a healer, he himself is not healed. The message of the film might have a deeper meaning if it also depicted how the path continues beyond youthful combat. Some mention of martial arts as a life long pursuit, and as a path to master life in all its pain and glory. Maybe the spiritual philosophy of the martial arts doesn’t make for exciting chop socky scripts. As Evolving Martial Artists mature, we are compelled to also seek the quiet, obscure aspects of the martial way and its power of inner peace. That is real kung fu.
Lawrence Tan
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Tags: jackie chan, karate kid, kung fu, kwai chang cain, Martial Arts
