History Film / TheKarateKid2010

* RecycledTitle: Because "The Kung-Fu Kid" would have sounded silly. Ironically, In China, it's called "功夫梦" ("The Kung Fu Dream"); in Japan, and South Korea, it's called "Best Kid" (the same title that was used for the original movie in those countries), and "The Karate Kid" everywhere else.

Sits outside the main {{Canon}} of ''Film/TheKarateKid'' {{Franchise}} unless Jaden Smith as Dre Parker shows up in ''Series/CobraKai''.

* ArrogantKungFuGuy: Cheng is a sadistic little creep. The rest of the Fighting Dragons too, especially the teacher, Li.

* BilingualBonus: Viewers who knew mandarin would have pegged Meiying's father as a potential source of conflict early on once they heard Cheng and Meiying's first conversation (which didn't show up in the subs).

** The kids who bully Dre are perfectly willing to attack an adult in their way. Unfortunately for them, it is Jackie Chan who they are targeting.

** The kids who bully Dre are perfectely willing to attack an adult in their way. Unfortunately for them, it is Jackie Chan who they are targeting.

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: The Chinese tend to stay silent out of respect after a performance of any sort. So after Mei Ying's recital, they were opt to remain silent. However, Dre, who came from United States, cheered and clapped. This invoked anger from his crush's father.

* LeftHanging: The subplot of Mei Ying practicing for an audition to be accepted to the Beijing Academy of Music. We see the audition, but never find out if she was accepted or not nor just what her instructor meant by "you know what this would mean for your family". We can only assume it was a matter of honor, like when Dre qualified for the tournament finals (even if just because his opponent was disqualified) and was told he honored his family.
* LoveTriangle: A bit of a case with Dre and Cheng who both have a crush on Mei Ying, who chooses Dre.

* OverprotectiveDad: Mei Ying's father disapproved of his daughter's friendship with Dre because he saw him as a bad influence to his daughter, causing her to be late for her recital and forbade her from spending time with him. However, he turns out to be much more reasonable than the stereotypical version. [[spoiler:When Dre respectfully approaches him and apologizes (in phonetic Chinese), he reconsiders and is later seen actively cheering for Dre.]]

* PetTheDog: a non-villainous example with Mr. Han (who acts like a bit of a jerk when he is first introduced). During the tournament, when Dre knocks one of the Dragons down, it is Mr. Han who helps him up. This little gesture is in sharp contrast with Li's behaviour, who considers showing the opponent kindness a sign of weakness, and even mistreats his students.

* PuppyLove: Among Dre and Mei Ling, given their ages.

A ContinuityReboot of ''Film/TheKarateKid'' series that premiered in June 2010, borrowing elements of the first one but set in Beijing, China. Jaden Smith (Creator/WillSmith's son) plays the lead role of Andre "Dre" Parker and Creator/JackieChan is the old mentor, Mr. Han. There is almost no karate in this film; the lead character trains in kung fu instead.

* BlackBestFriend: Inversion in that as soon as Dre moves to China a local blonde starts being his friend but then [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse disappears after a third of the way into the film]]. He does show up at the[[spoiler: tournament at the end]], but only if you watch closely.

* ChekhovsSkill: Snake charming, [[spoiler:which Dre uses to psyche Cheng into losing control]].

* ContrivedClumsiness: Cheng knocks over Dre's lunch tray and then says "Sorry!"

* DeadlyDodging: When Han defends Dre from bullies he never actually hits any of the kids, probably so the audience doesn't lose sympathy for Han and [[RuleOfCool because it looks really cool.]]
-->'''Dre:''' How'd you do that out there? You, like, didn't even punch them. They beat each other up.

* {{Determinator}}: Dre [[spoiler: first has his leg ruined, and gets some magic Kung-Fu healing. After that it's ''broken'' and he finishes the match on one leg. We even see him hopping around after the post-win crowd pan]].

* FinishHim: Master Li screams this at Cheng during the final battle against Dre.
* FishOutOfWater: Dre moves from Detroit to Beijing, China. HilarityEnsues, as well as some drama.

* IdiotBall: Dre at one point throws a bucket of dirty water on Cheng to get revenge, and gets his ass brutally kicked.
* IntergenerationalFriendship: Eventually. [[spoiler:Dre tells Han he is his best friend and Han gives him a shirt as a present.]]
* KickTheDog: Master Li is already known to be a {{jerkass}}, with the way he teaches his students to show no mercy to their enemies. But he steps into this territory when he slaps one of his students who didn't finish his opponent completely.
* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: Master Li puts heavy emphasis that his students should never show mercy to their enemies, even encouraging his students to attack them while they are defeated.
* KnowNothingKnowItAll: Dre, in his typical boastful fashion, claims to have been taught by a Brazilian and tries unsuccessfully to demonstrate a UsefulNotes/{{Capoeira}} ''ginga'' and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu ''mão de vaca'' on Mr. Han, who is obviously not impressed.

* OrderedToCheat: Master Li orders two of the Flying Dragons to break Dre's leg.

* SarcasticClapping: This is Master Li's reaction [[spoiler: when Dre decides to stay in the tournament with a leg injury]].
* SarcasmMode: Mr. Han notes that, after doing his "jacket on, jacket off" technique for several days, something significant is missing: Dre's smarmy attitude when he puts his jacket on the ground.

* SmugSnake: That ''smirk'' Cheng flashes while walking away in the cafeteria scene transcends cultural boundaries.
* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: Some of the Chinese characters, including Mr. Han, Cheng, and Meiying, have a decent command of English.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The blond kid, and first English speaking peer that Dre meets in China. He seems to be set up as a friend, a translator and a general supporter and help to Dre. But nope, after about a third of the way in we only see him in passing at the tournament. This is a ShoutOut to Freddy from the original film, who fades into the background after Daniel starts having run-ins with the bullies, but finally does re-appear in his cheering section.
** A weird case of TruthInTelevision. When in a new/unfamiliar location, people of similar backgrounds (national, cultural, and occasionally even ethnic) tend to stick together, if only initially. This is what happened with Dre and the blonde kid - having seen that Dre is an American, the kid offers to help show Dre around the place, but quickly vanishes into the background as Dre figures things out and makes his own friends (and enemies). The blonde kid is sitting there watching the tournament with Dre's mom and Mei Ying, further mirroring Freddy from the original. He just doesn't really say anything or do anything noteworthy.
* YourNormalIsOurTaboo: Dre applauds one of Mei Ying's performances at a time when it is inappropriate to do so.

* SleepCute: Dre, whether it may be in an airplane, a couch or a train.

* TookALevelInBadass: Dre.
* TookALevelInKindness: [[spoiler:Not only does Dre win Cheng's respect after the former defeats the latter in the tournament finals, Cheng personally presents the trophy to Dre.]]

* AlmightyJanitor: Jackie Chan plays a literal janitor who is also a master in the ancient art of ''being Creator/JackieChan''.

* BadassAdorable: Dre becomes this as the story progresses.
* BigBad: Master Li.

* DeathGlare: Cheng has a scary one for a little kid.

* DisappearedDad: The fact that Dre's father had died was revealed at the beginning of the movie.

* GracefulLoser: [[spoiler:Cheng, after Dre defeats him in the tournament finals. He takes this a step further by personally awarding the trophy to Dre.]]

* MeaningfulName: Mr. Han. "Han" （汉）, while an actual (but very rare) last name, is also the ethnicity that makes up the majority of China, so it's sort of like calling him "Mr. Chinese Man".
* MightyWhitey: Downplayed example. Dre goes to China and quickly becomes as competent at kung fu as the locals. Downplayed because there is nothing in real life to prevent one of any nationality becoming a talented martial artist and Dre doesn't become ''that'' much better than then them. He simply learns a truer form of the art from Han than the perversion Li teaches Dre's adversaries. It's also explained by UnderdogsNeverLose.

* GratuitousForeignLanguage[=/=]AsianSpeekeeEngrish: Justified, as Dre is horrible at Chinese and tries to learn bits and pieces. The Chinese people around him either speak English with a heavy accent or don't speak it at all.

* KnowNothingKnowItAll: Dre, in his typical boastful fashion, claims to have been taught by a Brazilian and tries unsuccessfully to demonstrate a UsefulNotes/{{Capoeira}} ''ginga'' and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu ''mão de vaca'' on Mr. Han, which is obviously not impressed.

* MartialMedic

** And Dre's mother mistakes Kung Fu for Karate.

A ContinuityReboot of the ''Film/KarateKid'' series that premiered in June 2010, borrowing elements of the first one but set in Beijing, China. Jaden Smith (Creator/WillSmith's son) plays the lead role of Andre "Dre" Parker and Creator/JackieChan is the old mentor, Mr. Han. There is almost no karate in this film; the lead character trains in kung fu instead.

* ArtisticLicenseMartialArts: The kung fu tournament in the film goes freely full-contact and allows throwing, submissions moves and even some striking on the ground. In real life, full-contact kung fu tournaments are usually held under sanshou/san da rules, which absolutely don't resemble the tournament in the film, and also demand reglamentary attire and protective gear whenever they are geared to children.

* ArtisticLicenseMartialArts: The kung fu tournament goes freely full-contact, and allows throwing, a little amount of grappling and even some striking on the ground. In real life, full-contact kung fu tournaments are usually held under sanshou/san da rules, which absolutely don't look like the tournament in the film, and also demand reglamentary attire and protective gear whenever they are geared for children.

* BlackBestFriend: Inversion in that as soon as Dre moves to China a local blonde starts being his friend but then [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse disappears after a third of the way into the film]].
** He does show up at the[[spoiler: tournament at the end]], but only if you watch closely.

* GenreBlind: The gang of bullies seem to think they can take on Creator/JackieChan, the master of improvised fighting, in a yard with [[ImprovisedWeapon random junk]] strewn all over it? Yeah, good luck with that...

* GenreBlind: The gang of bullies seem to think they can take on JackieChan, the master of improvised fighting, in a yard with [[ImprovisedWeapon random junk]] strewn all over it? Yeah, good luck with that...

* MightyWhitey: Downplayed example. Dre goes to China and and quicks becomes as competent at kung fu as the locals. Downplayed because there is nothing in real life to prevent one of any nationality becoming a talented martial artist and Dre doesn't become ''that'' much better than then them. He simply learns a truer form of the art from Han than the perversion Li teaches Dre's adversaries. It's also explained by UnderdogsNeverLose.

** He does show up at the tournament at the end, but only if you watch closely.

* DolledUpInstallment: The movie was originally called "The Kung-Fu Kid", but Jackie Chan refused to do the movie unless it was renamed ''Karate Kid'' to increase its marketing appeal.

* ArtisticLicenseMartialArts: The kung fu tournament goes freely full-contact, and allows throwing, a little amount of grappling and even some striking on the ground. In real life, full-contact kung fu tournaments are usually held under sanshou/san da rules, which absolutely don't look like the tournament in the film, and also demand reglamentary attire and protective gear when it is geared for children.

** Averted in the the alternate ending/deleted ending. Master Li didn't suck it up. Mr. Han has to stop him from beating his students, to which Li starts a fight and Mr. Han humiliates him in front of an entire spectator crowd as a ContinuityNod to the original films. These scenes were taken out because the producers believed it took too much focus away from Dre's character winning.

* DolledUpInstallment: The movie was originally called "The Kung-Fu Kid", but JackieChan refused to do the movie unless it was renamed ''Karate Kid'' to increase its marketing appeal.

** There are a couple of scenes of Dre trying in earnest to use Karate (albeit trying to learn from an infomercial or some such thing.) The results are less than indicative of the title.

** Some have claimed that the original title was "The Kung-Fu Kid" (with many of the film crew using that name during production), but the name was changed due to its name recognition and nostalgia factor.

* PostGameRetaliation: The alternate ending to the 2010 remake has Master Li do the same after his students lose to Dre. Mr. Han intervenes and trashes Li in a fight, contributing to his HumiliationConga.

** People touching the Parker's hair. At one point, Dre's mother is surrounded by little kids who are happily playing with her hair. Absolutely TruthInTelevision. Foreigners with either important or distinctive hair in China have been mobbed by children wanting to touch it.

** There's also the subplot of Mei Ying practicing for an audition to be accepted to the Beijing Academy of Music. We see the audition, but never find out if she was accepted or not nor just what her instructor meant by "you know what this would mean for your family". We can only assume it was a matter of honor. Like when Dre qualified for the tournament finals (even if just because his opponent was disqualified) and was told he honored his family.

* ArtifactTitle: Being set in China, the film uses Kung Fu rather than Karate.

* FishOutOfWater: Dre moves from Detroit to Beijing, China. HilarityEnsues.

* ThugDojo: It would hardly be a Karate Kid remake without one.

* WrongGenreSavvy: The gang of bullies seem to think they can take on JackieChan, the master of improvised fighting, in a yard with [[ImprovisedWeapon random junk]] strewn all over it? Yeah, good luck with that...

* FiveBadBand:
** BigBad - Cheng
** TheDragon - Liang
** EvilGenius - Zhuang
** TheBrute - There were two [[TheBigGuy Big guys in Cheng's gang]].
** EvilMentor - Master Li