Karate Kid: Legends - The scoop and digest

From a screenplay by Rob Lieber, Jonathan Entwistle's standalone story takes place after Cobra Kai and retcons events of The Karate Kid (2010).

Jackie Chan - Mr. Han

Ralph Macchio - Daniel LaRusso

Ben Wang - Li Fong

Sadie Stanley - Mia Lipani

Joshua Jackson - Victor Lipani

Aramis Knight - Conor Day

Summary

In Beijing, Li Fong's mother tracks son down and forces kung fu prodigy to live with her in New York City.

Before leaving, she makes him promise to give up fighting because his brother was stabbed and killed after winning a tournament.

Dude befriends Mia (who becomes a pseudo love interest) and her father Victor at family's pizzeria.

It doesn't take long for Li to clash with her ex-boyfriend Conor Day, who just happens to be the local karate champion.

(Sigh).

Mr. Han reconnects with Li and after Daniel comes to New York, they train Li for the Five Boroughs Tournament, where matches are the first to eight points or decided by KO.

Two branches, one tree

I didn't expect anything revolutionary, but ignoring stylistic approach of occasionally splitting screen into sections like a comic book - this is just a lazy rehash of original, less the charm, heart or personality.

Characters are terrible and action doesn't fare much better either.

For reasons beyond my comprehension, a decent chunk of running time is taken up by a bizarre sub plot involving Li training Victor, so ex-boxer can step inside the ring again to pay off a debt to O'Shea, who is also Conor's sensei.

Obviously the main selling point is making Chan part of the original universe, but he only appears for about 20 minutes.  As for Macchio, he's given almost nothing to do.

Rooftop climax dubbed 'Showdown in the Sky' contains zero drama or excitement .

Spoiler alert.

Li wins 8-7.

Before end credits roll, Daniel shares a pizza with Johnny Lawrence, who suggests opening a new karate-themed pizzeria called Miyagi Dough.

Finally, let's talk about how shit begins.

Okinawa, Japan 1986.

Actual footage of The Karate Kid Part II is shown, with Mr. Miyagi telling Daniel about how Shimpo Sensei got drunk on his boat and woke up off the coast of China.

Then we get brand new dialogue and animation, revealing that the Han family teaching him kung fu led to the birth of Miyagi Karate.

Trouble is, sequel was released in 1986, but is primarily set six months after original in June 1985.

Do your homework for fuck's sake.

Making things 'worse', Mr Han shows Daniel a photograph of him and Miyagi together, stating it was taken in 1985.

I don't know whether to wax on or wax off.