http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155076/

I have to admit I was looking forward to this film. While I do like the original film, I also think it is a very cheesy film that has potential as a remake. That is why I found this film so dissapointing. I love the idea of Jackie Chan playing Pat Mortia's role, but sadly he is one of the few good things about this film. One of the first big problems with this film is Jaden Smith. I have never been impressed by him in the past. Hell he was terrible in The Day the Earth stood still, and only tolerable in The Pursuit of Happyness. However I was curious to see how he did in this film. Unfortunately he is mediocre at best.

Maybe it's just me, but I think it was a terrible idea to make the main character in this 11. I'm not talking as a fan of the original, I just don't find 11 year olds compelling most of the time. There are very few child actors who have impressed me in the past. Most of them play side roles so their characters are pretty minimal for good reason. Some like Jena Malone, Natalie Portman, Jodie Foster, and Anna Paquin are natural actors even as kids. They have charisma, and are compelling to watch. Jaden Smith lacks something as an actor. I find the delivery of his lines very dull, almost like he is reading them off the script as he talks. When he tries to act tough he just ends up sound comical.

Maybe he will evolve as an actor later on, but right now he is nothing special. If he had some chemistry with Jackie Chan I wouldn't mind his acting as much, but he doesn't even have that. Thankfully though Jackie Chan makes the film a lot more watchable. If the 11 year old change was bad I was really hoping that this film wouldn't have a romance part. Sadly it does and it was really cheesy, and poorly done. Kids have crushes at that age, but having a romantic interest in this film just seems weird, and unnecassary.

The original film was cheesy, but it had some basic understanding of martial arts and how it isn't just about fighting people who get in your way. In this film Jackie Chan seems to just teach Jaden Smith how to win a fight. Even though I have been very critical of this film so far I will say that I liked the China setting. The way the country was portrayed was slightly cartoonish but I can forgive that. Overall I would say this is not a good film. If you want to waste some time I guess you could see this, and you should form your own opinion of it but I personally thought it was mediocre. Shame too since I was looking forward to it. While it isn't as bad of a remake as the recent Death at a funeral, it is still very disappointing.

I give it a 4 out of 10.