Everything Old is New Again: Karate Kid and the A-Team

For anyone growing up in the 1980s, mentioning the titles of the A-Team and the Karate Kid may cause a host of memorable lines and memories to come spilling out. While these classics are making a comeback this year, will these versions be able to offer the same things as the originals?

In 1984, Ralph Macchio's character Daniel Larusso moved from New Jersey to California. In 2010, Jaden Smith's character Dre Parker moves with his mother from the United States to China. In 1984, Daniel is taught karate by an old handyman/karate master after being beaten up by some bullies. In 2010, Dre Parker is taught kung fu by an old handyman/kung fu master after he is beaten up by a classmate who doesn't want Dre to talk to a girl. Although the story line was completely recreated, the 2010 version of the movie captures the spirit of the 1984 version: revenge and winning at all costs is not the way to be successful in life. Dedication, peace, and harmony will help bring you to success.

The A-Team in the eighties were a group of Vietnam veterans who were arrested for a crime they did not commit. The 2010 A-Team was updated to have them be Iraqi War veterans. The 2010 version focuses on the team finding out who framed them for the crime. The A-Team of the '80s used their talents to help those who had no one else to turn to. The culprits who framed them was not a focus. The other difference is the violence. The '80s version did involve a large number of bullets being fired , a van that they worked on and made a tank every week, and some explosions. However, no one died. The 2010 version has a lot of explosions and people being killed. It is because of this that the original B.A. Baracus, Mr. T, did not like the movie, and has tried to distance himself from the production.

In review, some times the remake is better than the original, as in The Karate Kid. In other cases, a classic should be left as it is and not updated, as with The A-Team. But, with the way that Hollywood operates, everything classic will be repackaged one day. When the Smurfs movie comes out, I will let you know if animated Gargamel is better than a live action one.