Greetings from The Paley Center for Media’s Education Department!
Welcome to the latest installment of “What We’re Watching,” a Paley guide for Education@Home. For the next month, our newsletter is being taken over by college students that are part of the Peter Roth Internship program @Paley!
This week we hear from Bryce Washington, a rising senior at The Calhoun School, and Santino Suarez, a rising senior at Stuyvesant High School. Enjoy this unique perspective from the next generation of television and media professionals.
As always, if you have any questions, thoughts, or ideas, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at eduny@paleycenter.org.
Happy viewing,
Rebekah Fisk, Director of Education
Carlos Pareja, Manager of Education
What We're Watching: Remakes!
Remakes and adaptations provide a way for generations to connect. Often, re-creations of our childhood movies and shows can be scary, due to the large following these childhood classics had. In today’s media landscape, past remakes continuously leave a bad taste in viewers’ mouths. However, this does not mean every remake will let us down. The Karate Kid (2010) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) are prime examples of that. Despite having a mountain to traverse, the two pieces of media overcome the challenge and present a beautiful retelling of the story the audience has grown to love.
The Karate Kid (1984) vs. The Karate Kid (2010)
Recommended for Grades: 5+
Available on Starz and Netflix
Children are shaped by their role models. The media they consume heavily impacts their future and, for parents, it’s hard to figure out the ideal movie to show your child. When I was younger, both The Karate Kid (1984) and The Karate Kid (2010) are movies that impacted me beautifully. I personally recommend both movies, the remake and the original but if you only have time for one, I recommend the remake over the original. The Karate Kid (2010) serves as an amazing remake even though it is not entirely about karate and more about kung fu.
Dre Parker, the main character played by a young Jaden Smith, is bullied by a kid kung fu prodigy Cheng because they are interested in the same girl, Mei Ying. Dre uses kung fu to overcome his fears of the bullies that oppose him. Throughout the movie, he learns that kung fu isn’t all about fighting, it's about self-reflection and treating others with respect.
The key to the film’s greatness is the representation it has. It has an African American main character who is represented as the hero of its genre. When I was younger, it was hard for me to find ethnic representation in movies and the courage Dre had. After I watched The Karate Kid, I figured out that I could be like Dre. The Karate Kid (2010) pushed me to take martial arts so one day I would have the chance to stand up to my fears, and that's exactly what I did. This movie teaches children how to overcome their fears and that standing up to bullies might be scary, but you can always ask for help from others. The movie serves as inspiration for children to stand up in communities where their identity is not well represented. I would strongly recommend the remake and the original to all kids around twelve-years-old.
Additional Recommendations
Watch
Cobra Kai (2018–now)
Kung Fu Panda 1-3 (2008–16)
Rocky 1-5 (1976–90)
