Karate Kid: Legends
Karate Kid: Legends
After kung fu prodigy Li Fong relocates to New York City, he attracts unwanted attention from a local karate champion and embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition with the help of Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso.
Alex | Pop Culture Brain reviewedMay 30, 2025
We're doing this again? We are doing this again!
I saw Karate Kid Legends so here's the good and bad without spoilers
After 5 movies and 6 seasons of a TV show
Is there any juice left in the Karate Kid franchise?
Turns out the answer is hell yes
Karate Kid Legends was so much more than I was expecting
While being exactly what I was expecting — if that makes any sense
This is a Karate Kid movie through and through
But writer Rob Lieber and director Jonathan Entwistle have given it new life
With a dynamic New York City setting, a little bit of variation in the fighting styles
An inversion of the student teacher dynamic, and subtle exploration of racial differences
But most importantly this movie is fast paced —
At 94 minutes, the writing and editing is economical and efficient —
While still being emotionally and tonally effective
It’s got real stakes, the emotions of the story work,
and they captured the right blend of humor, action, and heart
Now that said Ralph Macchio’s inclusion felt a little forced
His supporting role works in the end, but I could feel the strain of getting Daniel in there
Some acting was a little corny and the writing at times was cliche
Also the villain was a bit under developed and 1 dimensional
But all of that was kind of expected and forgivable in this type of movie
Because it’s the Karate Kid, you know what you’re going to get
But despite that, I was still swept up in the story
and would absolutely recommend this to longtime fans and newcomers alike