The Martial Arts Kid (2015)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Awful acting, rip-off story of Karate Kid, poor direction. Your eyes and ears will burn from the crappiness of this "film" Give it a HUGE skip.

This was painful to watch. I've always loved Don the Dragon Wilson. There's no doubt that he's a legend. But having him in this movie was more of a gimmick rather than an addition to the plot. Bad acting and confusing plot lines abound in The Martial Arts Kid. The main character steals another person's girlfriend, then beats up a guy for breaking a locket and we're supposed to be sympathetic towards him? If anything, it's our so-called hero who is the "bad guy". I was really shocked by all the critics who have praised this movie. It is without a doubt one of the worst movie I've ever seen.

Family-friendly martial arts films seem to be making a slow comeback, THE MARTIAL ARTS KID among them. This isn't an action movie, but a coming-of-age drama with a martial arts backdrop. Like most intentionally "wholesome" movies, it provides plenty of opportunities for eye-rolling , but it's also charming in key moments and actually features some good fight scenes.The story: A troubled teen (Jansen Panettiere) is sent to live with relatives in Florida, where the guidance and tutelage of his martial arts-practicing uncle (Don Wilson) and aunt (Cynthia Rothrock) help him overcome bullying and gain the confidence to turn his life around.The film focuses on drama and character development, in which regard it's a mixed bag. Though it addresses real-world problems, this is not a very realistic movie: to keep the relationships between the good guys as healthy as possible, the producers avoid nuance and grit to the point that they make THE KARATE KID seem like a hardcore drama. Nevertheless, this is part of the movie's charm, and it's kind of refreshing to see characters embrace goodness with such gusto. Wilson and Rothrock are clearly into their mentor roles, and while some of Panettiere's scenes can be pretty cringe-worthy, most of his shortcomings are the fault of the script and he remains a likable hero.The martial arts are afforded a lot of reverence, with the filmmakers going out of their way to present a realistic picture of the hero's development. It gets a little preachy, and MMA fans may not appreciate the portrayal of "practical" fighting as a means of bullying, but I think the movie gets its point across. (It could have managed this even without the endless parade of cameos from real-life practitioners, but oh well.) Also, while the seven full-length fight scenes aren't the centerpiece of the picture, their quality exceeded my expectations. Panettiere's a good little fighter with potential, but I was more appreciative of the comebacks staged by his costars. Rothrock has a pretty good match with taekwondo champ Inga Van Ardenn, while Wilson has arguably the best fight of his career against T.J. Storm. They're not the best fights you'll see this year, but definitely not the worst.I'm not sure whether Wilson & Co. can get through their remaining careers doing crowd-funded family flicks, but at least in this case, the picture was worth it. While not timeless, it's a fun movie that may encourage an interest in martial arts among younger viewers. Treat it as a rental, but don't be terribly surprised if this inspires a purchase.

THE MARTIAL ARTS KID is a film Produced, and acted by real martial artists. In fact there are more Champions, Grandmasters and Masters in this film than any ever made. Because of this and the fact it is an anti bully themed family film the fighting was purposely made to not appear fancy with wire works and flashy techniques so that fighting would not appear to be pretty or fun. The fighting is more realistic, and the training is the same. Two All Time GREAT martial artists Don The Dragon Wilson and Lady Dragon Cynthia Rothrock are instructors here. Though there is humor and action it is the message that matters here. If you love martial arts then this is the one for you.