The Karate Kid

[GeneChing]

This film has the biggest promotion engine behind it of any martial arts film to date.

Little Caesars(R) Pizza Teams with Pepsico and Columbia Pictures' 'The Karate Kid' to Kick Off 'Your Ticket To Kick It' National Promotion

DETROIT, April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Little Caesars Pizza, PepsiCo, and Columbia Pictures today announced "Your Ticket to Kick It," a national scratch-off game promotion, in anticipation of the release of Columbia Pictures' The Karate Kid. This promotion includes national marketing components and offers Little Caesars customers across the country a chance to win a year of movie tickets, pizza, and Pepsi-Cola beverages, among other prizes. The film, starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, will be released in theaters everywhere on June 11, 2010.

"Little Caesars pizza, Pepsi, and The Karate Kid make the perfect combination for family fun," said Linda "LJ" Jaworski, senior vice president of Marketing and Communications, Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. "Little Caesars Pizza is excited to bring this promotion to our customers for the chance to win great food and entertainment."

Little Caesars customers will receive a "Your Ticket to Kick It" scratch-off code card by visiting participating Little Caesars restaurants and purchasing a fresh HOT-N-READY® pizza with any Pepsi, Diet Pepsi or any available product in the portfolio. The promotion begins on April 26 and continues while cards last. Customers simply scratch off their card to determine if they have won the grand prize of a year's worth of movie tickets, Little Caesars pizza, and Pepsi-Cola beverages (awarded as 48 movie passes and 12 Little Caesars® gift cards each good for one HOT-N-READY® pizza, an order of Crazy Bread® and Crazy Sauce® & one two-liter Pepsi-Cola product), or other prizes including individual movie tickets, movie posters, The Karate Kid merchandise, or discount coupons for Little Caesars and Pepsi products.

Two varieties of collectible mini movie posters with a re-print of Jaden Smith's signature will be available at participating Little Caesars restaurants beginning May 18.

"We're proud to work with Little Caesars on this exciting program and pleased to deliver access to such a great property," said Margery Schelling, CMO PepsiCo Foodservice. "The chance to win prizes associated with 'The Karate Kid,' which promotes confidence and leading an active lifestyle, will delight the whole family."

Communication elements to support the promotion include print, broadcast, and Web presence along with in-store point-of-purchase materials. Social media will also play a large role in the promotion through Little Caesars' and The Karate Kid's Facebook and Twitter pages.

Promotion details and official rules are available at participating Little Caesars locations. There is no purchase necessary to receive a "Your Ticket to Kick It" scratch-off code card. Customers can request a scratch-off code card without purchase by mailing their request to the address included in the official rules available at participating Little Caesars locations.

In Columbia Pictures' The Karate Kid, 12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) could've been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother's (Taraji P. Henson) latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying - and the feeling is mutual - but cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, Dre's feelings make an enemy of the class bully, Cheng. In the land of kung fu, Dre knows only a little karate, and Cheng puts "the karate kid" on the floor with ease. With no friends in a strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but maintenance man Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), who is secretly a master of kung fu. As Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not about punches and parries, but maturity and calm, Dre realizes that facing down the bullies will be the fight of his life. The film is directed by Harald Zwart. The screenplay is by Christopher Murphey. Story by Robert Mark Kamen. The film is produced by Jerry Weintraub, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, James Lassiter, and Ken Stovitz.

About PepsiCo Foodservice

The PepsiCo Foodservice Division integrates the relevant units of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay together with Quaker, Tropicana and Gatorade in the United States and Canada. Rooted in PepsiCo's "Power of One" principles, PepsiCo Foodservice leverages the scale and breadth of the corporation's brands to provide a unified voice to its customers and deliver competitive advantage in the fast-growing foodservice and vending channels.

About Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 130 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at www.sonypictures.com.

About Little Caesars Pizza

Little Caesars Pizza founders Michael and Marian Ilitch opened their first restaurant in Garden City, Michigan in 1959. Little Caesars added more stores in the world in 2009 than any other pizza chain and today is the largest carry-out chain internationally with restaurants on five continents. Little Caesars is growing in prime markets across the country, and is offering strong franchisee candidates an opportunity for independence with a proven system. For the third year in a row, Little Caesars was named "Best Value in America"* of all quick-serve restaurant chains. In addition, Little Caesars offers strong brand awareness with one of the most recognized and appealing characters in the country, Little Caesar.

In addition to Little Caesars Pizza, Michael and Marian Ilitch's companies in the food, sports and entertainment industries include: the Detroit Red Wings, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Champion Foods, Ilitch Holdings, Inc., Uptown Entertainment, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program, and a variety of venues within these entities. Michael Ilitch owns the Detroit Tigers. Marian Ilitch owns MotorCity Casino Hotel.

[GeneChing]

I've run on the great wall and I didn't need my sugar daddy to buy me a film franchise to do it.

Jaden Smith shows acting chops in ‘Karate Kid’ remake
The son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith stars with Jackie Chan as his martial arts mentor.
Lessons learned on the Great Wall
By Susan King, Los Angeles Times
May 2, 2010

Though he's not yet even a teenager, Jaden Smith appears as dedicated to his craft as a seasoned pro, putting in the hard hours to make his characters believable.

For his starring role as Dre in the loose remake of "The Karate Kid," opening June 11, the son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith spent three months training in the martial arts in Los Angeles and then worked at it an additional four months in Beijing, where the film was shot last year.

"Now, I'm doing it again," says the poised Jaden, 11, who appeared opposite his father in 2006's "The Pursuit of Happyness" as well as 2008's " The Day the Earth Stood Still."

The film's title is a little misleading, to be sure, because Jaden studied kung fu rather than karate, but it's a skill that is serving him well. Kung fu, he explains, "helps me with stunts and stuff like that. It's great, and it's fun — but it's very hard work."

This new "Karate Kid" plays to a younger demographic than the 1984 original, which starred Ralph Macchio as a bullied teenager who learns karate from a handyman/martial arts master played by Pat Morita.

In the update, Dre and his widowed mother ( Taraji P. Henson) leave Detroit when she is transferred to Beijing. Soon enough, the diminutive Dre finds himself the target of older and bigger bullies who are taking kung fu lessons from a sadistic teacher. Jackie Chan, in a surprisingly dramatic turn, plays the handyman at Dre's apartment complex, who teaches the boy the art of kung fu.

The martial arts superstar also had a thing or two to teach the young actor — but not necessarily about kung fu. "It was more life things and things about the camera. He would come in every day and he would say ‘good morning' in a different language. It was very fun to work with him. He taught everybody things."

The youngster's famous parents, executive producers on the film, accompanied him on the shoot, and though they were there for four months, he says he didn't get much time to sightsee. "What I did get to see was pretty cool," he says, looking on the bright side. "I got to run on the Great Wall."

[GeneChing]

Anyone go to the Karate Kid Challenge at Six Flags? Tiger Claw supplied some mats, but I haven't talked to our guy who delivered them yet today. He was pretty beat after CMAT and had to leave early to get to Six Flags early the next day.

[r.(shaolin)]

ttp://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thekaratekid/
Insulting.
r.

[TaichiMantis]

huh?

[David Jamieson]

a) a remake is not required

b) it's more about kungfu than karate, but uses karate anyway and perpetuates that ignorance

c) it should've just been a different movie without raping our childhood happy memories as cheesy as they were or may be.

d) will smith is a jerk

[Shaolin]

I still have a crush on Elisabeth Shue.

[Almost A Ghost]

a) a remake is not required

Truth.

b) it's more about kungfu than karate, but uses karate anyway and perpetuates that ignorance

From what I understand they go over the difference in the movie.

c) it should've just been a different movie without raping our childhood happy memories as cheesy as they were or may be.

So true. It was such a simple and earnest movie. It got me into the martial arts. This remake looks all mystically retarded and they use wire-fu.

d) will smith is a jerk

He should be charged with movie rape.

[TaichiMantis]

a) a remake is not required

true, but I don't mind

b) it's more about kungfu than karate, but uses karate anyway and perpetuates that ignorance

pfffft! In the original it looked like kung fu was involved, come on...wax on wax off?

c) it should've just been a different movie without raping our childhood happy memories as cheesy as they were or may be.

Nah, just a modern twist to an old favorite...plus, it will get millions of kids to check out the original (making more $$$ for those folks).

d) will smith is a jerk

I LOVE HIM!!!! But I think his wife could kick his ass!

[GeneChing]

That's what Jaden's character Dre says in the Cinemark preview.

Update on the Karate Kid Challenge

Starting on May 18, 2010, go to www.YahooVoteForTheKarateKid.com to vote for the best performance among the finalists. The Grand Prize Winner will win a trip to the premiere of the film, meet the talent from the film and more!

[GeneChing]

Jackie Chan: China's Top Celebrity
Russell Flannery and Chloe Chen, 05.12.10, 03:00 AM EDT
The Hong Kong actor outduels basketball star Yao Ming to top Forbes China's latest ranking.

SHANGHAI -- Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan heads our new list of top Chinese celebrities.

Chan beat basketball star Yao Ming, who had dominated the list for six consecutive years, Forbes China magazine reported in its latest issue. Chan reached the apex in part because of the strength of his acting and his income from concerts. Last year he became the first entertainer to perform in the Beijing Olympic Stadium since Olympics finished in 2008.

For the first time the latest celebrity ranking from Forbes China, the licensed Chinese-language edition of Forbes, was expanded to include celebrities that hail from Hong Kong and Taiwan in addition to the mainland.

Yao, the Houston Rockets basketball player who is currently recovering from an injury, dropped all the way to No. 4 in the newest ranking. Taiwan music superstar Jay Chou came in second, and Andy Lau, the Hong Kong singer and actor, was third.

In a year when the global economy struggled, Chinese entertainers benefited from the country's brisk economic growth rate of more than 8%. "China's wealth is spreading beyond the entertainment industry's traditionally big markets in eastern cities like Beijing and Shanghai, and moving further out into second- and third-tier cities," says Echo Yang, who compiled the list for Forbes China. "That is providing a huge source of new business and income for Chinese celebrities."

The Forbes China Celebrity List surveys the popularity and income of leaders in movies, sports, media and music. Earnings were based on the 2009 calendar year. In this year's survey Yao actually outranked Chan in income generated; Chan did better in influence on the Web and television.

Although the list shows the clout of Chinese stars it home, they are increasingly finding success abroad. Chan, for instance, next month will star in the new movie, The Kung Fu Kid.

Rounding out the top 10 this year were mainland actress Zhang Ziyi, mainland actor Zhao Benshan, Taiwan singer Jolin Tsai, Hong Kong action picture star Donnie Yen, mainland track star Liu Xiang and mainland actress Fan Bingbing.

Two Chinese Olympians that made it into the top 10 last year following China's successful showing at the 2008 Beijing games dropped from the top ranks this year. Among them, New York Nets forward Yi Jianlian, who was last year's No. 3, and swimmer Guo Jingjing, who had ranked No. 4.

Kung Fu Kid. Haaaa.

[GeneChing]

Enter to win THE KARATE KID on BLU-RAY DISC. Contest ends 6:00 p.m. PST on 05/27/2010. Good luck everyone!

[GeneChing]

There's a photo shoot - follow the link.

Rising Son: The New Karate Kid
Jaden Smith soars in The Karate Kid.
By Krista Smith•
Photograph by Art Streiber
June 2010

The newest incarnation of the Karate Kid, Jaden Smith soars over Los Angeles.

Only 11 years old, Jaden Smith possesses genes that have positioned him for stardom. He made his film debut in the Oscar-nominated The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) as the son of the character played by his real-life father, Will Smith. His mother is the actress and singer Jada Pinkett Smith, and his nine-year-old sister, Willow, has appeared in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl and I Am Legend. This month Jaden kick-starts another reboot of The Karate Kid, the 80s franchise that made Ralph Macchio a teen heartthrob and went on to spawn a girl’s version, The Next Karate Kid (1994), featuring a then unknown Hilary Swank. Jaden is the youngest actor to take on the strenuous title role. His character, Dre Parker, relocates with his mother, played by Taraji P. Henson, from Detroit to Beijing, where most of the Sony picture was filmed. His favorite sights? “I was working the whole time,” says Jaden. “I only got to see the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.” And how was the Chinese food? “I ate burgers.” Bullies at school and a forbidden crush drive Dre to learn how to defend himself, and under the guidance of Mr. Han, a martial-arts master played by Jackie Chan, he becomes a devoted student of kung fu and triumphantly surprises everybody, including himself. “Jackie Chan is amazing,” says Jaden. “On the set, he was teaching everybody. I have been doing karate since I was five, but kung fu is way different.”

Krista Smith is Vanity Fair’s senior West Coast editor.

[KungFuCulture]

Of course I was jazzed to hear about Will Smith producing the Kung Fu Kid movie. I was just as disheartened to hear that it would be called The Karate Kid.

The movie even had a promotional contest searching for the best Master/Pupil relationship IN KARATE! In San Antonio only one Master/Student was a Kung Fu practitioner.

52 Year old Kung Fu Master Joseph Eagar and his long time 8 year old student, Andre Magnum, competed and took runner up. The winner? A 20 something Karate Master and his student.

I'm not upset that they won as much as I'm upset that Kung Fu seems to be completely dismissed. Check out video of the Karate winner and Kung Fu runner up here.

www.kungfuculture.net/view_toppicks.php?tid=600

[taai gihk yahn]

Of course I was jazzed to hear about Will Smith producing the Kung Fu Kid movie. I was just as disheartened to hear that it would be called The Karate Kid.

because the American consumer is like a sheep that needs to be led by its nose and spooks at the slightest change from what's expected - meaning that if it were "the Kung Fu Kid" (which would obviously make far more sense), then that might result in decreased brand identification and subsequently decreased revenue;

Christ, I'm starting to sound like HW108!