《功夫梦》翻拍自1984年的卖座电影《龙威小子》,由成龙与老搭档威尔史密斯之子杰登史密斯主演,讲述一名痴迷功夫的美国男孩在成龙扮演的中国隐居功夫大师的指点下,最终领悟功夫真谛的故事,具有鲜明的中国元素。该片由中国电影集团公司与哥伦比亚影片公司联合制作,威尔史密斯担任制片人。7日,该片在好莱坞举行首映式,并于11日起在美国和加拿大的3663家影院上映,首映当天即斩获1880万美元,周末3天在北美地区的票房总收入将达5600万美元,荣登北美地区票房榜榜首。
So far, the movie has been doing really well in the US, taking in more than 56 million USD in its first weekend and easily claiming the top spot on the box office chart in North America.
Director Harald Zwart said one of the major selling points for this movie was Jaden's kung fu skills.
"Yes, I am proud to tell you that there is no manipulation whatsoever. He trained for months and months. All the kung fu you see is exactly how it was done."
Jackie Chan echoed the director.
"So after the movie was finished, I was talking to Will, and I said, ‘Don't waste your son's gift'. He's so naturally talented. Now he's still practicing Kung Fu every day at home in the U.S. He is so willing to learn."
Due to popular demand, Jaden showed his kung fu moves on the stage, with his father beat-boxing in the background.
With The Karate Kid doing so well at the box office, it was no surprise that Will Smith expressed his willingness to work with Chan again.
"I'm really looking forward to doing two, or three, or five, or seven more movies with Jackie. Right now, the two projects that we're considering are both Jackie projects, so... I mean, I just think that this was such a fantastic collaboration, not only for our nations, but for the two of us. And specifically at this point in our careers, I think it's a great time for us to have met and worked together."
Will also said it was an honor to have been invited into Shanghai, China.
"I think, right now, we're only talking about a movie, but I believe that this collaboration and the accomplishment of this film is far beyond only a movie. I think it speaks volumes for the future of the artists of our two nations and the future of our two nations in general, so we are humble, and proud, and honored, and thank you."
"The Karate Kid" will premiere in China on June 22.
For CRI, I'm Liu Yan in Shanghai.