Karate Kid: Legends

Karate Kid: Legends unexpectedly manages to pull off what seemed like an impossible task. It nicely bridges the gap between the beloved franchise and developments from Cobra Kai while delivering a surprisingly cohesive story that doesn't feel like a complete cash grab. Rob Lieber's script weaves together the underdog elements of the original 1984 classic with the "training montage against a formidable opponent" vibes of Rocky III and Rocky IV. And he conceals it in the all-too familiar but effective hero's journey template. However, the story will have a few constantly checking their watch as it barrels toward the climactic Five Boroughs Tournament, and most of the supporting characters get the short end of the development stick. But thankfully, Ben Wang's Li Fong bears enough emotional weight to carry the plot's heart.

Ultimately, the real treat is watching Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio slip back into their respective mentor roles like a comfortable pair of old shoes, and their chemistry as unlikely teaching partners brings genuine warmth to the proceedings. Chan bounces off Macchio with pleasing energy and charisma while Macchio brings that earnest Daniel LaRusso optimism without feeling like he's just going through the motions. But in the end, the movie belongs to Wang as Li Fong, who delivers a star-making performance showcasing not just solid acting but also impeccable comic timing and impressive martial arts skills that echo the best of Chan's early work, especially his shocked facial expressions during fight sequences. Wang navigates the physical comedy and choreography with impressive confidence, almost as if the movie were intended to quietly audition the next action comedy superstar, one worthy to take the reins from Chan. 

Making his feature-length debut, director Jonathan Entwistle competently makes this fifth sequel feel fresh enough to justify its existence, even if the pacing occasionally feels somewhat rushed, particularly after Victor's (Joshua Jackson) boxing match. He does well maintaining a solid balance between laughs, genuine character moments and some exciting fight sequences that make good use of the New York setting. Although taking place atop a high-rise, the Five Boroughs Tournament itself is staged with enough flair and energy to keep viewers invested, even when the final outcome can be seen from a mile away. Karate Kid: Legends won't likely rank high amongst the most devoted fanbase or spawn countless memes like Cobra Kai, but it's an entertaining and satisfying enough entry to enjoy on a lazy afternoon, which is frankly more than initially expected.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings Karate Kid: Legends to Blu-ray on Region Free, BD50 disc inside a blue, eco-elite keepcase with a glossy cardboard slipcover and a code for a digital copy, which unlocks the 4K UHD version in Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. After several skippable trailers, viewers are taken to an animated screen with menu options along the bottom, music and full-motion clips.

The latest entry in the martial arts saga enters the Blu-ray ring with a great-looking and mostly pleasing 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode, but it doesn't quite deliver the knockout punch we'd expect for such a recent release although it still walks away a winner. 

There's nothing particularly wrong or flawed in the encode, but the freshly-minted transfer largely seems somewhat bland and flat, which may be an intentional choice. The overall picture displays good resolution and excellent visibility of background information thanks to a clean, stable contrast and comfortably bright whites. But most all scenes, even the exterior shots in bright daylight during the training montages, never pop or feel energetic. Fine lines and objects are well defined with several moments that are sharper than others, but many scenes are also a bit softer and blurrier. Brightness levels are, thankfully, not affected much, as blacks remain true with strong shadow delineation although nighttime sequences lack appreciable depth. The 1.85:1 image comes with nicely saturated primaries, especially reds and greens, and secondary hues provide some warmth but also do little to give the video a lively appeal. Flesh tones appear healthy with good detailing in close-ups, but altogether, the presentation won't likely dazzle viewers. (Video Rating: 86/100)

The drama also debuts with a well-designed and satisfying DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack that won't likely raise the roof but will have listeners cheering for the underdogs. 

For most of the runtime, the rears unsurprisingly sit silently in their respective corners until called upon, keeping the audience's attention on events unfolding on screen. When the surrounds are allowed to participate, they are tasked with expanding and broadening the soundfield, particularly in the fight sequences, but they don't happen often although they complement the story well. On the other hand, the front soundstage does the majority of the heavy lifting, creating a wide and welcoming sense of space and presence. Channel separation is impressive with fluid panning effects and convincing off-screen activity. The mid-range is dynamic with strong detailed clarity during the loudest segments, which is best appreciated when the score and song selections play and lightly bleed into the surrounds. Even though the low-end adds some amusing weight to the visuals, it is not particularly robust, commanding or noteworthy. All the while, dialogue remains distinct and precise in the center, making this lossless mix generally satisfying. (Audio Rating: 82/100)

The Blu-ray arrives with decent supplements for fans to enjoy, but it's also a disappointingly small collection for such a new release.

• Two Masters, One Student (HD, 6 min) takes a closer look at uniting Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio
• Strength and Character (HD, 5 min) spotlights the rest of the cast
• Karate, Kung Fu, and the Art of Action (HD, 5 min) looks at the fighting sequences and choreography 
• Becoming the Karate Kid (HD, 4 min) focuses on Ben Wang and his performance
• Honoring the Miyagi Legacy (HD, 4 min) takes viewers back to the original 1984 classic 
• Deleted Scenes (HD) collects seven excised scenes
• Gag Reel (HD, 2 min)  
• Previews (HD) 

In spite of a few minor reservations and mild pacing issues, Karate Kid: Legends is a surprisingly strong and satisfying entry to the franchise, especially with Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio uniting for the first time as they reprise their respective roles. The big standout is Ben Wang in the lead, who does his best in a story that probably won't have fans cheering at the end, but at least they can walk away feeling like they got their money's worth. The fifth sequel debuts on Blu-ray with a great-looking HD video and an enjoyable DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, but the supplemental material is rather disappointing for a new release. Nevertheless, the overall BD package is Recommended for those ready to jump into the ring.

All disc reviews at High-Def Digest are completed using the best consumer HD home theater products currently on the market. More about the gear used for this review.