Final Fantasy... Finally

I had heard about the new Karate Kid and Jaden Smith playing the role of the puberty challenged wimpy kid turned karate warrior sometime in January (thanks to mediatakeout). But it wasn't until the Karate Kid's TV trailer played on TNT during the NBA playoffs did I really take note.

Now that said, what the... (just imagine the word that I wanted to put here for a second)... I mean, are they serious??

First, since the commercial for this trailer has been playing non-stop during the playoffs, I've had no choice but to realize how stupid this notion of moving the "kid" to china really is in comparison to say.. keeping him domestic like the original Karate Kid. But okay, with globalization being such a huge part of the world today, I can see why we move him abroad... and I'm sure getting a financial boost from Asian markets only played an insignificant role in the move (I'm obviously understating that point for purposes of sarcasm.)

Now onto my second and real issue. Why the FREAK does Jackie Chan say, "I will teach you real Kung Fu" (he says this with about 53 seconds on the clip), was it an error, NO! Because as we can clearly see, Jaden is being taught and then later attends a competition for.. (you guessed it) "real" Kung Fu. I'm not sure if the producers, directors, or writers caught this, but... Karate and Kung Fu aren't the same thing. Karate is OKINAWAN/JAPANESE and Kung Fu is CHINESE. Have you ever called a Japanese person, Chinese? Yeah... I bet the guy didn't react too well, did he? Now imagine insulting a man's way of life also. Imagine mixing a Muslim for a Jew. This is basically what this movie is doing.

I heard it argued that the marketers just wanted to make a quick buck using the name and the actors/actresses to score some movie sales. Well, that's logical, but wouldn't it be just as financially sound to call the movie Kung Fu Kid? The target audience that would have tuned in for Karate Kid purposes, would still very likely be made interested and then you also seem to create something new that is somewhat standalone from Karate Kid, but close enough for the link of "kid" to apply. People like new and original, so such a name as "Kung Fu Kid" would have been a NEW franchise, even though its based off of something old. This all while keeping from insulting anyones lifestyle or nationality.

On a side note however, the idiots for this movie, likely realized that the name for the movie was a blunder. As they've already changed the official trailer (which can be seen here), eliminating the Jackie Chan "Real Kung Fu" statement.

So I guess, the next logical question is, "will I be seeing the movie?" Sure. Just because the marketing department failed (IMO) doesn't mean the movie can't be a good "Kung Fu" movie. Though I can confidently say I won't be buying it in theaters... I'll wait for it to hit DVD or cable... because I refuse to make such insulting pockets richer. And that's my final fantasy... until next time.

Sorry everyone, the draft has come and gone and you best be sured that I WILL give each NFL team their grade. But first I wanted to let you know that I started this blog as a class project for my Multi-Media Communications class. And in the class we were responsible for doing a featured article, podcast, and a vodcast. So I wanted to post those for you all to see and critique.

HE Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

“The road is long, with many of winding turns

That lead us to (who knows) where, who knows where?

But I'm strong, strong enough to carry him - yeah

He ain't heavy - he's my brother.

So on we go

His welfare is of my concern

No burden is he to bear

We'll get there

For I know

He would not encumber me

He ain't heavy, he's my brother”

Those are the opening lines for the hit song most popularly performed by the Hollies, “He Aint Heavy, He’s My Brother.” For Thomas Bisogno these words were in his heart in 1985.

You see at the early age of twelve, Thomas’s younger brother, Michael, was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney disease. The disease also negatively impacted Michael’s blood pressure, causing him to develop hypertension. Since that point he had to take various types of medication to treat both of his conditions. Michael did, however, live a happy enough childhood, even after the illness; he played noncontact sports like softball, worked happily at the local Deli, played cards, spent Sundays watching major league baseball with his brother (Thomas), travelled to six flags and sporting events with his friends; he was no different than most other kids his age, except for his kidney issue.

It was at that point in 1985 when Michael’s kidneys finally gave out on him. Mrs. Bisogno (mother to both boys) mentioned to her eldest son, Thomas that Michael was in desperate need of a transplant for him to stay alive and Thomas preceded in doing what was needed for his brother without hesitation. He said to his mother that if he was a match, he would definitely volunteer for the transplant… and he was indeed a match.

It was on a Sunday at Albert Einstein Medical Center in the Bronx, that both Thomas and Michael were admitted. The surgery would be the next day and it was that night that Thomas laid on the hospital bed staring up at the off white ceiling of the room when he first felt anxiety. That off white ceiling was not just so, it was also a representation of the unknown that faced him in the following day; the questions, the doubts, the fear. But Thomas endured that night and came away more focused in his mission, understanding full well his own strength and understanding that Michael was NOT a burden, Michael was his brother.

Sadly though, Mrs. Bisogno, could not be there for her sons on the day of the transplant for she had passed away prior, but Thomas’s sacrifice meant that he was able to at least give life and love to his younger brother. As he was wheeled into the operation room Thomas’s doubts, his questions, his fears all once again flooded his head… and then he remembered his purpose and regained his calm. Thomas woke up after the procedure and spent the next seven days in the hospital occupied by the constant boredom of television reruns and old magazines on the night stand, while waiting for visitors to arrive. After his release from the hospital, for five weeks, he was off of work recovering. His brother Michael was not as fortunate and had to stay in the hospital for three months worth of old magazines and television reruns.

Michael lived for another four years after the transplant procedure took place, dying in 1989 at the age of only 24. His loss was a great loss for the Bisogno and extended family and all of Michael’s friends. But that lost was delayed, even if only for a short time, due in large part to Thomas’s efforts.

“If I'm laden at all

I'm laden with sadness

That everyone's heart

Isn't filled with the gladness

Of love for one another

It's a long, long road

From which there is no return

While we're on the way to there

Why not share

And the load

Doesn't weigh me down at all

He ain't heavy, he's my brother.”

Not everyone possesses the same courage that Thomas displayed when providing life for his brother, but we all have something that we can provide the people in our lives; no matter our race, sex, religion, or relation; we all were born with the capacity to love. When life challenges our morality to love, it is my hope that we are all able to rise above those challenges, but in the instance that we cannot, I hope that we may all remember Thomas’s example of courage and come to rise above our own strengths to love.

So the first round of the NFL draft has come to it's end game and I have to say, it was probably the most surprising and shocking draft that I've ever seen. Of course the first 6 picks started off as planned, with the only slight exception being the Chiefs taking Eric Berry as opposed to going offensive tackle.