Karate Kids and Senseis Across America to Enter The Karate Kid Challenge at Six Flags Parks Nationwide

CULVER CITY, Calif., April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- In anticipation of the worldwide release of the new movie The Karate Kid, in theaters everywhere June 11, 2010, karate kids and their senseis from across the country are invited to bring their best moves to one of ten Six Flags theme parks and compete in The Karate Kid Challenge for a chance to attend the premiere of the film and even host a private screening for their friends.

The Karate Kid Challenge will offer karate students and their senseis the opportunity to compete in a karate exhibition contest designed to showcase their skills and teamwork.  Participants will be judged on demonstrated movements and technique; the degree of difficulty; entertainment value, showmanship, and creativity; and basics, including balance, synchronization, and focus.  At each of ten Six Flags parks, the judges will name a winner and a runner-up.

The dates and locations of the ten Six Flags events are:

All events will be taped, and videos of the ten winning teams will be posted on Yahoo!, where the public will vote for their favorite team from May 18-25.  The top three vote-getters will be invited to the premiere in Los Angeles, where the grand prize winner will be announced.

The grand prize winner will receive a private screening of The Karate Kid for their friends as well as other Karate Kid prizes.

Karate students and senseis can go to www.thekaratekidchallenge.com for more information, the official rules, and to download the registration and entry forms.  Forms will also be available at each site on the day of the event.  Each Six Flags park location will name a winner and a runner-up at the end of the day's events; teams must be present in order to win.

The Karate Kid Challenge is part of a multi-platform promotional campaign taking place as a result of a partnership between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Six Flags Media Networks, the advertising, sponsorship and corporate partnerships arm of Six Flags, Inc.  Also included as part of the campaign will be advertisements on Six Flags Digital Networks, including Six Flags TV, Jumbotrons, and Menu Board TV; ride domination in five parks including wrapping coasters with the Karate Kid theme; and a full online presence at sixflags.com.

"Six Flags is very excited to be working with Sony on the reinvention of this iconic title," said David McKillips, SVP, Corporate Alliances, for Six Flags Media Networks. "This campaign demonstrates our unique ability to develop 360 degree experiential and brand-building marketing programs that provide direct access to millions of consumers nationwide."

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 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 Six Flags Media Networks

Six Flags Media Networks provides the advertising community with comprehensive, multi-platform media opportunities via its media touch points that go far and beyond that of traditional advertising. For its local, regional and national advertising partners it offers: Six Flags Television Network, Six Flags Radio, Six Flags Print, Six Flags Outdoor, Six Flags Outdoor Spectacular, Six Flags Attraction Integration, Six Flags Experiential Marketing and Six Flags Online.  Six Flags Media Networks is a division of Six Flags, Inc.

About Six Flags

Six Flags, Inc., is a publicly-traded corporation headquartered in New York City and is the world's largest regional theme park company with 19 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

SOURCE Sony Pictures Entertainment