The Karate Kid is a 1984 film directed by John G. Avildsen and starring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, and Elisabeth Shue. That’s the only Karate Kid. Hillary Swank and Jaden Smith are not Karate Kids. They are abominations, especially Jaden Smith. Ralph Macchio didn’t need his daddy to butcher a classic film in order to get a starring role in an unnecessary remake.
The Karate Kid is a classic movie about Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), a New Jersey high school senior who moves to a new school in San Fernando Valley, where he meets and starts crushing on a hot chick with a jealous ex-boyfriend. The ex-boyfriend happens to be the leader of a Karate gang, and he decides to make Daniel’s life a living hell. But then Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), the handyman/martial arts expert, takes Daniel under his wing and teaches him how to do Karate by using manual labor. Mr. Miyagi enters Daniel into a Karate tournament, and if Daniel wins then the bullies have to leave him alone. It’s directed by the same guy who directed Rocky and you definitely see parallels between the two films. They both are about an under skilled underdog facing off against a vastly superior opponent with more training and experience. They both get trained by an older guy with declining physical skills that are still capable of kicking ass. They both form an unlikely relationship with a girl that has no real reason to like him. And violence solves all the problems in the end.
The Karate Kid is not a perfect movie. It has a lot of flaws and plot holes. The main character is downright unlikeable at times. He bitches and moans and complains constantly. He’s cocky and arrogant even though he gets beat up all the time. And the movie’s conclusion is way too rushed. He wins the tournament and gets the trophy and that’s it. BAM! Over, done, finished. A film’s conclusion should actually conclude things, not just suddenly end on a happy note. But you can’t deny the movie sticks with you. If you watch it once, you will watch it again. It’s a guilty pleasure. Everyone knows wax on, wax off. The Karate Kid is more than a movie; it’s a rite of passage, and you’re a freak if you’ve never seen it.
Critically Rated at 15/17
Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young
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