The Karate Kid Collection (Four Film Set)

Rating:
Summary: Woohoo! Gotta love the Karate Kid!
Review: "Wax On. Wax Off." is probably one of the biggest catch phrases in American pop culture and we get to relive that and other fun moments in this box set. I love the Karate Kid, even though I am definitely more partial to first and second one and I wasn't overly thrilled with The Next Karate Kid. These movies are like Rocky for teenagers but thankfully there's only 4 of them!
This belongs with the many other great teenage movies of the 80s and is highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Sweep the leg!
Review: Get him a bodybag!! YYYYEEEEEEEAAAHH!!!!!!


(Daniel LaRusso's gonna fight!)

Rating:
Summary: What a total rip off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: Here I sit anxiously awaiting my boxed set, just busting at the seams at the opportunity to see KKI in widescreen. I am a huge KK fan ... I have the first one on Beta, VHS, and DVD. I also have the soundtrack on cassette and CD. I have the paperback book versions, some of the action figures, and the script. I love this film; I know this film. I just popped the DVD in and to my dismay I see that even though the box says remastered for HD, absolutely nothing was done to clean the film up. It has the same dust specks in it that the original DVD had in it. What's worse, this isn't even widescreen!!!!! The lowlifes simply cut off the top and bottom of the original and called it widescreen. I compared it to my original full screen and you are missing parts of the picture. I am very very disappointed and will be seeking to get my money back due to their false advertising.

Rating:
Summary: finally here, but...
Review: I hate double sided discs! The 3rd and 4th films should be on their own with separate packaging. At least everything is in widescreen.

Rating:
Summary: VERY GOOD DVD'S IN WIDESCREEN.
Review: I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE KARATE KID COLLECTION AND I HAVE TO SAY IT'S VERY GOOD, THE FIRST KARATE KID GOT THE GOOD TREATMENT IS IN WIDESCREEN, IT HAS THE INTERVIEWS OF ALL THE CAST IN THE MOVIE (EXCEPT ELIZABETH SHUE), THE FIRST KARATE KID I GIVE IT 5 STARS, THEN COMES KARATE KID II IT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING NEW BUT THE MOVIE IS PRETTY MUCH GOOD, IT STILL HAS A PLOT AT LEAST, I
GIVE IT 4.5 STARS, THEN COMES KARATE KID III THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR THIS ONE, THIS IS THE WORST OF ALL TIME, THE PLOT IS VERY VERY PATHETIC, IT IS JUST A REHASH OF THE FIRST ONE, AND PLUS RALPH MACCHIO GOT VERY OLD AND FAT IN THIS ONE I GIVE IT 2 STARS, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST COMES THE NEXT KARATE KID ONE WORD "BORING!" I GIVE IT 1.5 STARS.

KARATE KID 5/5
KARATE KID II 4.5/5
KARATE KID III 2/5
THE NEXT KARATE KID 1.5/5

STICK WITH THE FIRST KARATE KID AND KARATE KID II


Rating:
Summary: The first film makes this set worth it!
Review: If you're like me you'll be buying this mostly to get the first film in widescreen. Or if you're not like me you're buying this because you're a big fan of "The Next Karate Kid"!!! Seriously though the main appeal of this set for me was to get the first film in widescreen. I wasn't however, expecting the running commentary to be as fun as it is. Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and the director and the writer are all on hand to provide insight. What makes the commentary so great is that unlike some commentaries they are able to laugh at certain scenes and point out things that even they thought were unbelieveable (the scene with the bottles on the truck). Morita and Macchio clearly formed a strong bond making the movies and their admiration for one another shows in the commentary. Since it is the first film that will be the draw here, that is the disc with all the bells and whistles. The other three films have no extras to speak of. By now everyone knows the story of Daniel and Mr. Miyagi and the powerful friendship they build. I was 13 when the first film came out and watching it again after 20 years it still packs a punch or should I say a kick! You'll want this set for the first film and maybe the second. I've never seen the third or fourth so I can't comment on those two. But it is a nice set and a great film of believing in oneself and the power of friendship.

Rating:
Summary: Well... the purchase is 5 stars.
Review: Part I (5 stars): Funny, I'm just not a big "karate buff", in fact, this probably is the only set of movies like this I own, or may ever own. When I tell people this is one of my favorite movies *ever*, they laugh. Then they say, "Are you serious?" And my words to explain why always fall short. Beyond the karate, beyond the underdog nature, there lie two characters that seem to compliment each other so perfectly it really makes the movie what it is regardless of the subject matter. Something about the chemistry between Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio simply defies convention and thrives on it. The casting by all involved was surely just one part luck, one part fortune, the DVD extras merely icing. My only complaint is this not being mastered to 5.1 DD sound.

Part II (4 stars): I'm kind of ashamed of avoiding this movie now. As much as I loved the first I never bothered with the second. I've just never been fond of sequels. Be it Back to the Future Two, the Lost World, or the hundred other sub par sequels, they just seem to mar the original product. However, here at Amazon I read that this story picks up 5 minutes after the first and that peaked my interest. Previously, I just assumed it would be directionless swill. So wrong. The score, the heart, the soul, and even the casting practically live up to the first, and I'm shocked at that. In fact Daniels love interest in this even out does the first!! Having the impact on me this film had 19 years after it was made is quite remarkable. It's not without it's flaws though, the last 15-20 minutes really just seemed to lose steam, the "storm" sequence being almost painful. Sad that there are no extra's to speak of, this movie may have been even more interesting to hear about.

Part III (3 stars): Definitely the weakest of the three, still a must see for the simple fact that Pat and Ralph still have that spark. Sadly, the casting choices for the villains are overwrought and the story just seems forced. I suppose the concept was losing its impact but regardless, the script just wasn't well thought out. Again, this picks up right after Part II and there is just something about this continuity that makes me think John Avildsen has courage and vision. The weakest part of the script easily being the "sign the paper" portions that defied common sense, still like Part II I'm simply shocked these movies are not disastrous "1 out of 5's" (as some here at Amazon alluded to) although having the original director onboard surely meant these movies had the stability they needed... and deserved. Having viewed Parts II and III has forever altered the way I will view Part I, and I'm relieved to report it's all for the better. They only enhanced what I knew and make me appreciate it that much more. Why not have commentary on all three movies?

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The Next Karate Kid (2 stars): I'm trying to view this as a sort of "bonus movie" within the packaged set. While 2 stars may seem low I think this movie does contain some decent performances by Hillary and Pat. The problem again is the script, hell, even the premise. So, a middle aged woman lets a friend of her fathers move in with her teenage daughter while she goes and stays at his home California? Please. A big problem are the overzealous sadistic "TV Movie" quality of just about everyone except the two leads. Even the love interest in this is so utterly flat it is totally deflated. Most of what should have had an impact (like the Hawk) didn't and a certain parts (like "Zen" bowling) seemed like embarrassing filler.


Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: The movies a classic, I bought it just for the fact that it was on DVD and the Tapes I have are dying. Haven't watched the Features though. Have one downside, on KKP2 there is said to be an interactive dvd-rom game on the back of the case that holds the KKP2 dvd (not the box that holds all the dvds) Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate this game, and Unsure whether they just removed it and forgot to reprint the dvd cover. Still a great buy, suggest if for anyone.

Rating:
Summary: wax on...................
Review: The original Karate Kid will always have a special place in my life. It is a great snap shot of life in the 80's and the struggles some of us faced as teenagers. This movie made me want to start taking Karate lessons. Now I'm a 6th degree black belt in Okinawan Karate. Thanks for the motivation Daniel san.

Clint DuPlechian,Sensei

Rating:
Summary: Reliving a classic and then some
Review: Who doesn't know the Karate Kid? Great film that too many high schoolers can relate to. I give this set 4 stars because, parts 3 and 4 are merely filler. It also would have been nice to have commentary on all four films instead of just the first. And why wasn't William Zabka included in the commentary? And can someone please help me find the DVD rom game that is supposed to be on the Karate Kid 2? Still the strength of the first film, and to a lesser extent, the second one merits 4 stars. Plus, all four films for $25? Can't beat tha.