Rating: Summary: The best Karate Kid film in the series Review: This is the best KK film. I thought this installment had the best plot and villians. In director John G. Avildsen's third installment of the popular Karate Kid series, the original villian returns to get his revenge aganist Miyagi and Daniel. Kreese the mariane whom Miyagi thumbled with a few punches and kicks, has never forgotten the bitter taste of defeat. Bankrupt after the first tournament defeat, he's back with a particulary nasty friend and a new trainer who is aching to lure Miyagi and Daniel into the fight of their lives. When Daniel decided not to compete in the challenge, he becomes the target of numerous attacks by Kreese and his villainous friends, who will stop at nothing to win the title back. But when his relentless abuse becomes blackmail, daniel goes aganist the sound advice of Miyagi and enters the competition, alienating his mentor. This rousing continuation of the adventures of Daniel and his teacher includes fast -paced karate sequences. This is the best installment in the series. I love 3. This istallment had a better plot than the 1, 2, and 4. I thought this was an awesome way to end the it, (the series). If you're a true fan stop after this one.
Rating: Summary: THOMAS IAN GRIFFITH STEALS THE SHOW AGAIN Review: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and Hollywood favourite Thomas Ian Griffith deliver the finest performances of their lives in this powerful new chapter of the Karate Kid series. Griffith in particular steals the show as Cobra Kai Sensei John Kreese's war buddy Terry Silver. Silver helps Kreese get revenge on Daniel and Miyagi after Kreese's student's defeat at the Under 18 All-Valley Karate Tournament shatters his reputation as a karate man and costs him all his students, sending the Cobra Kai dojo into bankruptcy. Griffith's portrayal of Silver (the chloride sludge-dumping, grand jury-bribing, evil sadistic millionaire CEO vietnam veteran karate master) gives a new meaning to the word villain. Using "Karate's Bad Boy" Mike Barnes as his pawn, Silver devotes several weeks of his adult life to the defeat and humiliation of a teenage karate champ and an old Japanese man. With some of the best karate ever seen on film, a fitter-than-ever Ralph Macchio and an ending you will never predict, KKIII has it all. Buying this movie is a "strong move".
Rating: Summary: Possibly the Best Martial Arts Film Ever! Review: I must say I am impressed with some of the positive reviews here of the KKIII. Those of you that gave it a low rating may need to re-examine your thinking. I think this movie is especialy enjoyable for the karate enthusiast such as myself. It does something that a rare few martial arts movies do. It shows you the point of view of a karate student in modern day, not just a action/police/kung-fu typical movie. It really gets to the heart of karate.
Rating: Summary: truly outstanding third installment of the series Review: a lot of hate with this one, some of it justified, but who cares! this is simply one awesome movie, and it's a MOVIE. that means it doesn't have to be 100% accurate all the time!Sensei Kresse wants to avenge his humiliation at the end of Part 2, by teaming up with his vietnam partner Terry Silver, what an evil duo! and then, they recruit Mike Barnes, Snake, and Dennis to cause havoc on Daniel and Mr Miyagi, but no way! in the end, against all odds, Daniel and Mr Miyagi overthrow the evil and win. ahh i still remember when i saw this movie in the theatre, and the scene in the dojo where Barnes is beating Daniel into a pulp in front of Kresse and Silver, ('You want to see more?'asks Silver - 'I want to see a LOT more!' shouts Kresse) - but then when Mr Miyagi throws Barnes through the dojo doors to help his student, the entire theatre hall exploded into cheers and screams! that is the power of this movie. tremendous performances from everybody involved, i really can't fault it one bit. A must buy.
Rating: Summary: the best karate Kid film in the series! Review: This was the best Karate Kid film in the series. This installment had the best plot and villians. This film also introduced characters which were not featured in the first too installments. They are, Mr. Terry Silver, John Kreese, Mike Barnes, Snake, Dennis, and Daniel's new love interest Jessica Andrews. In this one mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel The final karate move his family's Kata. I think they should have ended the series with this installment. "The Next karate Kid" ruined the series. This installment had a better plot than the 1st, 2nd, and 4th, installments. This one had more and the best action sequences than the other "KK" movies. The tournament was awesome. In the final sequence Daniel uses the kata and beats Mike Barnes. This was the best. Word of advice take it: see the first three and stop. Don't see the 4th and save your time and money. The 4th one's a joke.
Rating: Summary: The Karate Kid Part III: The Revenge of Daniel LaRusso Review: This film wasn't all that great. The best thing was the very happy ending. This film begins showing Daniel(Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi(Pat Morita) who come back to Reseda from Okinawa. You also see Kreese(Martin Kove) going to his rich lifetime friend Terry(Thomas Ian Griffth) for help. Terry tells him that strike back at Daniel and Mr. Miyagi for revenge. So Terry hires the vicious Mike Barnes(Sean Kanan) an aggressive Karate student. Meanwhile, Daniel buys Mr. Miyagi a Bonsai Shop andbecome partners there. Then Daniel meets Jessica(Robyn Lively) across the street and goes on a date with her that night. That night, guess who shows up? You guessed it. Mike Barnes. He wants Daniel to sign an applacation for the tournament. When Daniel refuses, Mike starts to cause trouble(Mess up the shop, Steal trees etc.). When Daniel finally signs, Mr. Miyagi won't help. So Daniel meets Terry and he offers to train Daniel. But Daniel dosen't realize that Terry is training him wrong. But when Mr. Miyagi says,"Bonsai tree have strong root. Same you. Inside you have strong root too Daniel-San.", Daniel deciedes to quit Terry's work. Then Daniel sees that Terry has been training Mike and that makes Mr. Miyagi the only one to train him. This was an O.K. movie. Possibly worst of the series.
Rating: Summary: Utterly disgraceful Review: The original Karate Kid is a masterpiece; a cinematic work of art jam-packed with universal moral lessons, outstanding acting, and jaw-dropping cinematography. The sequel, while not nearly as original as the first, maintains the intense charm, beautiful imagery, philosophical depth, and heart warming music made famous by the first. Then theres part III... I am at a loss for words in attempting to accurately describe the horror that is this movie. The acting is atrocious. The plot is paper thin. The "philosophy", if it can be called that, is total re-hash. The reccuring theme of Daniel having a "secret move" with which he is able to thrash the last boss (sound like any videogames you know of??)is intriguing in the first film, acceptable in the second, and totally inexcuseable in the third. What's worse, the secret move is a kata (Cringe..). I'm not sure how many reading this have ever formally practiced a martial art, but for those of you who have not, katas are not magical spells which confound enemies leaving them bewildered and vunerable to being tossed. Remember that if you are ever mugged. What else is wrong with this movie, lets see...Well, Daniel talks to bonsai trees. Sure, some people enjoy talking to plants, some even says it helps with their growth. Such "plant-talkers" also may be found watering their living-room carpet or baking the cat for 3 hours at 350 degrees. All perfectly healthy behavior, yes, but a bit out of place in a karate kid movie. I could go on about the absurdities scattered about this waste of a film: the karate instructors with personality disorders obsessed with Daniel, who spend the majority of their days threatening Daniel's life (which strangely enough is a crime in some states), the fact that Daniel's beloved mentor and father figure, who has saved his lfe, built him a very nifty shower curtain halloween costume, taught him self-confidence, self-defense, tolerence and discipline, given him a beautifully restored classic car, taken him to Okinawa, and remained one of the only positive influences in his life since his move from New Jersey to California...is abandoned and shunned for Daniel's pride. But then I would be typing all day. This film is an insult to the first two films. Literally, an insult. It is an insult to me, personally, and to everyone who knows and loves the characters of Daniel and Miyagi. It was most likely made in the spirit of Rocky V; a last ditch attempt by hollywood high-ups to squeeze the last drops of money-making potential out of a series that had already peaked, done at the expense of the series' reputation for quality. Shame on you, karate kid 3, shame! (The one star rating is based on the fact that it does contain SOME nice scenic shots and DESCENT music. Other than those two barely redeeming features, the movie is a waste of space. It is unnerving to even imagine that such a piece of complete trash could be released by a major hollywood studio. This may sound harsh, but if you havent seen it, judge for yourself. Rent it. If nothing else it is a great "invite your friends over and die laughing at the horrible images on the tv screen" movie.)
Rating: Summary: The end of Daniel san's story Review: Right up there with the most inspirational films of our time, Karate Kid III is a testament to the human spirit. In this installment our favorite karate instructor, Sensei Kreese is torn by his demise at the hands of Daniel and Miyagi in the first film. Afterall, Daniel defeated Johnny at the All Valley Tournament. Where is there left to go for Kreese. You would think his life is over, but no. He turns to his rich friend Terry Silver for the answer. Mr. Silver is strangely obsessed over getting back at Miyagi and Daniel. I think he wanted it more than Kreese even for some reason. So he makes himself appear as a nobody, he even drives a little truck with no roof on it. Then he finds karate's bad boy, Mike Barnes...a performance that outshines perhaps any yet in the Karate Kid series. Barnes, and his two new friends, Snake and Dennis, eventually bully poor Daniel into signing up for the tourney. Silver finds a way to become friends with Daniel and basically makes him his puppet. He wills Daniel to fight without mercy and to go against all Daniel stands for by trying to convince him to fight dirty. Daniel doesn't really like it but he keeps studying under Silver for a while until he realizes the error of his way. At one point he asks Miyagi to teach him to sweep, in which Miyagi comes back with a broom and begins sweeping the steps. Brilliant. It all comes to an end at the tournament where Daniel must face his fear, and take on Mike Barnes. Daniel pulls no punches and unleashes his fury upon Barnes. Perhaps one of the greatest martial arts displays ever on film.
Rating: Summary: THREE CHEERS FOR JOHN G. AVILDSEN Review: Director John G. Avildsen has managed to resurect the ever popular Karate Kid series one last time with star Ralph Macchio. And what the critics snubbed as being 'dumb and useless' is really one of the greatest films of the year. For those that dont know, John G. Avildsen won best director for his film Rocky. This movie is close to, if not better than Rocky. Ralph Macchio, now 37 years old, plays 18 year old Daniel-San. This dramatic choice for Ralph should have earned him an Oscar for Best Actor. The overweight, out of breath alcohlic actor convinces everyone he can still play and immature boob and pull it off with nary the bat of an eye. Noriyuki "Pat" Morita returns as Miyagi and seems to be the mix of a (...) lazy old (man) that has (wet) his pants and no longer walks straight. The fight scenes are breathtaking. In one scene, a veteran actor of the stage and screen playing 'Dennis' rips a paper screen in half with his bare hands. HIS BEAR HANDS!!! It's a thrilling display of emotion and anger that defines the crux of the films premise - anger is too much for one boy to handle, it will get the best of you and eventually force you to fight, as Daniel San does in the end. Fans of the KK series will not be dissapointed. Fans of cinema, students and teachers alike will be blown away by this golden gem, a timeless treasure burried away in the annals of film folklore and history. It's also available in wide screen version.
Rating: Summary: Even on DVD, Mike Barnes is Karate's Bad Boy Review: Though he is in soap operas now, this film displays Mike's young days as a brash, fighting machine. He uses "quicksilver" to destroy his opponents, and Daniel-San gets a taste of this ferocity as he wets his pants when he is flung from the Cobra Kai dojo. Many feel that the real winner in the tournament was Mike Barnes, and I am among them. Perhaps the most tainted victory in the history of the "Under 18 All Valley Tournament," Daniel wins in distasteful fashion. You be the judge. The downside of the tournament is that Cho-sen, Johnny and Bobby did not compete. But this is negated by the return of Sensei John Kreese and the sensational debut of Terry Silver. This is the premier movie in the series. A mix of existentialism (another reviewer noted how it was reminiscient of Kafka) and homosexuality, this film is a profound, influential work of our times; indeed, as Daniel-San states, "this is the 80's, you can't be so damn passive!" Ultimately, the movie is about freedom, human anguish, and bravery. As Camus wrote about the war in Paris (which is the only thing that barely comes close to the intense fighting in this film): This huge [Daniel Larusso], all black and warm in the summer night, with a storm of [Mexicans] overhead and a storm of [Cobra Kais]in the streets, seems to us more brightly lighted than the City of Light the whole world used to envy us. It is bursting with all the fires of hope and suffering,it has the flame of lucid courage and all the glow, not only of liberation, but of tomorrow's liberty.
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