Rating: 
Summary: to be re-released as a box set?
Review: Now that none of the K2's are available, I can only assume the studio that has distributor rights to the series (Columbia/Tristar) will probably re-release all three or four films as a box set. Is that a good thing? Considering the first two are of any relevance, its a good way for the studios to recover any money for the last two. This is simlar to how 'Back to the Future' and the 'Pink Panthers' have been re-released. Let's hope the studio releases K-Kid I in widescreen and with additional content.
Rating: 
Summary: What's up with the lousy tranfser?!?
Review: I love this movie but what's with the lousy transfer? Hello?! McFly?!? Haven't they heard of "16 X 9"? I wish the studio clowns would remaster this thing and do the movie justice. Hey, they did it correctly with the rest of the movies in this series, the least they can do is to remaster this classic.
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Summary: What movies were supposed to be like.
Review: I love this movie and it's era. No movie today can give you the same affect as this movie can (except for maybe Rocky). The music score done flawlessly by Bill Conti and the chemistry between all the actors. Back then people loved "against the odds" kind of movies and Karate Kid delivered wonderfully.Of course if this movie was to come out today, kids would laugh and scoff at it because they would prefer to see blood, sex and stupid humor (see Road Trip). Sigh, to go back in time and sit in a movie theater...
Rating:
Summary: Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything
Review: I often use "The Karate Kid" in class as an example of a "put up or shut up scene." This is something I made up, but the idea is that there is a moment when a movie is either going to work or not work. The moment comes in this 1984 film when young Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), who has come to Mr. Miyagi (Oscar nominee Noriyuki "Pat" Morita) to learn karate so he can defend himself from the neighborhood bullies. But all the old man has had Daniel-san do is paint the fence, sand the floor, and wax the car. Finally, the kid has had enough and in an unforgettable scene Mr. Miyagi shows him that all of the repetitive and seemingly meaningless motions he has been doing are actually the fundamental moves of karate. For both Daniel-san and the audience, Mr. Miyagi puts all the pieces together and at the end when he tells Daniel "Come back tomorrow," you know the kid will pick his jaw off the ground and be there. The audience is hooked as well. Scriptwriter Robert Mark Kamen gets a lot of credit for this scene; his first script had been "Taps," and he would go on to write "Lethal Weapon 3" and "Gladiator" (no, the other one, with James Marshall Cuba Gooding, Jr.). But credit also goes to Morita's performance in this scene (he lost the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor to Haing S. Ngor in "The Killing Fields"). Familiar to television views as Captain Sam Pak on "M*A*S*H" and "Arnold" on "Happy Days," Morita became another in a long line of "comic" actors who showed serious chops in a dramatic role. You really get the sense that here is an actor who has been waiting his entire career for a scene this good and he absolutely nails it. The movie certainly comes close to going over the top, but director John G. Avildsen, who helped write the book on the contemporary inspirational "sports" film when he won the Oscar for the original "Rocky," keeps things on track. Elisabeth Shue plays Daniel's girl in this 1984 film, which was the same year she did "Call to Glory" on the tube and became the cutest girl in creation for me that year. There is always a romantic sub-plot in movies like this and I do not know about her, but he certainly shows extremely good tast in this film. William Zabka was Johnny Lawrence, the "bad" kid Daniel has to beat in the big karate tournament, and the other very interesting character in this story. This is because while he is the favored discipline of John Kreese (Martin Kove), the dark ying to Mr. Myagi's yang, we find out there are limits as to how low this kid will go. My biggest disappointment with "Karate Kid II" is that in the opening scene, which shows the aftermath of the big match out in the parking lot, they lay out what would have been a pretty good sequel: Daniel-san and Mr. Myagi trying to get Johnny away from Kresse's destructive influences. Think of all the peer pressure that would be on this kid. It would have made a pretty good film. "The Karate Kid" is not a great film, but it has a great scene and every time I see a movie that fumbles the big moment I think on this one. The prime example at the other end of the spectrum for me is "The Secret of My Success," where the big moment has Michael J. Fox's character talking to a bunch of high rollers. If he can convince them his idea is great, things will happen. But we never hear a word he says as the music becomes loud and inspirational. I can only sadly shake my head and tell the screenwriter of that film, "Come back tomorrow."
Rating:
Summary: The Karate Kid
Review: I don't have much to add to the previous reviews, except to say to parents who have children under age 13 - be warned! There is some profanity in this movie. I suggest you preview it and make a list of the places where you'll press the mute button on your remote control, that is if you don't want your children to hear and ultimately repeat some of the language. The profanity consists of: a** 4 or 5 times, several d***s, several G**D***s (when Macchio's character Daniel is complaining about being Mr. Myagi's slave), sh**, and bulls***. Overall, the movie is super. It's a heart-warming and exciting story about a shy, new kid whose grit and determination earn him the respect of his enemies, and the All Valley Karate Championship. It has good lessons about the value of hard work, being true to oneself, and pressing toward your goals in spite of obstacles. I just wish the writers didn't insist on corrupting an otherwise perfect family movie with so much foul language. It adds nothing to the story and somewhat diminishes the character Daniel, the young teen-aged hero.
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Summary: Martial Arts Mania
Review: This is my idea of a martial arts movie. This not only looks at the combative side of martial arts, but the mental aspect as well. Ralph Maccio does a good job of portraying a boy who goes through the hardships of both school and learning martial arts. Being a martial artist for 10 years is hard training, and similar methods were used in this movie that I had to go through. Plus, the music fits well with the theme of the movie, so it keeps you interested.
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Summary: This is an excellent film!
Review: This is an excellent film. I think this has an excellent plot. In John G. Avildsen's The Karate Kid Daniel and his mother move from New Jersey to Southern California, where he's not too keen about his new home until he meets Ali and attractive girl who seems to like him. But trouble looms when Ali's ex-boyfriend and his gang of ruffians start tormenting Daniel. One day, as Daniel is suffering a beating at the hands of these louts, Mr. Miyagi an elderly Japanese handyman, comes to his rescue. To Daniel's amazement, Miyagi manages to take down the whole group by himself using karate. Daniel begs to learn this ancient martial art, and soon Miyagi begins the boy's training, teaching Daniel that there is more to karate than fighting. Through a series of lessons, the wise mentor instills a sense of honor and nobilty in his young pupil while preparing him for the ultimate karate showdown. However, as Daniel studies the discipline and art of karate, his enemies are learning a dirtier kind of fighting from Kreese a cold-blooded ex-marine. Ultimately, the boys will fight to the finish in the All Valley Karate Championship in a rousing and triumphant finale. Morita is a gem, as the elderly father figure Miyagi, giving the character warthm, wisdom, and comic charm. macchio's underdog character inspired an entire generation to run out and join the nearest karate school while chanting "wax on, wax off".
Rating:
Summary: Especially appropriate for young teens and parents
Review: In 2004 this movie will be 20 years old. Certainly, some of its cultural references have aged a bit, but the soul of this movie and its core themes hold up just fine. My younger kids, who are karate students, enjoy this movie a great deal. Ralph Macchio gives Danny a nice combination of fear, resentment, vulnerability, and charm that make him live as a good kid trying to make it in a new school and a new life in a strange place. This movie rises most on the portrayal of Mr. Miyagi by Pat Morita. A very fine actor in a very fine role. He brings some complexity and pathos to the character. He makes his befriending of Danny believable. His mourning for his lost wife and child who died in an internment camp while he was off winning a Medal of Honor defending the country that imprisoned and neglected his family is powerfully moving. Elisabeth Shue, who has gone on to some wonderful things, is also pretty good here as the girl from the right side of the tracks who is attracted to Danny because she sees a lot of good in him while her peers only see the poor skinny kid. Randee Heller is very good as Danny's Mom who means well but is a somewhat clueless (maybe willfully so) about why Danny doesn't want to be in this new place and why push starting the car as she chaperone's Danny and Ali on a date in front of her rich snooty parents might cause Danny real pain. I mean what could she do about it except just push ahead like everything is just fine? This is a movie adults can enjoy. However, parents would enjoy it even more watching it with their children. I think young adolescents are a perfect audience or this movie's lessons. They haven't become too cool, yet and will find the story resonates with the trials they are facing in their young lives.
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Summary: Fighting isn't the answer. Unrealistic, but very well done
Review: It's unrealistic that in 2 months, Daniel LaRusso could learn enough Karate to beat a black belt, but welcome to movies. However, there are other bits that make you blink too. The character of the Cobra Karate teacher is cardboard but acted well. Fighting doesn't solve anything unless you're in personal danger. Fighting Johnny Lawrence over Ali's radio was silly. However, they got all the martial arts correct and the story was beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: Wow still a masterpiece!
Review: Karate Kid was always my favorite movie when I was about seven or eight, I used to watch it almost every day, well I'm 13 now and my little brother (he's 3) wanted to watch a movie so I went to Hollywood video down the street and saw the "Karate Kid." I'm thinkin no I won't like it, Its a little kids movie, then I remebered my brother. He wanted to rent it to I did. We're watching it and I remember almost every scene, I loved it! I couldnt believe it, It's my favorite movie now, I bought it on dvd, a MUST BUY for all ages, trust me.
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