Rating: 
Summary: John G. Avildsen's The Karate Kid
Review: This was a wonderful Action/Drama. It is directed by John G. Avildsen(Rocky). This movie is about a 17 year old named Daniel LaRusso(Ralph Macchio) who moves from Newark, New Jersey to Southern California with his mother(Randee Heller). When Daniel is invited to a beach party, he falls for Ali(Elisabeth Shue) a beautiful blonde girl. Daniel later gets into a fight with Johnny(William Zabka), a bully from a Karate group named the Cobra Kai. Then when school starts, Daniel becomes a target for the Cobra Kai and start to bully him many times(Soccer, Biking, on Halloween). Then Mr. Miyagi(Pat Morita) an Apartment Handyman from Okinawa, leaps to Daniel's defense. Then when Kreese(Martin Kove) becomes upset at Miyagi, he challenges him. Mr. Miyagi accepts the challenge at the Karate Tournament and that gives Mr. Miyagi two Months to train Daniel. This movie had great action and acting. I highly reccomend this.
Rating:
Summary: This is an awesome film
Review: This is an awesome film. The first time I saw it I loved it. I also loved the sequels that followed. My favorite Karate film is 3. I love 3. The plot: Daniel may be new in town, but he's already made an enemy of Johnny, the toughest kid in school and a karate black belt. There's only one sloution Daniel has to learn karate too. But can Mr. Miyagi, the old Japanese handyman, teach him enough to face Johnny in the All Valley Karate Championship? And more important can Daniel win back the girl he loves, and regain his own self-respect? So much more than a movie about trying to fit in, so much more than a martial arts movie, and so much more than a triumph of an under dog movie, this is a tale about faith, courage, acceptance, and never giving up. The acting of Ralph Macchio Noriyuki "Pat" Morita and Elisabeth Shue is excellent. This film has an excellent plot. Now I know why this film was such a blockbuster back in 1984. This is an awesome series. The first three are excellent. "The next Karate Kid" is a joke. I hate it. I think they should have stopped at three.
Rating: 
Summary: Give me a break
Review: Ralph Macchio is one of the worst actors Hollywood ever put on the screen. He either overacts everything or is a complete ham. This movie is the pinnacle of his career. This flick is about as realistic as a Friday the 13th movie.First of all I cannot believe a karate school run by a sensai as portrayed in this movie could possibly exist. No one is going to pay hard earned money for that kind of abuse. Secondly, a karate student abusing his skills on people would be severely punished or banned from further classes. The sensai in this movie is a stereotypical loon left over from the Vietnam War. The only viewing pleasure this movie has is Mr. Mayagi. Pat Morita is not the propritor of Al's anymore from Happy Days. He plays a wise and noble charactor that has to cool the jets of hot headed Ralph. The final contest is a bit far-fetched and the final blow has become a cliched joke.
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.
Rating:
Summary: show me.........sand the floor!
Review: The Karate Kid was THE movie of its generation. Around the time it came out I was only 8 but at least everybody I knew who was my age or even older had seen it. I think its strength lies on how many people at different ages can identify with the story itself. Daniel, "the karate kid", moves from N.J. to southern california and has the difficult challenge of making new friends. Eventually Daniel becomes the object of bullying after trying to hook up with the ex-girlfriend of the bully's leader. Daniel eventually learns that his handyman is a master of the martial arts and asks him to train him. Well Daniel learns even more than just how to "fight back". He learns that karate is not a weapon but merely a technique used for self-defense to prevent people FROM fighting. Along the way he also learns self-confidence and balance as a key not only for karate but also as a symbol in helping overcoming any obsticles throughout life. This movie just works on so many levels. The father son relationship can be seen through the eyes of the student (Daniel) and the teacher (Mr Myagi). This movie will make you laugh, cry, and cheer!! Highly recommended!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Paint the fence, and wax on and off, this movie is superb!
Review: This movie improves with age, especially when you watch the teen flicks that are released today. Ralph Macchio stars as Daniel Larusso, an Italian California newcomer who has the misfortune to fall foul of the local gang of bullies who are crack karate students under the tutelage of a sadistic sensei. Morita gives an Oscar-worthy performance as apartment building handyman Mr Miyagi, who becomes Daniel's unlikely mentor after rescuing him from a savage attack of the Cobra-Kais, providing the genesis for 1 of the greatest human bonds ever created upon the silver screen. So much more than a movie about trying to fit in, so much more than a martial arts movie, and so much more than a triumph of the underdog movie, this is a tale about faith, courage, acceptance, and never giving up.
Rating:
Summary: The 80's are back!
Review: "Wax on, wax off" is a catchphrase that will forever be instilled in the human psyche, thanks to the eighties release, The Karate Kid. Now, as you cringe at the images racing through your head of disco balls, pastels, hair spray and corny one-liners and you decide to bury yourself in a deep hole and hide, dust off the cob webs because no matter how many times you've see it, this is one eighties flick you can't help but love. Now available on DVD as an Ultimate Collectors Pack, we can relive this inspirational story of courage and friendship. While teens of today may call this a retro disaster, and use the video cover as a coaster during a drinking fest at one of their underage parties, there's no denying the saying, "an oldie but a goodie" loudly rings true. Moving to a new home and starting over is never easy. Just ask Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio). Leaving Newark for LA, Daniel's the new kid and he thinks the whole world is coming down on him. It's all doom and gloom until like any other 16 year old teenager with rushing hormones, meets a beautiful blonde, Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue). However, Ali brings baggage to the picture, a wild ex boyfriend Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) who also happens to be the leader of the Cobras, a ruthless youth karate gang. Subject to constant bullying by the cobras, Daniel turns to an unlikely source for help, Japanese war veteran turned apartment block handyman Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita). Mr. Miyagi, who has been taught karate by his father becomes the helpless teens mentor and teaches him the craft, not as an offensive tool, rather only as a means of self-defence. After months of unconventional training such as washing cars, sanding decks and painting fences and houses, Daniel's prepped for his toughest battle, a fight against Johnny in the thrilling conclusion. Will good prevail over evil? It's the finale that's most exciting. My finger is always drawn to the rewind button, where I can't help but recap those final gripping moments again and again. The youth of today's movie going generation will have a field day laughing at the funky eighties pop music, the tightly worn jeans, and (I must admit) the outrageous hair styles. Despite this, 20 years later, a lot can still be learnt as its messages transcend across the boarder of time. An everlasting masterpiece the whole family will enjoy, John G. Avildsen's The Karate Kid, the original of the trilogy, is undoubtedly the standout. Though a little hackneyed and slightly predictable at times, it's the relationship between Macchio's and Morita's finely tuned characters that still make this a heartfelt film, two decades after its cinema release. It's a shame Ralph Macchio can't brush off that teen type cast. Struggling to get adult roles because of his boy like features is unfortunate as his acting ability is second to none. It sadly seems he'll forever be remembered as 'The Karate Kid'. A great performance is somewhat to his detriment. Still, only one word can describe this movie, unforgettable...that's for sure! Dim the lights, heat up the popcorn and enjoy this timeless classic.
Rating: 
Summary: good movie
Review: This 1984, 'modern classic' by director John G. Avildsen ("Lean On Me"; "8 Seconds") is a solid movie--very entertaining. I'll admit there is nothing truly spectactular about it. Robert Kamen's ("The Fifth Element") writing is good, but nothing truly great. Macchio and Morita put in solid performances. The karate is only mediocre, but the principles aren't exactly martial arts experts. Still, it is one of those films I fondly remember as a child, and one I can still go back to all these years later. It holds up over time.
Rating:
Summary: "Wax On, Wax Off, Sand the floor, Paint the house."
Review: This is one of the best teenage movies in 80s. It has lots of good elements, like romance, school problems, great music, fighting combats, and the zen of karate. This is a unique martial arts movie. Most of them focus on fighting combat scenes; however, Karate Kid instead focuses on the mental side: Wax On, Wax Off, Sand the floor, Paint the house, etc. Those are as a matter of fact the defensive techniques for learning blocking. You can see the director carefully sets up two traditional styles of karate: Hard and Soft. Obviously, the Cobra sensai & his students are from hard style, very aggressive & no mercy. In contrast, Miyagi & Daniel are from soft style, focusing on defensive technique and mental training. They meet together finally in a tournament. For this DVD, it lacks of some extra freebies. Only subtitles and theatrical trailer are included. No deleted scenes, no directory's commentaries, and no documentaries. I'm sure lots of people will appreciate if there's a DVD box set for the entire Karate Kid series with some good extra features.
Rating:
Summary: The 80's are back!
Review: "Wax on, wax off" is a catchphrase that will forever be instilled in the human psyche, thanks to the eighties release, The Karate Kid. Now, as you cringe at the images racing through your head of disco balls, pastels, hair spray and corny one-liners and you decide to bury yourself in a deep hole and hide, dust off the cob webs because no matter how many times you've see it, this is one eighties flick you can't help but love. Now available on DVD as an Ultimate Collectors Pack, we can relive this inspirational story of courage and friendship. While teens of today may call this a retro disaster, and use the video cover as a coaster during a drinking fest at one of their underage parties, there's no denying the saying, "an oldie but a goodie" loudly rings true. Moving to a new home and starting over is never easy. Just ask Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio). Leaving Newark for LA, Daniel's the new kid and he thinks the whole world is coming down on him. It's all doom and gloom until like any other 16 year old teenager with rushing hormones, meets a beautiful blonde, Ali Mills (Elisabeth Shue). However, Ali brings baggage to the picture, a wild ex boyfriend Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) who also happens to be the leader of the Cobras, a ruthless youth karate gang. Subject to constant bullying by the cobras, Daniel turns to an unlikely source for help, Japanese war veteran turned apartment block handyman Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita). Mr. Miyagi, who has been taught karate by his father becomes the helpless teens mentor and teaches him the craft, not as an offensive tool, rather only as a means of self-defence. After months of unconventional training such as washing cars, sanding decks and painting fences and houses, Daniel's prepped for his toughest battle, a fight against Johnny in the thrilling conclusion. Will good prevail over evil? It's the finale that's most exciting. My finger is always drawn to the rewind button, where I can't help but recap those final gripping moments again and again. The youth of today's movie going generation will have a field day laughing at the funky eighties pop music, the tightly worn jeans, and (I must admit) the outrageous hair styles. Despite this, 20 years later, a lot can still be learnt as its messages transcend across the boarder of time. An everlasting masterpiece the whole family will enjoy, John G. Avildsen's The Karate Kid, the original of the trilogy, is undoubtedly the standout. Though a little hackneyed and slightly predictable at times, it's the relationship between Macchio's and Morita's finely tuned characters that still make this a heartfelt film, two decades after its cinema release. It's a shame Ralph Macchio can't brush off that teen type cast. Struggling to get adult roles because of his boy like features is unfortunate as his acting ability is second to none. It sadly seems he'll forever be remembered as 'The Karate Kid'. A great performance is somewhat to his detriment. Still, only one word can describe this movie, unforgettable...that's for sure! Dim the lights, heat up the popcorn and enjoy this timeless classic.
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