Rating: Summary: Plot was a little trite, but interesting characters... Review: The plot was a little trite, but one thing that made the movie interesting were the characters...especially Daniel LaRusso. Oh, he was so funny & loveable! Clumsy,self-doubting, his awkwardness was endearing. He & his mom had just moved from New Jersey to the Southwest, so Danny has to adjust to desert life, when he'd been used to snow before. It's funny how his mom is all excited about their new life, but poor Danny misses New Jersey & is homesick. One cute scene in the beginning is when they're unloading the station wagon(remember those old things?) Danny is bringing in his bike & he does a "karate" kick to open the front gate. The gate flies open & crashes into a boy his age. The embarrassed, worried look on Daniel's face is priceless! It's cute & kind of sweet the way Danny's so embarrassed that he apologizes like a broken record as he helps the other boy up. Trouble with a capital T comes when Danny falls in love with Ali at a beach party & comes face-to-face with the Cobra-Kai leader Johnny, who happens to be Ali's ex-boyfriend is VERY jealous of Danny. Poor Danny tries to fight back, but Johnny & his cronies pound him into the sand & leave him in tears & badly bruised. The Cobra-Kai gang then set out to make life an absolute nightmare for poor Danny. He's being beat up every other day as he's trying to maintain his growing relationship with Ali. I like his mom too. I think his mom knew that he was being tormented, even though Danny tries to cover it up & explain away his bruises as bike accidents(He's not a good liar). There's a lot of cute scenes like when danny & his mom are having dinner together & his mom asks about his girlfriend & I think I could see Danny actually blush a little! At a Halloween dance, he tries a prank on Johnny to retaliate, then runs only to be REALLY pounded, then good old Mr Miyagi comes to his rescue just as Danny faints. It's the start of a odd, but wonderful frienship between Danny & the old guy from Japan. Mr. Miyagi realizes that Danny need a little help here & with Danny goes over to the Cobra-Kai's karate class. Such a fascinating scene when Kreese, the teacher, who even MORE ruthless than Johnny, faces Mr. Miyagi. & Mr. Miyagi is calm & totally unthreatened as he works out a deal with them...meanwhile, Danny is cowering behind Mr. Miyagi, trembling in terror! A really sweet scene was when danny birthday comes in December & Mr. Miyagi helps him celebrate & actually gives him one of his cars. Danny is so overwhelmed with emotion you might just get the feeling he'd cry, but then he starts worrying about the karate match & I could see him shaking a little as he started the car. I had a little trouble with the idea of Danny entering a karate contest to fight back against Johnny, because I'm not sure fighting back is always the solution. I would have him maybe stand up for himself in a non-fighting stance. Also, I would have had his mom, Lucille, play a more active role in helping Danny stand up for himself. Maybe Danny could have enlisted his mom, Ali's, & Mr. Miyagi's help in staging a non-physical confrontation to discredit Johnny & the Cobra-Kai so they can't intimidate him or others. That would have made the movie really good.
Rating: Summary: Like, THE BEST EVER! Review: Oh my god! This movie is so inspirational. It is totally number 3 on my list of best movies right behind Winger "The Videos" and Yanni "Live at the Acropolis". The part where Daniel-sans girlfriend breaks up with him is so sad. I cried and cried but then by the end it all works out! I was so happy! That song when he is training for the tournament is so good! "You're the best. Around! No one's ever going to keep you down! " I love it. It sounds like a Winger song. I wish that Cobra Kai gang would just leave Daniel-san alone. He just wants to do Karate! Geez! Lighten up! So he plays soccer, big deal! That doesn't mean he is dumb or anything. And this movie was really a great springboard for Elizabeth Shue. I mean, she totally went on to awesome heights after this in Adventures in Babysitting. I like how his mom drives that beat up old station wagon. It's just like the one I drive and live in. I park it and sleep outside the landfill because nobody bothers me there. But if they did, I would let 'em have it like Mr. Miagi let the Cobra Kai have it. Go get this movie and get wasted while watching it!
Rating: Summary: great movie Review: the movie was great. i have to say that i really loved the cobra kai's. they were my favorite. i thought that bobby was the best(Ron Thomas). and if you are reading this write me! but otherwise it was a really cool, interesting movie.
Rating: Summary: Uplifting and touching! Review: This is a very sweet and touching story about a teen-ager from New York trying to fit in at a snobby California area. The most touching and enjoyable scenes are the scenes between Daniel and Mr. Myagi. Daniel, who has no father, bonds with Mr. Myagi, who has no family. Mr. Myagi gives him the protection he needs and also wisdom and courage. It is such an uplifting movie. The end makes you cry with happiness. Very enjoyable movie for all ages.
Rating: Summary: Me Just'a Save You 2 Months a'Beating Review: Even if you didn't already know this was from the director of Rocky, you might suspect it anyway. Is there anyone who hasn't seen this film? It's one of the true '80s icons - put it in a time capsule. Saw it twice in the theater back in '84 as a kid. Still remember jumping in my seat at the loud "BONG" when Pat Morita clapped his hands together before fixing Ralph Macchio's leg. Anyone who says they didn't get chills when Daniel defeated Johnny at the end (don't think I'm giving anything away there) is either lying or evil. What red-blooded American male kid was not practicing the "Krane Technique" for months after seeing The Karate Kid? Come on, admit it. I bet anyone reading this right now could still give a rough demonstration. To this very day, if you say "wax on, wax off", people know what you're talking about. Mr.Miyagi (that's Miya-"gi", not "ji") is second only to Yoda as far as screen sages. Even Ralph Macchio becomes likeable once you get past the initial irritation. And to snobs (a.k.a. critics) who call this a by-the-numbers teen wish-fulfillment story: SO WHAT. This "simplistic", "predictable" movie will be remembered long after most critical darlings pass into oblivion. And for good reason.
Rating: Summary: The Ultimate San Fernando Valley Saga Review: P.T. Anderson has tried to do it with Boogie Nights and Magnolia, but John Avildsen does for Reseda what he did for Philly in Rocky. It's the battle of the kid from the flats against the kids from the hills. I still cannot bear to watch the scene where Daniel picks up Ali at her house -- absolutely unbearable in its level of embarrassment. Yes indeed Mr. Morita was robbed of the Oscar. If only they hadn't allowed Mr. Miyagi to become a charicature of himself by Part IV.I was very disappointed that the DVD lacked a widescreen version, which would have added so much to the Zamfir-laden training montages (thank you again Mr. Avildsen).
Rating: Summary: Loved it a lot! Review: I saw this video and I loved it! Don't get me wrong-I'm 15-year-old girl who loves those martial arts type movies (like the 3 Ninjas sega and this Karate Kid sega) and so obivously, I loved the Karate Kid. I think everyone should go out and see it because it's really good! Take my word for it! I can gaurentee that you'll love it!
Rating: Summary: Not bad. Stupid story line. Review: I liked this movie a lot. But they could have picked a better story line for it. If they want to put fighting in it, fine. If they want to put romance in it, fine. But I don't think that a kid learning karate so he can fight his girlfriends x-boyfriend over HER is a very good story line. In the end it was not so much over her. But I think they should of changed the story line a bit.
Rating: Summary: excellent Review: Possibly one of the greatest movies ever made. I really mean that. It's a perfect masterpiece. The acting is immeasurably good. The score is also beatiful with the use of the pan flute. The Karate Kid II is probably the only other movie that has affected me this much. I hope they release Karate Kid II on DVD soon. I'll definitely buy it. BTW, does anyone when and where I can get the score music to the karate kid? Also, what is that piece that is playing when Daniel is practicing his balance in the ocean. It sounds like a famous classical piece, but it's not listed in the credits. It's possible that it was scored for the film, but I'm not sure about that.
Rating: Summary: A surprisingly-textured classic Review: I'll admit it. I'm biased. I love this film. To me, it's a bit like Jaws, in that, it created or expanded on a genre so much, that it became a sort of cultural icon. As a consequence, people have forgotten just how powerful the film is as a stand-alone film. Everyone thinks of this movie in terms of cliches, but it really is an exceptionally-well done piece of work. I still fell that Pat Morita was robbed of the Best Supporting Actor award in '84. The "drunk" scene is exceptional. Those familiar with the film will agree. Do yourself a favor and rent or buy this terrific little movie. Oh, Bill Conti's score is surprisingly effective, as well.
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