The Karate Kid
Cast
The Karate KidstarredRalph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso , a 17 - twelvemonth - erstwhile who move from New Jersey to California with his female parent and struggle to adjust to his new life and high-pitched school . He becomes the target for a group of teenagers that consider at the Cobra Kai dojo under the ruthless John Kreese . Daniel ultimately finds both comfort and a friend in the form of his apartment building complex ’s eccentric handyman , Mr. Miyagi , who agrees to prepare him in karate , though with a unique set of chores and only as long as he keep the mindset of using it for United States Department of Defense .
The Karate Kid’s Underdog Story Remains A Crowdpleaser
Staying true to the Rockyformula makes the plot largely predictable, but still enjoyable
The concept of an unexpected superstar rising through the ranks of a fun with the assistance of a devoted trainer was not a young construct , even by the timeRockycame along , though it had often been used for more comedic result , such as withSlap Shot , The Longest YardandThe Bad News Bears . Regardless of their depart tones , the subgenre did largely stick to the same formula , bring their respective booster victory in some form or other .
Despite the indecorum , though , it ’s hard to deny the crowdpleasing nature ofThe Karate Kid ’s story .
WithThe Karate Kid , writer Robert Mark Kamen does flummox a piffling too tight to the normal for the movie to be totally original . Daniel ’s advance of his karate attainment is appropriately gradual , but is n’t without the bear montages to make progress a minuscule quick . Even his rising slope through the tourney itself stays true to the underdog data format . Daniel easily beats his first few resister , then has a few collision land on him before at last winning the fights .
Despite the casualness , though , it ’s hard to traverse the crowdpleasing nature ofThe Karate Kid ’s story . Macchio ’s performance as Daniel is full of life and emotion , which makes it easy for us to want to see him deliver the goods in the tourney . The dedicated support from Daniel ’s mom , his dearest interest Ali and Mr. Miyagi also gives Macchio ’s protagonist all the more intellect to need to get ahead and prove himself .
Some Of The Karate Kid’s Characters Are Underdeveloped
The focus on Daniel leaves us wanting more from those around him
While his connectedness to these character reference may be part of why we want to steady down for him , The Karate Kid ’s sustain charactersstruggle to be fully recognize masses . Elisabeth Shue ’s Ali largely exist to hold up Daniel , even as the movie makes the occasional attempt to play up her desire to fall in gratis from her upper - class family and friends ' judgment to love him . One of the more notable example of this underwhelming character study is how chop-chop she forgives Daniel after he induce cocky about his new car from Mr. Miyagi .
it would have been nice to see Morita be give a more in - depth character from the get - go .
William Zabka ’s Johnny Lawrence is another notableKarate Kidcharacter who is sadly developing as the moving-picture show progresses . Even without the knowledge ofCobra Kaiputting Johnny on a path of redemption , the movie offers a few hints at him being more than just the untypical bully , clearly suffer by being spurned by Ali and lacking the correct behavior to get a second fortune with her . Even after all the animus between them , Johnny congratulating Daniel at the end and telling him he ’s alright show there was far more of his character to explore .
Custom Image by Grant Hermanns
One of the biggest characters who needed more focus was Pat Morita ’s Mr. Miyagi . Between Daniel being the protagonist and work up the mystic POC mentor figure that has been featured in countless movies , Miyagi is largely an enigma , with only a fistful of reference of his father instruct him some of the things he instruct Daniel , and a heartrending view in which he relives the death of his married woman and son . While later franchise installment would start to reveal more about him , it would have been nice to see Morita be given a more in - astuteness role from the get - go .
The Karate Kid’s Humor Ages Surprisingly Well
Avoiding any outright dated jokes helpsThe Karate Kidmostly hold up
After 40 years , The Karate Kid ’s book and humor ages very well . Despite the era being prevalent with movies direct everything from race to gender for low - brow antic , Kamen largely treats the fundamental Asian character with esteem by avoiding too many major stereotypes and racist characters . Even Johnny and Kreese ’s various threats against Johnny and Miyagi are n’t offensive , just appropriately sinister .
Overall , The Karate Kidcertainly has some flaws that become easy to recognise with sentence and when viewing the picture show from a macro perspective , but it still for the most part surmount them to continue an underdog sports classic . Macchio and Morita not only deliver spectacular individual performances , but also show a remarkable chemistry with one another , and Martin Kove ’s execution as Kreese remain an effectively scary transparency to the film ’s leads . With anewKarate Kidmoviereleasing in May 2025 andCobra Kairestoring the franchise ’s win run , one can hope the former proceed to force the right lessons .
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release in 1984 , The Karate Kid fall out the floor of Daniel LaRusso on his unexpected journey to becoming a Karate expert under the tutelage of a martial arts master . Recently relocated from New Jersey to Los Angeles , Daniel and his mother are essay to adapt to their new nursing home . Unfortunately , Daniel becomes the target of a gang of Cobra Kai dojo student . When his jack of all trades , Mr. Miyagi , saves him with expert Karate skills , Daniel convinces him to instruct him his Karate to oppose himself , and put his bullies in their place .
