THE KARATE KID at HOLLYWOOD TEEN MOVIES

"The Karate Kid", the teen version of "Rocky" was the surprise box-office hit of 1984. It is a heart-warming story about a fatherless New Jersey kid, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) & the problems he encounters when he moves to L.A. with his mother. Being the new kid in town, Daniel is bullied by a gang of tough students from the local karate school. Daniel falls for pretty Californian girl Ali, (Elisabeth Shue) & his problems escalate when he discovers that she is the former girlfriend of the local karate champion.

Daniel befriends a Japanese handy-man, Mr Miyagi (Pat Morita who played Arnold on Happy Days) who is the janitor at his apartment block. He is later trained by him & taught the ancient art of kung fu & eastern philosophy which he uses to overcome the bullies.

It is a sensitive story of friendship between an old man who has lost his son & a young teen who has lost his father. Mr. Miyagi's karate teachings are unusual (Daniel is asked to wash cars & paint fences) & Daniel is at first confused but eventually realises that there is method in Mr. Miyagi's system of training.

The appeal of the film lies in the philosophies it projects, winning is not important & kung fu fighting should only be used in self defense. As Mr. Miyagi points out to Daniel, we learn martial arts not so we can fight, but rather, so we won't have to fight.

"The Karate Kid" is irresistible from start to finish with likeable performances from the entire cast. Pat Morita got his dream role playing the wise Mr. Miyagi & was nominated for an Academy Award for his brilliant portrayal. Elisabeth Shue is wonderful as Daniel's love interest & Ralph Macchio is charismatic in the title role. The exciting climatic karate tournament, complemented by the dynamic music score, is only one of the many highlights in this remarkable motion picture.

I originally saw "The Karate Kid" on the big screen in 1984 & have since watched it a number of times. I was recently surfing the cable T.V. channels & it just happened to be on. After watching only 2 minutes it had me hooked. It is the sort of film you can watch over & over again & it is just as entertaining everytime.

"The Kartate Kid" is old-fashioned entertainment at its best. It was not only one of the best motion pictures released in 1984, but is considered by many to be one of most entertaining films of all-time. John G. Avildsen the director of the original "Rocky" has triumphantly brought to the screen another crowd-pleasing classic.

The Karate Kid(1984) VHS
An old Oriental martial arts master teaches a high school kid how to defend himself against local bullies. Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita star in this delightful and inspiring tale from director John Avildsen ("Rocky"). Co-stars Martin Kove and Elisabeth Shue. 126 min.
The Karate Kid [DVD](1984) DVD
An old Oriental martial arts master teaches a high school kid how to defend himself against local bullies. Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita star in this delightful and inspiring tale from director John Avildsen ("Rocky"). Co-stars Martin Kove and Elisabeth Shue. 126 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English 2.0, Spanish, French; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; interactive menus; scene access; theatrical trailers.
The Karate Kid Part II(1986) VHS
Smash hit sequel continues the adventures of Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and his Oriental mentor Miyagi (Pat Morita), as the duo journey to Japan and each must face a challenge of honor. Warm, funny and touching, this is an enjoyable family drama that's on a par with its predecessor. 113 min.
The Karate Kid Part II [DVD](1986) DVD
Smash hit sequel continues the adventures of Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and his Oriental mentor Miyagi (Pat Morita), as the duo journey to Japan and each must face a challenge of honor. Warm, funny and touching, this is an enjoyable family drama that's on a par with its predecessor. 113 min. Widescreen and Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby stereo, French, Spanish, Portuguese; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai.
The Karate Kid Part III(1989) VHS
In the rousing finale of the underdog saga starring Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, an unprincipled karate instructor (Thomas Ian Griffith) undermines the friendship of Mr. Miyagi and Daniel and lures the Kid into a deadly, rigged match. 111 min.
The Karate Kid Part III [DVD](1989) DVD
In the rousing finale of the underdog saga starring Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, an unprincipled karate instructor (Thomas Ian Griffith) undermines the friendship of Mr. Miyagi and Daniel and lures the Kid into a deadly, rigged match. 111 min. Widescreen and Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby stereo, French, Spanish, Portuguese; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai.
The Next Karate Kid [DVD](1994) DVD
Mr. Miyagi's back and this time he has a new student, a pretty teenager named Julie, troubled by her parents' death and at school by a gang of tough guys. When Julie's grandmother goes on vacation, Miyagi cares for her and soon teaches her how to use karate to solve some of her problems. Pat Morita, Hilary Swank and Michael Ironside star. 107 min. Widescreen (Enhanced) and Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Surround, French; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuuesee, Chinese, Korean, Thai; theatrical trailer; DVD-ROM content; scene access.
The Next Karate Kid(1994) VHS