the karate kid 1984 christian movie review

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The karate kid, common sense media reviewers.

'80s classic is still fun for families with older tweens.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Even though one character says that "fighting

There's a very clear line between the good guy

Several fights -- mostly outside of the martial ar

Daniel and Ali flirt, go on dates, and kiss/embrac

Language includes "s--t" and its derivat

The antagonist, a high-schooler, rolls a marijuana

Positive Messages

Even though one character says that "fighting doesn't solve anything," the script seems to indicate otherwise. The movie also deals with remembrance of U.S. wartime injustices. But hard work, dedication, and discipline are all valued. Respect for your elders is important.

Positive Role Models

There's a very clear line between the good guys and the bad guys. Daniel is inspiring in his tenacity to learn, and Mr. Miyagi is a worthy teacher. Characters demonstrate self-control, perseverance, and courage. It's worth noting that a Vietnam veteran is depicted as a psychopathic scoundrel.

Violence & Scariness

Several fights -- mostly outside of the martial arts competition. Fistfights, which are usually five-on-one, end in black eyes and bruised ribs for Daniel and his rivals. During the karate competition, the sparring is "sanctioned," but people still end up hurt.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Daniel and Ali flirt, go on dates, and kiss/embrace. Johnny kisses Ally without her consent, and she pushes and slaps him.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Language includes "s--t" and its derivative "bulls--t," "jerk," "sucks," "stupid," and other mild insults like "old man," "weakling," and "coward."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

The antagonist, a high-schooler, rolls a marijuana joint. Mr. Miyagi, grief-stricken, gets obviously drunk.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Karate Kids is a classic '80s martial arts movie that's still a fine pick for families with older tweens. The Karate Kid was re-made in 2010 with a younger perspective starring Jaden Smith. It has a fair number of swear words (including "s--t"), insults, and fights -- as well as a scene of marijuana use. This is a standard new-kid-in-town flick, but it's also got soul thanks to the teacher-student relationship between wise Mr. Miyagi ( Pat Morita ) and lonely teen Daniel ( Ralph Macchio ). Issues of class, race, (teen) romance, and even war are explored in this coming-of-age tale, where karate is a metaphor for life. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

Parents say (27)
Kids say (85)

Based on 27 parent reviews

I watched it when I was 4

Y'all rlly talking about 16+ it's pg, what's the story.

In THE KARATE KID, fter moving from New Jersey to a small apartment complex in Southern California with his single mom, Daniel LaRusso ( Ralph Macchio) finds himself an outsider at his new suburban high school. The cool guys in school drive expensive convertibles and take karate so seriously that they're more than happy to beat Daniel silly again and again. Daniel's one pretty friend Ali ( Elisabeth Shue ) is unfortunately also the ex-girlfriend of Daniel's chief bully, blackbelt-champion Johnny (William Zabka). Unable to adequately defend himself, Daniel turns to his apartment's Okinawan super, Mr. Miyagi ( Pat Morita ), for help. Miyagi agrees to teach Daniel karate -- but in his own, unique way. After some unorthodox training (waxing cars, sanding floors, painting fences, catching flies), Miyagi convinces Johnny's aggressive karate instructor (Martin Kove) to make his pupils back off ... until the next karate championship.

Is It Any Good?

This movie isn't a slick, angsty coming-of-age drama, but there's so much to just enjoy about it. Shue's Ali is sweet -- especially because she doesn't mind Daniel's working-class background -- but the teens' romance is filler for the central relationship in the movie: that of Daniel and Mr. Miyagi. Not many movies can make multi-generational friendships seem authentic, but Macchio and the late Morita managed to achieve a closeness that was believably touching. When Daniel tells Mr. Miyagi "You're my best friend," it's not awkward -- it's true. Daniel and Mr. Miyagi are a more relatable Luke and Obi Wan or Harry and Dumbledore, and it's that archetypal teacher-hero dynamic that ultimately makes The Karate Kid a winner.

If you say "wax on!" to anyone born in the late '60s or the '70s, they'll immediately answer "wax off!" -- that's how big a cultural phenomenon The Karate Kid was in the '80s. Like Ferris Bueller's Day Off or Dirty Dancing , this is just one of those special, mid-'80s classics from which fans can quote countless scenes. And despite some dated details (the big hair, the track suits, the funny-looking cars and wardrobe), the story holds up remarkably well, because Daniel is a high-school Everyman. He's not Gossip Girl rich or Zac Efron handsome or extraordinarily gifted in any way; he's just a new kid in town who's willing to train hard, actually get to know an older Japanese man most teenage guys would have made fun of, and better himself in the process. Oh, and he does a killer job at winning the girl, the championship, and the hearts of moviegoers everywhere.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about whether Daniel is the stereotypical "new boy in town" in The Karate Kid . How does he feel about starting over in a completely new place? How does Daniel's relationship with Mr. Miyagi change both of their lives?

This is at its root, an underdog story. What other movies fit into this genre? What are some similarities between the main characters' journeys? Who helps them? Who are their rivals?

How do class and financial status affect Daniel's place in the high-school hierarchy? Ali's country-club parents treat Daniel shabbily. Why? Kids: How do you treat people from different backgrounds or those who are new in town?

How do the characters in The Karate Kid demonstrate self-control , perseverance , and courage ? Why are these important character strengths ?

Movie Details

In theaters : June 22, 1984
On DVD or streaming : June 7, 2005
Cast : Elisabeth Shue , Pat Morita , Ralph Macchio
Director : John G. Avildsen
Inclusion Information : Female actors
Studio : Sony Pictures
Genre : Drama
Topics : Sports and Martial Arts , Friendship
Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Self-control
Run time : 127 minutes
MPAA rating : PG
MPAA explanation : thematic intensity and mild violence
Last updated : May 21, 2024

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The Karate Kid (1984)

The Karate Kid is perhaps the best of the Rocky clones, formulaic, manipulative, hokey — and thoroughly rousing. Directed by John G. Avildsen (who directed Stallone in the original Rocky ), the film’s sincerity and emotional poignance have a way of steamrolling over gaps in plausibility and logic.

Artistic/Entertainment Value

Moral/spiritual value, age appropriateness, mpaa rating, caveat spectator.

Ralph Macchio stars in what is still his signature role as Daniel LaRusso, a sensitive lad reared in the nurturing enclaves of Newark, New Jersey, who finds the harsh realities of life in southern California a bit overwhelming after he move across country with his single mother (Randee Heller), who’s just taken a new job.

On the one hand, there’s Ali (Elisabeth Shue), a bright, sweet California blonde from the other side of the tracks who takes a shine to Daniel. On the other hand, there’s Johnny (William Zabka), Ali’s swaggering, karate-fighting ex-boyfriend, who travels with a menacing coterie of fellow bullies and doesn’t deal well with rejection — or competition.

The heart of the film, though, is Daniel’s relationship with an unexpected mentor and father figure, inscrutable handyman Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). Miyagi plays Yoda to Daniel’s petulant Luke Skywalker, wise, humorous, crusty, with unexpected skills and methods.

Miyagi’s self-defense oriented martial-arts philosophy mirrors Yoda’s teaching that a Jedi uses the Force “for knowledge and defense, never for attack”; and, if The Karate Kid film itself embraces the two-fisted cliché that the way to win a bully’s respect is by licking him good, the idea of violence as a last resort still comes across with tolerable cogency.

As with the Rocky films, the Karate Kid sequels increasingly went off the rails, and are thoroughly disposable; the original, though, is a keeper.

The Karate Kid (2010)

This Karate Kid may not be competing at the same level as the original, but it respects the tradition, and if it doesn’t really have anything new to say, it still says it in a reasonably engaging way.

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The Karate Kid

Warning: children appear to get hurt in The Karate Kid. In a big way.

Harder hitting than the 1984 original upon which it is loosely based, The Karate Kid has pint-sized fighters laying the smack down on each other. Punches and forceful kicks are hammered home. Bodies crumple to the ground. During the all-important Big Tournament that closes the film, our 12-year-old hero, Dre (Jaden Smith, son of Will Smith), cops such a punishing it’s a wonder he can walk, let alone compete. Realism is an argument for the graphic violence in The Karate Kid but the same impact could be delivered without showing such detail. Almost three decades ago, the fights in the first Karate Kid had clout and meaning without needing to wallop its stars into next week. But while its PG rating is questionable, The Karate Kid isn’t a wall-to-wall slugfest. Plus, the reason Dre initially wants to learn martial arts is because he is subjected to a regrettable scourge of schoolyards around the world - bullying. Movies that show children standing up to those who want to beat them down are often the ones we walk out of with a spring in our step, punching the air and thanking God for moments of cinematic justice. The original Karate Kid is such a film. Sure, it is daggy and dated, but the touching tale of dweeby teen Daniel (Ralph Macchio) being mentored by karate/ life coach Mr Miyagi (Pat Morita) remains easy to relate to. And enjoy. Despite already having three sequels (Karate Kid 4 starred Oscar-winner Hilary Swank), some bright sparks in Hollywood decided The Karate Kid had to be remade. The result is a tougher but emotionally empty Karate Kid which allows the motivation of revenge to overpower more positive messages such as self-belief, discipline, forgiveness, second chances and defending yourself. Younger viewers might admire Dre’s confidence and desire to beat the bullies but older members of the audience, who remember how Daniel was virtually the definition of “underdog” in the original Karate Kid, won’t find the same empowering quality in Dre. Separate to the debate about the violent content are dodgy sexual references which disturbingly point to how values have changed in the past few decades. Although Dre is several years younger than Daniel, he still experiences young love (as Daniel did in the original). For the most part, his friendship with smiley Chinese girl Mei Ying (Wen Wen Han) is cute and innocent, their first kiss being corny but inoffensive. When Mei Ying dances to Lady Gaga’s provocative “Poker Face”, though, her sexualized routine (as Dre stares) is made up of mature moves from music videos. This unnecessary and disturbing sequence could leave adults with more to discuss with their young charges than the bursts of violence on offer. The Karate Kid screams loudly about the battles which adults must fight to protect and educate children about the dangers of believing everything mainstream society accepts.

The Karate Kid (1984)

(Second viewing, On TV, March 2017) I remember seeing The Karate Kid as a kid, being entertained for most of it but mystified at some sequences such as the spaghetti-spill. Seeing the film in middle age makes for a different experience—the theme of surrogate fatherhood seems more obvious now, and the spaghetti spilling now makes perfect sense in a “when everything goes wrong…” sense. Surprisingly enough, my middle-age jadedness also leads to a better appreciation of the formula at the heart of the script. There is little that’s new or revolutionary about The Karate Kid (although the interracial component of the main relationship still remains almost unusual today), but it is exceptionally well-executed, with numerous telling details that help ground the film in reality … and still make for cultural references even thirty years later. Noriyuki “Pat” Morita is terrific as the older man taking our teenage protagonist under his care (the script even allowing him a few moments of ornery frustration), while Ralph Macchio is unpolished but likable in the lead role. The Karate Kid isn’t a perfect film—it ends far too soon without the luxury of a coda in which to enjoy its triumph, occasionally zigs and zags without control and often veers into overplayed on-the-nose moments. But it’s well-balanced, and strong enough in its assets to overcome its imperfections. No wonder it’s still relatively popular even today.

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DVD & Streaming

The Karate Kid

Action/Adventure , Drama

Content Caution

In Theaters

June 11, 2010
Jaden Smith as Dre Parker; Jackie Chan as Mr. Han; Taraji P. Henson as Sherry Parker; Wenwen Han as Meiying; Zhenwei Wang as Cheng; Rongguang Yu as Master Li; Luke Carberry as Harry

Home Release Date

October 5, 2010
Harald Zwart

Distributor

Columbia Pictures

Movie Review

Twelve-year-old Dre Parker and his mother, Sherry, are the newest residents at the swank-sounding Beverly Hills Luxury Apartments. But this abode is anything but swank. And they’re a long way from California. The mother-and-son duo now calls Beijing, China, home, after Mom’s automobile-manufacturing job gets transferred there.

For Sherry, it’s an exotic new start. For Dre? Well, the pintsized African-American expat has a different perspective. “I hate it here!” he soon screams at his mother.

Things had begun with promise for Dre. A new friend named Harry seemed eager to show him the ropes. And an intriguing young violin player—who speaks English!—had caught his eye. Maybe China wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Or maybe it would.

Dre’s chemistry with Meiying instantly attracts the unwanted attention of a young thug named Cheng. No problem , the headstrong Detroit native thinks. I’ll show him who’s boss.

Dre does find out who’s boss—at just about the same time he finds out what asphalt tastes like.

Enter Mr. Han, an aloof-but-kind maintenance man who takes notice of Dre’s trials … and who bails him out of a lopsided, six-on-one beatdown. With Han’s help, Dre negotiates a truce with Cheng’s kung fu teacher, Master Li. There’s only one condition: Dre must face his tormentor in an upcoming kung fu tournament. (Yes, it’s kung fu , not karate in this Karate Kid remake.)

And so Dre’s training commences.

Positive Elements

Dre’s mother is conscientious, and she wants the best for him. She tries to understand why being in China is hard for him, even if Dre isn’t always interested in talking.

But Dre’s relationship with Mr. Han, of course, is the movie’s emotional focal point. The older man is a recluse—until he takes Dre under his wing. Stepping into those mentor shoes brings new life to Mr. Han. Near the finale, he tells his protégé, “You have taught me a very important lesson, Dre. Life will knock us down, but we can choose whether or not to get back up.” Dre responds, “You’re the best friend I ever had, Mr. Han.”

Some of Mr. Han’s teachings about kung fu involve spiritual elements (noted in more detail below). But Dre’s teacher also sees the marital art as a philosophical framework for a certain way of living:

Because Dre often fails to hang up his coat, Mr. Han initiates a training exercise for him that involves the boy dropping his coat, picking it up, hanging it up, then repeating the process. Those movements, of course, become a template for defensive maneuvers in a fight. But in explaining his training rationale to Dre, Mr. Han says, “Kung fu lives in everything we do. It lives in how we treat people. Everything is kung fu.” Mr. Han also teaches his pupil to see that “kung fu is not about fighting. It’s about making peace with your enemies.” We also hear Mr. Han’s belief that “there are no bad students, only bad teachers.”

Regarding Dre’s conflict with Cheng, Mr. Han believes that standing up to him is what matters, not victory. “Win or lose, it doesn’t matter. Fight hard, earn respect, boys leave you alone.”

Dre and Meiying’s relationship is complicated by cultural divides. Meiying’s parents forbid her to see Dre after he accidentally embarrasses their family, for example. But Dre takes the initiative to apologize to her father for offending him. Meiying’s father softens and allows his daughter to keep her promise to go to the tournament.

Spiritual Elements

Mr. Han teaches Dre that kung fu depends upon tapping into the concept of chi , which he calls “eternal energy and the essence of life.” He says that chi “moves inside of us … inside our bodies” and “gives us power from within.” Dre translates: “I get it! It’s like the Force from Star Wars .” Some of Mr. Han’s teaching also includes telling Dre to “empty your mind” to connect with these internal energies.

Mr. Han leads Dre up a mountainside staircase to a place he calls the dragon well. There, we see a water basin bearing the yin and yang symbol. Mr. Han calls the basin’s contents “magic kung fu water,” and he says that after you drink it, “nothing can defeat you.” The well is located in a temple of sorts, where people practice martial arts. One woman stares down a cobra while balancing on an ornate stone outcropping.

Twice, Mr. Han sets what looks like a cotton ball on fire, then uses this “magical” fire in some mysterious way to heal Dre of injuries he’s received. He calls it “ancient Chinese healing.”

Sexual Content

At a festival that celebrates love (Mr. Han calls it the Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day), Dre and Meiying lean in for a kiss in the middle of a puppet show about a lovelorn goddess who’s separated from her lover.

On a date, Dre and Meiying play a dance video game that blares portions of two songs with sexual lyrics: Flo Rida’s “Low” (which is about strippers sliding down a pole) and Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” (which merges gambling metaphors with sexual suggestiveness). Meiying, who looks as if she’s barely entered adolescence, does a suggestive dance to the later song, complete with sexualized hip movements and seductive facial expressions.

Violent Content

In Dre’s first showdown with Cheng, he lands one punch … which, of course, sets Cheng off. Dre then absorbs about 10 punches and kicks before being flipped hard onto the ground. Later, Dre unwisely picks another fight with Cheng by throwing a jug of water on him. As Dre flees, he makes a mess of a marketplace. Cheng and his posse catch Dre, and they administers five or six severe blows with fists and feet. Mr. Han arrives to save the day, initiating a lengthy kung fu battle in which he mostly tricks his assailants into repeatedly hitting one another.

Several matches in the kung fu championship are surprisingly savage, with opponents trading nasty blows. Dre gets pretty beaten up en route to the final match with Cheng. And in the semifinal, Master Li instructs one of Cheng’s lackeys to take Dre out by hurting him. “I don’t want him beaten,” Li says. “I want him broken.” The student obliges by delivering wince-inducing strikes to Dre’s knee.

[ Spoiler Warning ] But Dre perseveres and meets Cheng in the final. A heavy hit early in the match forces Dre off the raised combat platform. When things go badly for Cheng, Li instructs him, “I want you to break the leg. No mercy.” The resulting kicks to Dre’s wounded leg send him tumbling—in agony—to the ground. Then, using the “cobra technique” he’s been practicing, Dre delivers a backflip kick to Cheng’s head to win.

Elsewhere, Cheng flips Dre’s food tray up in the air at school in an attempt to provoke a fight; later he and his lieutenants menacingly empty Dre’s backpack. Master Li wickedly slaps a timid student who refuses to finish off an opponent. Li’s philosophy: “No mercy. … Our enemies deserve pain.”

In an intense scene, Mr. Han takes a sledgehammer to the Volkswagen Scirocco he’s been restoring. Every year, it seems, Mr. Han restores the car (in which his wife and 10-year-old son were killed), then mangles it again in a violent explosion of unresolved grief.

Crude or Profane Language

One use of “d‑‑mit.” Twice, Dre complains about not wanting to get his “a‑‑” kicked, after which Mr. Han tells him, “Don’t say a‑‑.” Later, Dre says the word again, then remembers he’s been told not to. God’s name is improperly interjected two or three times.

Drug and Alcohol Content

Han gets drunk on the anniversary of his wife’s and son’s deaths. The camera gives us a close-up of an empty liquor bottle.

Other Negative Elements

Dre ignores a text message from his mother to come home, and he often displays a bit of a resistant attitude when it comes to obeying her.

For anyone who grew up in the ’80s, the thought of remaking a film that introduced an appreciative generation to the catchphrase “wax on, wax off” seems risky at best. Why tamper with something that’s so iconic to so many? The cynical answer, of course, is that Hollywood seems short on good stories. But that’s exactly the point: This is a pretty good story, and Columbia Pictures knows it. That’s why it’s back, 26 years later.

As far as how the new film stands up against the 1984 version, my rose-colored view of the original renders me incapable of providing a completely unbiased answer. But I can say that the narrative trajectory and the moral messages are similar, remaining solid and inspirational. The emphatic emphasis on perseverance, friendship, discipline and mentoring is still impossible to miss.

The biggest difference between the two films, apart from the shift in setting from California to China, has to do with the age of the characters. Whereas Daniel LaRusso was a senior in high school (as were his girlfriend, Ali, and his blond-haired arch nemesis, Johnny Lawrence), Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker is supposed to be 12—though he looks like he could be as young as 9 or 10. Instead of adolescents on the verge of adulthood, then, we see children on the verge of adolescence. That changes the feel of things, even if the feelings the film eventually elicits are similar.

Before writing this review I watched the original again—mainly to try to give new perspective to my emotional reference points. And I suspect most parents will think the new version feels more family friendly, largely because there’s less profanity and no drug abuse. (The original had a couple of s-words and uses of “g‑‑d‑‑n.” It also included a scene in which Johnny rolls a joint in a school bathroom stall.)

That said, this new Karate Kid’ s kung fu scenes are in fact amped up. And the same can be said of the story’s spiritual content, which is both more specific and more frequent. In 1984, Mr. Miyagi made one joking reference to Buddha. In 2010, Mr. Han waxes eloquent about chi and dabbles in some very mystical-feeling rituals. And then there’s Meiying’s maddeningly unnecessary sensual dance scene—easily the most disappointing moment of the film for me because of the way it projects grown-up sexuality onto a character who’s still mostly a little girl.

A postscript: The Karate Kid deals with the issue of bullying, a subject that’s been in the news a lot lately. For generations, the conventional wisdom has been this: Stand up to a bully, and he’ll learn to leave you alone. That’s the message in the original film, and that’s the message this time around. In today’s world, though, standing up to bullies may be riskier than it used to be. Most might indeed back down, just as the films suggest. But, sadly, an increasing number of teens or even tweens might be just as likely to bring a gun to school and shoot someone who stands up to them. Whether the so-called conventional wisdom still applies, then, should be carefully dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Adam R. Holz

After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.

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The Karate Kid

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Utterly predictable and wholly of its time, but warm, sincere, and difficult to resist, due in large part to Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio's relaxed chemistry.

Critics Reviews

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John G. Avildsen

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Daniel LaRusso

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi

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Movie Clips

The Karate Kid at 40: why the film’s lasting appeal stems from a simplistic stereotyping of the ‘mysterious east’

Professor of Cultural Studies, Cardiff University

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Paul Bowman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Forty years after the release of The Karate Kid, many fans of the film still can’t hear the name “Daniel” without wanting to add a “san” to it. They may channel the iconic teacher Mr Miyagi, with his deep guttural intensity. And they may even repeat the film’s most famous saying, “wax on, wax off”, raise their arms and stand on one leg whenever they hear that someone does karate.

But are these fragments the sum total of the film’s legacy? And are they mere harmless fun – or do they register as racism, or something like it?

Arguably, the very appeal of The Karate Kid derives from its most problematic dimensions. Academics call this Orientalism – the romantic idealisation of the mystical “other”.

In most respects, The Karate Kid is entirely conventional. Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) is the new kid in town. He attempts to socialise, falls for a girl and provokes the wrath of her recent ex-boyfriend, Johnny (William Zabka), who also happens to be the senior student at a tough karate dojo, Cobra Kai.

The beatings and harassment Daniel experiences induce the hermit-like caretaker Miyagi (Pat Morita) to offer him guidance and, crucially, karate lessons.

The film’s director, John G. Avildsen, had previously directed Rocky, in which an over-the-hill, working-class underdog rises to the challenge, takes a heroic beating, and gets the girl. The Karate Kid retools this formula to expand its appeal into the teen market, replacing the brutal boxing of older men with teen heart-throbs and the extremely cinematic practice of karate.

Orientalism

Coming a decade after the kung fu craze of the 1970s, The Karate Kid translates Hong Kong kung fu into Hollywood karate. It registers the popularity and power of a macho, militarised karate – Cobra Kai’s bad-guy sensei, John Kreese (Martin Kove), was a Green Beret soldier. Against this, the film advocates the “exotic” idea of a pacifist and cultured karate, one based on balance and harmony.

Yet, the idea that “true karate” is pacifist and philosophical owes considerably more to hippy counterculture and the 1970s TV series Kung Fu than it does to anything actually eastern.

Indeed, The Karate Kid is arguably a vital part of the “spiritualising” and “existentialising” of Asian martial arts that took place in western popular culture in the early 1980s. The major 1983 BBC TV series (and accompanying book ) The Way of the Warrior: The Paradox of the Martial Arts is another example – in which the 1970s love of spectacular Asian martial arts is still present, but now people are also asking: “Is that all there is?”

The answer given by The Karate Kid is a resounding “no” – Asian martial arts are not just about macho pugilism. They are paths to development, self-improvement and “peace”. This is expressed through Orientalist imagery and straightforward binaries, opposing the heartless, macho, militarised modern “west” with a sensitive, nurturing, philosophical and ancient “east”.

Orientalist binaries are everywhere in western culture, from “white saviour” action films like The Last Samurai (2003) to ostensibly woke, multicultural films such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) . In all of these examples, the west is spiritually empty, the east a treasure trove of ancient values.

The problem is that this is the very hallmark of Orientalism – the simplistic, reductive stereotyping of the “mysterious east”. Orientalism is not quite racism, but it’s not a world away either.

Certainly, Morita had to fulfil a certain stereotype. We know this because he auditioned twice for the Mr Miyagi role. The first time, he spoke in his own voice with an American accent. He bombed.

So he returned with a thick Japanese accent and sentence constructions worthy of Charlie Chan , the fictional 1930s film detective long criticised for perpetuating stereotypes of Asian characters. This time, Morita aced it – because he now conformed to what scholar Jane Iwamura calls the “oriental monk” stereotype .

Reboot and sequel

The 2010 remake of The Karate Kid arguably tries to avoid all this, mainly by deconstructing and demystifying Mr Miyagi, transforming him into the broken Mr Han.

Playing Han, Jackie Chan is finally allowed to act for a western audience – to have depth, complexity and feelings. Yet it seems the film-makers lost faith in this approach, soon making Han take his protégé, Dre (Jaden Smith), to China’s Wudang mountains for a heroic dose of Orientalist mysticism.

Two men stand facing each other in a karate dojo.

Perhaps western (and indeed, global) audiences cannot get enough of Orientalism. They seem to devour it with relish. Netflix’s nostalgic Cobra Kai series picks up Daniel and Johnny’s story decades later, but offers a much more tongue-in-cheek take.

In early episodes, we see Daniel, now a father living in a wealthy part of Los Angeles, accused of “cultural appropriation”. He asks his daughter’s Asian-American friend where his parents are “originally” from, to which the reply “Irvine, I guess” turns the interrogation back onto the question of his own values and prejudices.

Ultimately, Cobra Kai reckons with Orientalism by ridiculing it. And there is value in this. But what such easy laughs do not help us work out is what else was (and is) going on. We might want to laugh at the Orientalist themes of the past, but we should also remember: we loved them, and we probably still do.

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The Karate Kid

Review by brian eggert june 10, 2010.

From the depths of the height of 1980s pop culture comes The Karate Kid , a motion picture that, despite being stamped by its decade of origin, still works on a basic dramatic level today. Saying nothing of the three sequels and modern remake that followed, the simplicity of Rocky director John Avildsen’s film comes from established formulas: the coming-of-age tale, the teenager overcoming adversity, and the Little Guy winning the Big Fight against all odds. Teeming with these clichés, the film surmounts any downfalls that might hinder it by also presenting admirable and tangible relationships at the core, and that’s what still works in viewings today.

Ralph Macchio plays wimpy pipsqueak Daniel LaRusso, who’s uprooted from his New Jersey home and relocated to Los Angeles thanks to a career change by his single mother (Randee Heller). He has trouble adjusting after he falls for the dreamiest girl in his class, Ali Mills (standard ‘80s heartthrob Elizabeth Shue). She’s the ex-girlfriend of the high school’s snobby bully, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), a black belt in the local karate dojo, Cobra Kai. Aryan by design, the elitist blond-haired, blue-eyed Johnny aggressively pursues Ali after the breakup and proceeds to batter the weakling Daniel for making eyes at his former girl. Here, all components of your standard melodrama fall into place, with the underdog new kid from the wrong side of town positioned against the elitist bully. He’s paired in an unlikely romance with the rich girl, and he’s forced to defend both his and her honor.

Befriending his apartment complex’s humble old maintenance man from Okinawa, Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki “Pat” Morita), Daniel finds himself a valuable mentor. Together they groom bonsai trees and speak of Daniel’s YMCA experience with karate. One night, Daniel is rescued by Miyagi from a savage beating exacted by Johnny’s gang of hooligans. Miyagi turns out to be an unlikely karate master and resolves to teach Daniel; he even asks Johnny’s karate sensei, the dogmatic Vietnam Vet John Kreese (Martin Kove), to let the boys resolve their differences in an upcoming tournament. And opposed to a quick training montage and a swift resolution, the film swells and deepens in the training scenes, building upon the friendship between student and teacher. Daniel questions his lessons, why Miyagi has him doing manual labor—waxing cars, painting fences, sanding wooden floors—as opposed to teaching punches and kicks. And the reveal of Miyagi’s technique remains as fascinating as ever.

Of course, there’s no denying the cultural signifiers evident in the picture, which leave a “made in the 1980s” stamp all over the production. Just as Avildsen forever associated Rocky and its sequels with the inclusion of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” on the soundtrack, The Karate Kid seems irredeemably connected to the corny fighting ballad “You’re the Best” by rocker Joe Esposito. This song plays over the montage of karate matches in the tournament finale, echoing as the hundred-pound Daniel makes quick work of his opponents. That, along with the undeniable period hairdos and clothing, make the film more difficult to watch in a manner other than as a product of its time .

What’s even more distracting is the presentation of the villains, the karate students of Cobra Kai dojo, led by their Hitler, John Kreese, and his Goebbels, Johnny Lawrence. The film portrays Kreese as a senselessly violent man who believes in a “no mercy” brand of karate, which doesn’t seem like karate at all. Kreese’s minions, driven by his sense of irrational hatred for all things viewed as weak, haunt the temperate Daniel. Consider the Halloween scene where Cobra Kai’s SS troops all dress in skeleton costumes; it’s disturbing stuff. Like good little drones, they wittingly follow Kreese’s instruction to use illegal moves on Daniel during the tournament. They’re shown in such a sympathy-less light that, despite Daniel’s victory, we still hunger for Kreese to receive a harsh thrashing in retribution. Alas, that’s what sequels are for.

In terms of acting, Macchio’s vulnerability is impressive, and he does wonders with the role. But this is Morita’s film. It would be easy for screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen to limit Miyagi to your typical Yoda-type station, playing the other-worldly trainer who introduces his student to a new realm of thought. But thanks both to Morita’s Oscar-nominated performance and Kamen’s adept writing, the role proves to be so much more. Miyagi serves as both teacher and father figure to Daniel, but he’s also his own three-dimensional character. There’s an affecting scene where Daniel finds Miyagi drunk; the old man proceeds to confess the horrible tragedy of his past, the death of his wife and child. It’s an unbelievably sad moment that serves to humanize the character more than the audience expects. Morita, best known under the nickname “Pat” from his time on Happy Days , insisted upon the inclusion of his true name, Noriyuki, in the credits. Perhaps to seem less Americanized, given the nature of the role; perhaps because he wanted his true name to appear on this fine performance.

Opening in the summer of 1984, one of cinema’s most memorable periods where titles like Ghostbusters , Gremlins , and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom were released, The Karate Kid stands out as a film that embraces the clichés of its genre and does so with a surprising amount of class. Without relying too much on its own karate gimmick, it stands as an affecting drama about relationships. Morita and Macchio offer incredible performances in a film that started an increasingly worsening franchise, as the subsequent sequels tried and failed to achieve the same sense of emotional clarity as this first entry. And even though it contains a dated quality and the conflict has been grossly exaggerated by inhuman antagonists, on its own and separate from what came after it, The Karate Kid still works on a very basic level today.

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The Karate Kid Parent Guide

This film presents a feel-good underdog story that demonstrates the value of hard work, the tenacity of the human spirit and the mutual benefits found in friendships between the young and old..

New Jersey native Daniel (Ralph Macchio) has trouble fitting when he moves to California. As bullying problems escalate, the teen turns to an unlikely friend, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), who mentors him in martial arts for self-defense.

Release date June 22, 1984

Run Time: 127 minutes

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by donna gustafson.

With dreams of a better future, Lucille Larusso (Randee Heller) moves her son Daniel (Ralph Macchio) from cold New Jersey to the sunny state of California. But what she sees as paradise quickly turns into hell for the transplanted teenager as he tries to put down roots in the foreign environment.

The biggest challenge is his peers. First introductions seem to go okay until Daniel catches the eye of a pretty blonde named Ali (Elisabeth Shue). Unfortunately she comes with strings attached to a jealous ex-boyfriend. When Johnny (William Zabka) sees them together, he and his motorcycle buddies tangle with the stranger, beating the boy until he is bruised and black eyed.

Daniel’s worst fears are realized one night when an angry Johnny and his aggressive gang corner him and start hitting, punching and kicking until the youth is barely conscious. Then a miracle happens. The elderly Japanese maintenance man from Daniel’s apartment complex suddenly appears and within minutes subdues the assailants. Realizing Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki “Pat” Morita) has some serious martial arts skills, the teen asks for lessons so he can stop being a punching bag.

It takes some lengthy persuasion to get the quiet gentleman to consent to his request, mostly because he wants to make sure Daniel understands karate is not about fighting and vengeance, but about self-defense and earning respect. Taking the problem back to the karate school, Mr. Miyagi arranges to have Daniel challenge Kreese’s students at an upcoming tournament and has them agree to a truce until the competition. In the meantime the master promises to train the boy.

The Karate Kid debuted in 1984 and quickly became a classic in its genre. Still, parents should be aware that despite pacifist professions, the movie spends a lot of time portraying martial arts violence and battles where bullying turns into assault. (A little blood and a few injuries are shown). Other content concerns include depictions of a minor drinking, a teen rolling a joint, and several uses of mild and moderate profanities.

Fortunately the film also presents a feel-good underdog story that demonstrates the value of hard work, the tenacity of the human spirit and the mutual benefits found in friendships between the young and old.

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Donna Gustafson

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The Karate Kid Rating & Content Info

Why is The Karate Kid rated PG? The Karate Kid is rated PG by the MPAA

Martial arts violence pervades this film about a picked on boy who learns karate for self-defense. Altercations include hand-to-hand combat, kicks and punches. Along with verbal taunting, the bullying turns into assault when the victim is outnumbered and beaten into unconsciousness. The scraps eventually move into a showdown at a karate tournament where an aggressive teacher encourages his students to use illegal means to take out their opponents. Black eyes, bloody noses, scrapes, bruises and an injured leg are shown. Frequent mild and moderate profanities are used, along with terms of deity. An adult character smokes, while an adolescent only pretends to. A teen is shown rolling a joint. A role model character consumes alcohol to the point of drunkenness and persuades a minor to drink too. An unlicensed youth drives a car, with an adult’s consent. Teen girls are shown dressed in swimwear, and males are seen with bare chests. A teen couple holds hands and kisses.

Page last updated April 25, 2020

The Karate Kid Parents' Guide

Mr. Miyagi agrees to teach Daniel karate, but instead has him doing household chores. How does the elderly man respond when the boy questions his methods? What skills and character traits does Daniel learn because of his labor?

Kreese has his students recite: "Strike First. Strike Hard. No Mercy." How does this statement of philosophy differ from Mr. Miyagi’s view of karate? Still, both of these teachers gain the loyalty of their pupils. Why? What motivates the obedience in each group?

According to the movie, Daniel leaves New Jersey in September, has his major altercation with Johnny on Halloween night (October 31) and then competes in the karate tournament in December. Is this a realistic timeline for someone to develop the level of martial arts skill depicted in this film?

The bullying Daniel endures is very serious. How should such abuse really be handled? Do you think it is realistic to assume the aggression will stop if the boys take their grievances into a competition environment? Ignoring what the script suggests, what would likely happen to Daniel if he won such a tournament? What would happen if he lost?

Loved this movie? Try these books…

Remade as a picture book for all ages, "The Karate Kid: The Classic Illustrated Story Book" brings Daniel's story to a younger audience.

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Martial Journal

Advancing martial arts, one word at a time., the karate kid (1984): movie review.

March 31, 2019 Ron Amram Reviews 3

This review will be Spoiler Free! But then again, if you don’t know the story of the Karate Kid, then you have no place reading a martial arts magazine…

Where to watch: DVD, iTunes, Netflix

Run time: 2 hours 6 minutes

Language: English

Director: John G. Avildsen

W riter: Robert Mark Kamen

Release date: August 31, 1984

Style: Action, Drama, Family, Sport

For more movie details, you can find them on IMDB

A Generation of Karatekas

The Karate Kid came out a year after I was born. My two older brothers have therefore watched it a heap of times, and by the time I was four-years-old I was already being taught how to “wax on, wax off”. In fact, one of my earliest childhood memories is my older brother teaching me and my sister how to do the crane kick in the kitchen.

The same goes for literally every single person I know who is around my age.

And that is also why I started training in Karate when I was about 7 years old—again, the same as many other people my age.

I must have watched this movie a dozen times over the years. Interestingly enough, as my experience in the martial arts grew, so did my understanding of much of the wisdom in the movie—and there is a lot of it, all coming from Mr. Miyagi.

I recently sat down to watch it again in order to write this review.

Sometimes, when you re-watch a movie from your childhood as an adult, you realize that it was, in reality, pretty poor.

Is this the case here? Does this movie stack up with some of the greatest martial arts films ever made? Let’s find out.

Movie Review: 10/10

Yes, a perfect 10. Director John Avildsen, who also directed Rocky a few years earlier, obviously knew how to put together a more family-oriented version of Rocky . While it’s more kid-friendly, it still has the same elements that made Rocky an iconic movie. This is a great “underdog gets the win” movie that is full of wisdom and inspiration. It’s well written and well directed. The movie moves at a good pace and keeps you hooked to see what’s coming. Sprinkled throughout the movie are some of the greatest catchphrases and one-liners ever. I still laughingly use “wax on, wax off” in classes on occasion when teaching outside blocks. While the entire acting ensemble delivers, Pat Morita shines in the role of Mr. Miyagi. He even earned an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.

Overall, regardless of whether you like martial arts movies or not, this is a great family-friendly, feel-good, coming-of-age drama that’s still fun to watch and feels relevant 35 years later. And it’s even more fun to watch with the continuation of the story in the awesome 2018 YouTube Originals web series Cobra Kai .

Try though I might, I can’t really think of anything that is really bad about this movie. Sure, there are some bad haircuts and cheesy music, but that’s just the ’80s… The one bad thing about the movie, at least indirectly, are the 3 sequels and 2010 reboot, all of which are, to this writer’s mind, pretty terrible, so I guess there’s that.

Martial Arts Review: 8/10

I struggled hard with this one. Why? You’ll see…

The actual martial arts in the movie, in my opinion, suck, especially compared to other amazing movies that came out around the same time. Watching it as a kid, I remember thinking how cool the fight scenes were. Watching it now as an experienced martial artist, I cringe quite a bit. The choreography is not amazing, to say the least, which is confirmed by how often the angles change and the camera cuts during the fight scenes. One big difference between this and many other martial arts movies is that in the ’80s, actors were often chosen for their martial arts prowess first and acting ability second. This is not the case here—none of the actors had any real martial arts experience. (OK, William Zabka had some wrestling experience, but it’s not relevant to this movie.)

It’s worth remembering that this movie is not classified as a martial arts movie on IMDB or any other source. It’s a drama, and the martial arts are used to tell a story. The fight scenes are not really the focus as much as they are plot points or catalysts in the story. In other words, Daniel getting beat up by Johnny was more about the point that he got beat up than how he got beat up. This is vastly different from other movies in the martial arts genre, where the action is often the focus and the story feels like it’s there to support the action. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily, but still. I reckon that, overall, the choreography in this movie is not amazing. If I was rating this just based on the choreography and action, the score would probably be a 5.

While the choreography was not amazing, the movie did an amazing job of capturing the spirit and values of martial arts. And in a much more sincere, vulnerable, and human way than most of the fast-action, big-muscle martial arts flicks. The writers did an excellent job of understanding the message behind Karate and martial arts. Many of the discussions between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi are about Zen wisdom, control, humility, determination, and other great values of the martial arts. Because the story is more realistic than many martial arts films—a high school kid who’s taking karate lessons to stop being bullied—it’s also much easier to relate to.

But wait… Why am I making this point in the martial arts review section?

Because that relatability is what inspired a generation of kids to learn Karate. Daniel wasn’t like Bruce Lee or Van Damme—ripped, athletic, and insanely talented. No, he was one of us. (And if he can be a Karate champion, then so can I!) That counts for a lot when you’re a kid who’s interested in learning a martial art because of a movie. So, while the choreography gets a 5, in terms of understanding of the martial arts, promoting them as a tool for self-empowerment, and inspiring people to want to train, it gets a 10. So, let’s settle on an 8.

Overall Review: 9/10

Simply put, this is a great movie. It’s fun and full of inspiration, wisdom, and laughs. Time has done nothing to reduce the quality of this movie. It’s still relatable, still fun, still inspiring.

And by being that, it’s different from a lot of the martial arts movies that are amazing, fun action movies but often suck in terms of writing or story.

In terms of action, this movie is pretty average if you’re past the age of 15. But in terms of wanting to get out there and learn Karate or making us feel like we can stand up to those things that make life hard at times, this movie is one of the greatest.

Also, if you haven’t watched Cobra Kai yet, then do yourself a favor and go do it right now. (Then check out our episode-by-episode analysis, starting here .)

What do you think? Leave your comments below.

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The Karate Kid (1984)

Parents Guide

Certification

Sex & Nudity (2)
Violence & Gore (4)
Profanity (1)
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking (2)
Frightening & Intense Scenes (2)
Spoilers (2)

Sex & Nudity

None 98 of 145 found this to have none Severity? None 98 Mild 35 Moderate 5 Severe 7 We were unable to submit your evaluation. Please try again later.
Ali Mills' first scene features her in a tight bathing suit, it shows the outline of her behind when she walks away from Daniel while looking back at him. Edit
Daniel and the Cobra Kai members can sometimes be shown shirtless in certain scenes. Edit

Violence & Gore

Mild 68 of 114 found this mild Severity? None 9 Mild 68 Moderate 36 Severe 1 We were unable to submit your evaluation. Please try again later.
Martial arts violence pervades this film about a bruised and bullied teen who learns karate for self-defense. Edit
Altercations include hand-to-hand combat, kicks and punches; along with at verbal taunting, the bullying of the Cobra Kai at one point turns into gang-assault when Daniel is outnumbered and beaten into unconsciousness. Edit
Black eyes, bloody noses, scrapes and bruises are shown on both Johnny and Daniel who later gets an injured leg. Edit
Daniel gets his head violently scratched in a bike accident (a little graphic). Edit
Mild 72 of 124 found this mild Severity? None 14 Mild 72 Moderate 34 Severe 4 We were unable to submit your evaluation. Please try again later.
A few uses of harsh profanities like "bullshit", "G****m, and "ass". Edit

Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking

Mild 75 of 99 found this mild Severity? None 16 Mild 75 Moderate 7 Severe 1 We were unable to submit your evaluation. Please try again later.
Mr. Miyagi in a state of drunkenness offers alcohol to Daniel which he consumes and then reacts with disgust. Edit
At a school dance, the underaged Johnny prepares to smoke a blunt in a bathroom stall. Edit

Frightening & Intense Scenes

Mild 61 of 97 found this mild Severity? None 13 Mild 61 Moderate 22 Severe 1 We were unable to submit your evaluation. Please try again later.
In the Halloween fight scene, it's clear that Johnny sees no problem with killing Daniel. Edit
The Cobra Kai bullies gang up on Daniel, before they can do any permanent damage Mr Miyagi intervenes. Edit

The Parents Guide items below may give away important plot points.

When Ali and Daniel reconcile, the evening before the tournament, they do an open-mouthed kiss. Edit
During an All Valley Karate Tournament, the same bullies are ordered by their unscrupulous sensei to make illegal attacks on Daniel to damage him permanently. Edit

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Film Review – The Karate Kid (1984)

On May 2nd, YouTube Red will release Cobra Kai, a spin-off series based on the famous dojo in The Karate Kid. Just like every other franchise or production company monopoly nowadays, this franchise decided it couldn’t just let a good thing rest . Maybe I’m judging it too rashly. You make your own decision:

Just as cheesy as you thought it would be, right? Yet, hopefully just as matchless as the movie it stems from , with all the badass karate moves and teen awkwardness and fights that made it so great.

In case you’ve forgotten just how awesome/corny the original Karate Kid was, let me refresh your memory.

(Is it really necessary to use a spoiler alert for movie that’s over 30-years-old? Probably not, but someone will find a way to complain.)

Directed By: John G. Avildsen

Written By: Robert Mark Kamen

Starring: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, and William Zabka

Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) moves to Los Angeles with his mother. Already perturbed by the move, he deals with school bullies and a budding teen romance with Ali (Shue). To avoid getting his butt kicked everyday, he makes a deal with the strange maintenance man at his apartment, Mr. Miyagi (Morita), who agrees to teach Daniel — Daniel-san, to Miyagi — karate so he can win a tournament against the lead bully, Johnny (Zabka). After a frustrating start with Mr. Miyagi, Daniel finally masters the art of karate. With Miyagi-finesse, he uses the famous “crane kick” to kick the bully’s butt in the final round of the tournament.

I think part of what makes me like this movie so much is what an underdog it is . At the time, none of the actors were big stars (except Pat Morita, who played the humorous owner of Arnold’s on Happy Days ). Ralph Macchio was not a household name and Elisabeth Shue had not yet starred alongside Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas (1995). But this movie proclaimed their names to America.

It was a surprise blockbuster, grossing $91 million, an amazing feat in 1984 when tickets weren’t even $5 each. It made Ralph Macchio (who was twenty-two when he played teenage Daniel LaRusso) a big star and spawned three sequels and one remake .

Image via Just Watch

Not only that, but it made karate way more popular. As screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen has said, dojo before The Karate Kid were very serious — the goal wasn’t getting different colored belts but rather mastering the art. It wasn’t until after the movie came out that karate exploded to its modern-day popularity. Ironically, after it gained popularity, it became mainly about the belts and less about mastering the art (Mr. Miyagi would be ashamed).

Quotes, Quotes, and More Quotes

“Wax on, wax off.”

“Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything.”

“BANZAI!”

“Sweep the leg.”

While maybe not the most quotable movie of the eighties, it sure has some unbeatable lines. And some of the most iconic scenes — specifically the crane kick training scene at the beach — have been spoofed in famous movies, like Hercules (1997), Wayne’s World 2 (1993), and Jingle All the Way (1996).

Image via Wing Clips

Always remember these wise words from Mr. Miyagi: “Walk on road, hm? Walk right side, safe. Walk left side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later *makes squish sound* get squish just like grape. Here, karate, same thing. Either you karate do ‘yes’ or karate do ‘no.’ You karate do ‘guess so’ *makes squish sound* just like grape.”

Soundtrack Chock-Full of 80s Nostalgia

Every time I hear any part of this soundtrack , I’m instantly transported thirty years back in time to a quaint suburban community, riding my neon-colored bike in unnecessarily high-waisted jeans and a frizzy perm. Sometimes I’m on my way to learn karate, other times I’m on my way to Top Gun to buzz the tower or to detention at Shermer High School. That’s just how eighties this soundtrack is.

The most iconic track is possibly “You’re The Best” by Joe “Bean” Esposito. It goes perfect with the whole Rocky-but-with-karate theme and it makes for excellent training montage music.

The soundtrack also includes “The Moment of Truth” by Survivor and a ton of one-hit wonders like “(Bop Bop) On The Beach” and “Feel The Night.” And, of course, every song is rife with biting guitar riffs and psychedelic synthesizer to make you want to headbang and jump around at the school dance.

Image via Bill’s Movie Emporium

Perfect Pacing

Some movies take too long to get to the point. They add unnecessary exposition, assuming their audience really cares ( *cough* Marvel *cough* ). Others are way too short and just jump straight into the action .

The Karate Kid masters the pacing and makes sure to never stray too far toward one extreme. We get adequate backstory on who Daniel is, what he wants to do, and his aspirations as an easygoing teenager. It doesn’t linger too much on the romance , and it doesn’t linger too long on the action. It mixes the two elements well and makes sure you’re never bored or uninformed.

Image via Now Very Bad

Shhh Stop Talking, Daniel-san

The Karate Kid is not flawless. It suffers from two main problems, the first being that Daniel never stops talking. As soon as he meets Mr. Miyagi, he’s asking questions about his Bonsai trees and what he’s doing and how does he know he’s doing it right and hey can you fix my sink?

Calm down, Daniel. Even though I realize the director was trying to make him just like an ordinary kid, no ordinary kid would ask that many questions all at once.

Obviously, I’m exaggerating, but this movie did have some cheesy acting . Not only Daniel with his endless questions and suave pickup lines, but the antagonists were pretty two-dimensional with their dialogue. They only existed to beat the crap out of Daniel with no real purpose other than they were part of Cobra Kai and exacted no mercy. The most intelligent line spoken by one of the bullies is when he sees Daniel and Ali walking to class together: “Must be ‘Take a Worm for a Walk’ week!”

Image via That Moment In

Final Thoughts

The Karate Kid earns a lot of brownie points purely from nostalgia . It provides a picturesque depiction of the eighties and its lovable, overused trope about the redemption of the little guy . However, like a lot of movies from this time , it groans under the weight of its bad dialogue and flimsy villains. Yet, still a great film for a movie night and an eighties classic !

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Good movie, and at the time I was totally on Daniel’s side, but after watching the tv series, I’ve changed my mind. Johnny isn’t the bully in that show, it’s Daniel.

Director John Avildsen did a fantastic job, with low budget and unknown actors he made Karate Kid a landmark of the 80’s. For KK2 and KK3 he had a different vision (specially KK3) but never happened. I read his book “The Films of John Avildsen” for a marketing course at University and wrote a blog about it. I was fascinated with the fact that he spent 45 days in SFV filming KK1 and yet it was a major hit. Even today fans still visit the filming sites.

It is a landmark of the 80’s. John Avildsen did an amazing job with low budget and unknown actors. In my opinion if Sue had been part of KK 2, the franchise would have been even more popular. Between Ralph, Pat and Sue KK1 conquered the audience. Then KK2 erased Sue in less than 30 seconds (a short dialogue between Ralph and Pat). By the time KK3 came to life the audience had distanced themselves due to lack of roots. KK1 was (and is) such a hit that even today fans still visiting the sites in San Fernando Valley where John filmed Ali’s house, Daniel’s apt, the beach, the karate tournament and so on. I wrote a blog on wordpress during a marketing and branding course at University after reading “The Films of John Avildsen”. John actually said that was not his choice to take Sue out of KK2. It was Producers financing issues. In KK3 John had a completely different vision for the movie but again, Producers thought that would be “too expensive”, so what he really want for KK3 never happened.

I hate when producers and directors conflict on creative ideas, especially when the director loses. I didn’t know all that though! Thanks for commenting!

Love The Karate Kid! It’s a classic. I wasn’t too crazy about the sequels, and I know people will disagree with me, but I actually did enjoy the remake with Jaden Smith.

I’m not too crazy about this TV series. I think that it sounds dumb. I saw the trailer, and it seems very cheesy and a way for the franchise to make more money.

Producers, Writers, and Directors need to come up with new ideas instead of rustling up the past all the time.

Agree on basically everything, though I’ll probably still watch the new series–just for nostalgia reasons. I enjoyed the remake too! It didn’t completely remake the original, so it was actually pretty good.

Awesome review! Forever a classic, especially on those, “What do I watch?” kind of days.

Great review! This is a favorite of mine. So many childhood memories. Looking forward to watching Cobra Kai with my son and seeing this story pass to a new generation.

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The Karate Kid (1984)

The joshmeister's rating.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 out of 5 stars: "I liked it!"

the JoshMeister's Review

A classic film that holds up pretty well nearly 40 years after its release.

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Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, a faithful remake, well done.

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If you've seen " The Karate Kid " (1984), the memories will come back during this 2010 remake. That's a compliment. The original story was durable enough to inspire three sequels, and now we have an entertaining version filmed mostly on location in China, with 56-year-old Jackie Chan in the role of Mr. Miyagi.

The original was one of its year's best movies. The new one lacks the perfect freshness of that one; there aren't many surprises, as it follows the 1984 version almost point by point. But here is a lovely and well-made film that stands on its own feet. The Chinese locations add visual interest, there are scenes of splendor in mountains and on the Great Wall, and the characters are once again engaging.

The original film's greatest asset was the Oscar-nominated performance by Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi. Jackie Chan is so famous that it can come as no surprise here when his Mr. Han, a reclusive janitor, reveals a hidden talent for the martial arts. But Chan has never been a strutting, macho fighter onscreen; his charm comes from a self-kidding quality. Here he does a good job of cooling down his usual cheerfulness and keeping his cards hidden.

In the role of his young pupil, Jaden Smith , son of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, has a natural screen presence. Dre Parker is calmer than the skittish kid played by Ralph Macchio , but so much smaller than his opponents that we can well believe his fear of a bully at school. And when that happens, we can forget obsessing about the 1984 film and enjoy this one. That was then, this is now.

The story once again involves a kid being packed up by his divorced mom and forced to leave his hometown and friends and move far away — from Detroit to Beijing, this time. He hates it. Then a cute young violinist named Meiying ( Han Wenwen ) smiles at him, and life looks more promising — if it weren't for the school bully Cheng (Wang Zhenwei). This creature is so hateful and sadistic, it's hard to explain, until we meet his brutal kung fu coach, Master Li (Yu Rongguang). The monstrous Li teaches a new form of child abuse: Kids beating up on each other.

The story proceeds, as it must, with Dre slowly softening the heart of Mr. Han, who saves him from a beating by Cheng and agrees to teach him the secrets of kung fu. Training goes well, and Dre and Meiying make a pact to attend each other's big days: his kung fu tournament, her recital. There's the usual nonsense about her parents disapproving of him. Gee, why in the world would the parents of a world-class classical musician disapprove of a kung fu student from Detroit who doesn't speak Chinese?

Luckily for Dre and the movie, everyone in China who needs to speak English can do so, even the little monster Cheng. Many Americans not only have little interest in learning another language, they have little interest in reading subtitles of their own. We believe, as Mark Twain put it in The Innocents Abroad, that any foreigner can understand English if it is only spoken slowly enough and loudly enough.

It goes without saying that the whole film leads up to a climactic kung fu tournament, and that Dre is pitted against Cheng for the championship. The lineage of the film is distinguished; the 1984 version was directed by John Avildsen , director of " Rocky ." This film's climax is unusually well-handled; the tension is constructed in a careful way, the characters are developed, and use of a scoreboard makes it seem orderly, not rushed. It's one of the better obligatory fight climaxes I've seen.

The director, Harald Zwart , has not been one of my favorites; he made last year's " The Pink Panther 2 ." But here, with a robust script by Christopher Murphey and cinematography by Roger Pratt (who filmed two "Harry Potters"), he makes a handsome, absorbing movie. It runs a little long, but during the championship, that's the last thing you're thinking of.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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The Karate Kid (2010)

Rated PG for bullying, martial arts action violence and some mild language

140 minutes

Jaden Smith as Dre Parker

Jackie Chan as Mr. Han

Taraji P. Henson as Sherry Parker

Han Wenwen as Meiying

Directed by

Harald Zwart
Christopher Murphey

Based on a story by

Robert Mark Kamen

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The Karate Kid (1984) 4K UHD Review

April 20, 2019

Mercy is for the Weak

Watching Karate Kid for its teen drama isn’t enlightening. The scrawny new kid from out of town is bullied, he scores the blonde cheerleader, and at the end, conquers the bully in a Rocky moment. It’s generic, a coming of age, high school sports movie, as influenced by previous underdog stories as much as it’s copying them.

The success is in the refinement of Karate Kid – those underlying touches that capture an era, a changing society, and financial pressures of the Reagan era. Daniel LaRusso’s (Ralph Macchio) single mother moves coast-to-coast, chasing a booming computer economy out west. Struggling, LaRusso becomes the underclassman among those privileged by wealth. For the script, that set-up works. For the ‘80s, it’s an encapsulation of the rich-get-richer Wall Street bubble.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with Karate Kid’s… kids. In terms of inspiration, LaRusso finds his father figure in an elderly Miyagi (Pat Morita) who uses manual labor to instill the perseverance and patience of martial arts. It’s crude – purely Hollywood drivel, even trashing Japanese traditions – yet enough to reach the targeted audience.

Where Karate Kid finds itself is in its adult characters. The theme here isn’t bullying; it’s war. Miyagi hides his past in hobbies and bottles. His wife died in an interment camp giving birth to his son while he was serving, earning a Medal of Honor for a country that segregated his people. Karate Kid confronts ignorance, racism, and wartime cruelty through Miyagi, with subtlety.

That’s Karate Kid – a story of how veterans deal with and pass on their experiences

On the other side, John Kreese (Martin Kove), a vicious, unrelenting karate instructor. On his dojo’s wall, a picture of Kreese during service in Vietnam. The insinuation is that Vietnam, as with most veterans of the failed invasion, push those feelings of anger onto a new generation. That’s Karate Kid – a story of how veterans deal with and pass on their experiences, one the gentle passive easterner who learned the cost of violence, the other part of a post-Vietnam movie cycle who believes additional western violence is an answer. Like John Rambo , Kreese still wants to win. He’s raising his students to do so.

Karate Kid is a story of generations, what one passes down to the other. Daniel is effectively rescued by Miyagi, saved from teen angst as much as future filled with resentment. And while Kreese and student Johnny Lawrence (William Babka) receive minimal characterization, it’s less about their development than it is a social idea. War poisoned those born from baby boomers as it did those of the previous era.

For a mainstream studio film, this is a standout in portraying pent-up grief, and certainly without the glorification of combat. It does so under the cover of a contemporary, familiar plot, presenting an anti-war stance with careful nuance. Karate Kid famously ends on a smile. It’s hopeful. Miyagi’s exist. Whether they exist in enough number as to not pass down the worst of human behavior was left to the sequels .

Another masterful, true 4K presentation from Sony. Ridiculously sharp imagery begins at the outset without wavering, with exceptions for optical dissolves. Detail jumps out, with precise facial definition produced in droves. The literal texture of Karate Kid never showed as well as it does here.

The precise grain structure holds firm, natural and organic, without leaving artifacts. Clarity in the film stock looks arguably more consistent than projected film. Karate Kid blossoms with this much resolution.

Natural color pushes primaries, generous with reds and blues. The yellow of LaRusso’s new car beams as he drives it into a parking lot, under night skies. Subtle greenery of Miyagi’s yard or Bonsai trees looks spectacular when under deep color.

Sony splashes HDR over the image, keeping things reserved by way of rich black levels and occasional highlights. On the beach, motorcycle lights and a small bonfire reach superb intensity. Pleasing gradients fall into deep shadows and no visible crush.

Remastered with Dolby Atmos, this upscale from the original stereo is remarkable. The music is fantastic, clear in the highs and using the subwoofer for kick on the low-end. That’s impressive, if mundane in modern standards.

What works is how this mix expands around LaRusso and company. California comes to life, busy and overactive when in the city with ambiance pushing in from every direction. When with Miyagi, bird chirps reach the stereos and rears. Action scenes send bikes panning around the soundstage. Voices perk up when off-screen in the Cobra Kai dojo.

By the finale, this all merges into the tournament. An appreciative crowd fills the soundstage, while the classic “You’re the Best” pops in to make itself known. All of this sounds natural, as if mixed for Atmos upon release. Clean separation from a stereo track rarely works this successfully.

On the UHD, there’s a new bonus, running about 10-minutes with cast reflecting on the movie. Martin Kove goes so far as to draw a quality comparison between Karate Kid and Casablanca in an eye-rolling moment, but it’s otherwise worth a look.

The rest resides on Blu-ray, the same disc as before. The Way of the Karate Kid splits into two parts for 45-minutes of content, bringing back the cast and crew to discuss their time on set. It’s a sharp look back. Choreographer Pat E. Johnson discusses his work for 13-minutes in Beyond the Form . Bill Conti’s score earns its due in East Meets West . Finally for the featurettes, a look at raising Bonsai trees turns in an informative 10-minutes.

Note a pop-up track optionally runs along with the movie, and a commentary was luckily recorded before Pat Morita’s passing.

The Karate Kid

Underneath the routine teen drama and coming of age theatrics, The Karate Kid finds a somber story of war’s effect on multiple generations.

User Review

The following six screen shots serve as samples for our Patreon-exclusive set of 41 full 4K screen shots grabbed directly from the UHD:

Matt Paprocki

Matt Paprocki has critiqued home media and video games for 20 years across outlets like Washington Post, Variety, Rolling Stone, Forbes, IGN, Playboy, Polygon, Ars, and others. His current passion project is the technically minded DoBlu.com . You can read Matt's body of work via his personal WordPress blog, and follow him on Twitter @Matt_Paprocki .

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