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Best movie of this year hands down!

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

This is a great film. As well as being pure entertainment, this film deals with single parent families and multiculturalism as well as many other themes. Plus who doesn't love Mr Miyagi?It's a great film and one of the difinitive teen movies of the 80's

Hoping, once again, for another massive box office hit, like his 1976's film 'Rocky' did, director, John G. Avildsen & his crew, mimics a lot of the tropes and themes of that fighter movie for his new film, 'the Karate Kid'. The risk was successful, as this underdog sport movie, about a young man, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) standing up for himself, against his high school bullies, by joining a karate tournament was a smash hit with most critics and audiences. However, it's not a perfect film, as there is plenty of stuff that, worth nitpicking, that could had made the movie, a little better. One of them, was honestly, making the various lengthy, menial chores like waxing cars, sanding decks and painting fences that Daniel had to do in the film, seem to have more meaning to it than it portray in the film. After all, they come across as too out there & unorthodox to be relate to karate. Also, it seems to me, that Daniel already knew, many of the defense moves that Mister Miyagi (Pat Morita) taught, beforehand, in his YCMA training days; as the fight choreography, between Daniel in the beginning and the climax, are not that different. Heck, if you think about it. The unorthodox training really didn't improve, his fight game. He was still, getting beat up. It seem like Miyagi didn't do much. Even the crane technique that Miyagi said, if done right, that nobody can block, could easily be defeated with a good shove to the chest. Another thing, I'm doubtful that any decent karate judge would have allow that move to be used in the first place; seeing how it's an excessive blow to head. Nevertheless, I know it's just a movie. I just wish, the movie was more open on exposing more on, Mr. Miyagi's past, here, rather than, him, lying, ignoring the question or changing the subject. The reasons, why, is, it come across as not very mentor/student-like. This is where, I thought, 2010's remake of the same name, did a little better. At least, in that movie, the sensei is a little more open to talking about his past, and why he lives, a shut-in life as a maintenance man. Here, it's come across, as very jarring for the audience, to see an old maintenance man, shroud in mystery beat up, kids, without getting arrested, & heal people with little explanation. How in the hell, did he get to Place A to Place B!? Something is missing, here. I hate that, a 1986's sequel had to be made, just to answer, those questions, when, they should had been part of the original movie. At least, thank goodness, that drunken mourning scene was in the film, rather than being cut, because it's the only thing, keeping Mr. Miyagi was being a shallow old wise man stereotype. With that say, I still never understood, why Mr. Miyagi's chose to help Daniel. Maybe the idea is that Daniel, is the closest thing to a son he ever had, but even then, it's a little vague. Nevertheless, I really don't think, joining a fight tournament will stop bullying. If anything, all that competition would probably, would cause more harm than good. If anything, Daniel should had left them, alone. After all, it seem like Cobra Kai & Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) forgot about him, until Daniel provoke them in the Halloween Dance. They are just misguide teenagers, not exactly hardened psychopath criminals. If anything, Daniel is much to blame for his beatings. Regardless of that, I still think, the acting from Macchio was good. He's boyish good looks and high-pitched voice, really did, make Daniel into a likeable hero. As for Pat Morita; as much crap, I talk about his character, I still love his portrayal. He still deserve the Academy Award nomination. He made the character, fun to watch, even if his character, was not that complex. As for chemistry of two, share on screen, it certainly look like friendship. You can feel the special bond between them, with the 'wax on, wax off' screen, being one of the highlight. As for the supporting cast. I found Zabka to be alright as a villain, as he is suffering from conflicting ideologies about life, however, I really didn't like Martin Kove's performance. He was a little too over the top, as sensei, John Kreese. It really took me, out of the movie. Yes, I know, certain fans, love his goofy cartoony performance, but for me, I thought, it was unbearable hokey. As for Elisabeth Shue as Ali Mills, Daniel's love-interest. I found her to be, alright. She's loving, but her character wasn't that developed. She came across, as a manic pixie dream girl, with her romance parts with Daniel being filler. Honestly, if take that romantic clichés away, it would, probably make 'Karate Kid' into a stronger movie. Trust me, when I say this, the movie was already, having pacing issues; with the climax seeming a bit rushed. After all, it seem a bit jarring to see Johnny, being alright in handing the trophy to Daniel, after being kick in the face. Cutting scenes like that, would indeed make the film, better. Despite the movie's visuals & cheesy music like 'You're the Best! Around" by Joe Esposito being highly dated. The movie holds up, remarkably well, since the 1980s. People are still quoting and watching this classic. So, go ahead, Wax on! Wax off! After you're finish with that, go watch the Karate Kid, again. It's worth watching.

The movie is more about the relationship between the boy and his master so don't expect an action filled karate movie. The few karate scenes which are in the movie are quite amazing though. The movie has a heart that is certain. And its story is told in a classic good vs evil fashion which I enjoyed a lot. So if you are in a mood for a classic Good beating Evil tale then just get along for a nice ride and have fun.

The Karate Kid is one of the better teen films of the 1980's. While some of the teen films idealized Gen-Xer life, the Karate Kid tells the story of the new kid in town who can't find his place. At the beginning of the film, Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and his single mother have moved from New Jersey to the San Fernando Valley in the Los Angeles area. He finds love with a schoolmate, Ali (Elizabeth Shue) but his nemesis becomes the girl's ex-boyfriend and his buddies. Turns out ex-boyfriend and company are a gang of teen bullies who are taught martial arts, "karate" in Japanese, by an amoral teacher who likens martial arts to military combat. He tells his students "no mercy". The gang misuses their abilities particularly against Daniel who is unable to defend himself because he knows nothing of martial arts combat.Luckily, the manager of the small apartment house is Mr Miyagi (Pat Morita). When he learns of the boys misfortunes, particularly after he has a first-hand encounter with the ruffians, Miyagi agrees to teach the young Daniel about martial arts, "karate". They strike a deal with the militant karate teacher, who is opposite in philosophy to Miyagi, that Daniel will enter a karate tournament, and until then, the "gang" must leave him alone. Miyagi points out that there are no bad students, just "bad teachers". He also says that karate is the last resort, not the first.Daniel is then put to work in which he has to wash cars, paint fences, and sand floors. It seems that Daniel is just being an indentured servant to Miyagi, but as the scenes unfold we learn that the point was not to paint the fence and wash the cars. In probably the most memorable scene of the film, Miyagi says "Show me sand the floor." We find out the real point behind Daniel's chores.This is an incredibly uplifting film and has an exceptional story arc. The film is called the Karate Kid which of course refers to the title character. However, for nearly half the film, Daniel knows nothing of karate. He must learn at the feet of Miyagi and that he becomes first a novice then an adept in the world of karate. Part of the story is the universal narrative device of teacher and pupil. The relationship between Miyagi and Daniel evolve from one of uncertainty to mentor-student which for me is the strongest aspect of the film. Filmmakers often forget that while we the audience desire the protagonist to succeed, there should be lots of obstacles in his or her way. If the conquest is too easy, then there's not a lot to root for. Daniel has to climb some very steep mountains before he becomes the "karate kid". Definitely a film which has more or less withstood from the 1980's and is far less dated than other offerings of the period. Personally, this is a far stronger film than "The Breakfast Club".