The Karate Kid (Special Edition) (DVD)

Advantages: Timeless 80's film fodder!
Disadvantages: In my opinion, none!

I have always loved the film "The Karate Kid" from way back when I first saw it, probably on video, in 1987 or so. It just struck a cord with me; both in the sense that it was an exciting and action packed romp but also as a teenage rights of passage piece of commentary. It also seems to have stuck a similar cord with the millions and millions of folk who have watched this film over the years and it appears with regularity on lists of favourite films ...
...back in the 80's. In many ways it shouldn't be the success that it is and was, there's some dreadful hammy acting in amongst it all, the karate stunts are suspect to say the least, (especially from the lead) and the whole premise of the film is awfully clichéd and rather tired. But wrapped all up together it completes a piece of classic cinema and it remains a film that I could happily watch every week. Daniel LaRusso is the teenage high school ... Read review

Advantages: Karate scenes, Ralph Macchio, end scene
Disadvantages: None

...favourite childhood films with arguably the most dramatic cinematic ending of a film ever has to be the Karate Kid. Starring Ralph Macchio as the aforementioned Karate Kid, it follows his journey into the world of, yes, you've guessed it, karate. Ralph played Daniel LaRusso, is a teenager who moves to Southern California from New Jersey with his mother. He firstly finds it hard to fit in as he is a bit different. Daniel has a very Jersey accent which ...
...Johnny, is not happy with the situation. He is a top karate student at the Cobra Kai karate dojo and subjects Daniel to quite a few beatings with the help of his friends. Thankfully for Daniel, he has a unlikely saviour in the form of his apartment janitor, Mr Miyagi played by Pat Morita. Pat was nominated for a best supporting actor award at the Academy Awards for this film in 1984. Mr Miyagi soons becomes his karate teacher and mentor and somewhat ... Read review

Advantages: Lightweight entertainment
Disadvantages: None really

...affection. Ralph Maccio plays the lead character Daniel Larusso who together with his single parent mother moves to California from their Esat Coast home to start a new life. Daniel is out of place attending the preppie West Coast school and soon falls foul of the local bully boys led by the blonde haired rich kid Johnny. It just so happens that all of his gang are members of a karate school called the Cobra Kai Dojo and they are quite happy to ...
...a beating rescue comes in the unusual form of the janitor at the apartments where Daniel lives. Mr Miyagi an elderly small Japanese man proves to be rather good at karate and soon sees off the cowardly gang. He then agrees to teach Daniel how to defend himself and enter the annual karate tournament to help him face up to his bullies. The rest of the ilm follows a rather predictable path with Daniel having to come to terms with his teachers rather ... Read review

Advantages: Memorable, well acted
Disadvantages: Conventional

John Avildsen's THE KARATE KID was released in 1984; a simple story made for next-to-nothing that went on to gain immense commercial success. Why? Teenager Daniel and his single mother have recently arrived from the comfort of a small town to the clutches of California. Whilst Daniel's mother settles into her new job, Daniel starts a new life in a new school, which he's not entirely grateful for, moreso because the kids he has met so far are a gang ...
...old Japanese man living in the same building, a little old Japanese man who spends his days in complete calm, mourning his late wife and pruning bonsai trees. When Daniel goes on to learn that he actually knows a thing or two about karate, he persuades him to help him defend himself against the brutal bullies at school. As Daniel slowly learns the wise-old ways of this peaceful martial art he starts to learn something about life. Everything begins ... Read review

Advantages: Great karate action and cute love story!
Disadvantages: None to say.

I have loved the Karate Kid movie since it first came out when I was young. I was not a karate enthusiast or anything like that but I found the movie to be entertaining and enjoyable to watch over and over again. Ralph was a young teen idol when this movie came out and Elizabeth was a great counterpart for the show. She adds a little romance to the show! No one will ever forget Pat and his unique karate teaching. "Wax on, wax off" will forever be ...
...would capture anyones eye. The championship is obviously the most climactic moment but I found it to be suspenseful even though you knew that Ralph was going to try the "crane technique". Now that the DVD is out with special features, well...I won't be missing out on this. And if you enjoy this one, I suggest getting Karate Kid II as well - another inspiring story of courage and strength. And if you like Elizabeth Shue in the Karate Kid, I suggest ... Read review