Thanks everyone for the R/R/Cs, still much appreciated.
A merry Christmas and a happy new year to a...
Thanks everyone for the R/R/Cs, still much appreciated.
A merry Christmas and a happy new year to all
(still on dooyoo with same name)
Member since:04.09.2006
Reviews:456
Members who trust:111
Director: John G. Avildsen. Producers: Jerry Weintraub, Bud S. Smith and R. J. Louis Writer: Robert Mark Kamen Stars: Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, Elisabeht Shue, Martin Kove, Randee Heller and William Zabka.
This first in the karate kid sage was released in June 1984, involving the life of a school boy who had just moved into a new neighbourhood with his mother.
** BRIEF PLOT **
When Daniel LaRusso, (played by Ralph Macchio) and his mother Lucille, (played by Randee Heller) move into a new apartment in a small neighbourhood things seem to be going well, until Daniel starts at the local school. When Daniel becomes friends with Ali Mills, (played by Elisabeth Shue) he soon realises that her ex-boyfriend, Johnny Lawrence, (played by William Zabka) and his little gang of Karate members are going to be trouble, considering Johnny is the top student at the Cobra Kai dojo which is ran by John Kreese, (played by Martin Kove), a rather vicious sensei. With Daniel standing up to Johnny he soon realises that he can not beat him, allowing Johnny and his brainless gang to start intimidating Daniel whenever their paths meet.
The tale takes a twist when Johnny, together with the rest of his gang, corner Daniel and viciously assault him, using him as a punch bag to practice their martial arts moves on… But suddenly, out of the blue, the apartments handyman, Mr Kesuke Miyagi, (played by Noriyuki "Pat" Morita), an elderly and rather fragile looking man jumps to Daniels rescue. After seeing the skills of My Miyagi, Daniel begs for his help, little realising that Mr Miyagi' s way of helping is to enter Daniel into a karate tournament so as to fight Johnny in a fair battle of skill… (not really the help Daniel envisaged)
So, as Mr Miyagi trains the unwitting Daniel, using some rather unusual training techniques, the fight is soon on… only some contestants and their sensei's will do anything to win…???
** IN CONCLUSION **
Avildsen has directed another great fight action movie, remembering him from Rocky, with some fantastic martial arts scenes, (although it does tend to be a little like a Rocky plot…!!).
The story is well written, giving a good two hours of entertainment…albeit a little slow to tell the story in the first instance, and the all round acting is good enough to make this a very popular movie indeed. Ralph Macchio does a great job acting as Daniel, (or Danielson as Miyagi calls him), the skinny underdog with no hope of fighting his way out of a wet paper bag let alone winning a karate tournament against a rather brutal opposition. But the award for excellence goes to the brilliant Noriyuki Morita, (or Pat) as the rather peaceful but very lethal Mr Miyagi, with his bizarre, but very effective ways of teaching martial arts… "Wax on…Wax off…" was the latest saying for all those who watch this on its release in 1984... Whilst doing a rather fruitless impression of a karate defence…
It is an all round entertaining movie which can be enjoyed by everyone, although there is a little bit of violence involved… (but you would have thought that as soon as you read the title… you make a movie about Karate without showing a little violence can you…?) There are a few humorous moments and even the odd bit of romance, but the main theme is of one boys stance against a gang of bullies…
* Would I recommend this…?
Yes I would, simply for the entertaining and strangely compelling Mr Miyagi, with his bizarre look on life and his off the wall training regime… together with his bonsai skills, (you just know you want to be able to trim a miniature tree like he does..?).
The ending fight scene is well choreographed and very close to realism, (although some scenes do look a little 'iffy')
You can get a copy of this entertaining movie from amazon for less than a fiver…
* Other cast
Ron Thomas as Bobby Rob Garrison as Tommy Chad McQueen as Dutch Tony O'Dell as Jimmy
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1981 - Martial Arts - Director: Kenji Misumi, Robert Houston - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Kayo Matsuo, Minoru Ohki, Akiji Kobayashi, Shin Kishida, Masahiro Tomikawa, Tomisaburo Wakayama
Production Year: 1972 - Martial Arts - Director: Bruce Lee - Original Language: English\Cantonese\Chinese - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Chuck Norris, Robert Wall, Jon T. Benn
Great film!! Cant believe its that old. . fab review x
TheWizardsSleeve 16.10.2008 16:09
can't believe this was nearly a quarter of a century ago!! Every time I hear the name I have the urge to stand on one leg saying "Wipe on...Wipe Off" whilst doing Karate moves with my hands!
Funzo 16.10.2008 16:08
one of the best films ever to grace our screens............ top review.
The Karate Kidis a popular 1984 drama by the director, John G Avildsen and one of the ... more
better takes on the original fighting classicRocky(also directed by John G Avildsen). The new kid in town (Ralph Macchio) targeted by karate-wielding bullies, gets hi...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Ralph Macchio stars as Daniel Larusso, a teenage boy who is taught karate from martial ... more
arts master Mr Miyagi (Pat Morita), to combat the bullies who are making life difficult for him at his new school. Under the tuition of Mr Miyagi, Daniel soon comes ...
The Karate Kidis a popular 1984 drama by the director, John G Avildsen and one of the ... more
better takes on the original fighting classicRocky(also directed by John G Avildsen). The new kid in town (Ralph Macchio) targeted by karate-wielding bullies, gets hi...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
A fatherless teenager faces his moment of truth in The Karate Kid. Daniel (Ralph ... more
Macchio) arrives in Los Angeles from the East Coast and faces the difficult task of making new friends. However he becomes the object of bullying by the Cobras a menac...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
![The Karate Kid [DVD] [1984]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78486002.jpg "The Karate Kid [DVD] [1984]")
![The Karate Kid [Special Edition]-DVD](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/103541896.jpg "The Karate Kid [Special Edition]-DVD")
Oct 16th, 2008
exceptional by (4%):
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