So I decided I didn't want to check out the new Jurassic World film because, well, it just feels like how the Star Wars sequels played out or how the Terminator films have fared in a way. Two good films, a mediocre film, a decent continuation film and then two films that are just not very good. So instead, I thought it is time to pay a visit to an old but beloved classic series of films all about karate. Long before the days when famous young guys such as Justin Beiber, Tom Holland and most of the cast of
Riverdale started wooing girls and some men over, there was an up-and-coming actor known as Ralph Macchio who got his starring role and big break in the original Karate Kid series of films which also made himself woo girls and some men, but back in the 80s. The films are not all perfect, but they remain as being among all things pop culture, and it even continued years later with a Netflix series. But we will talk about that series tomorrow. For now, let's look at this quadrilogy of films and also the 2010 reimagined remake:
The Karate Kid
It's 1984 and a 17-year-old called Daniel LaRusso (played by Ralph Macchio) and his mum Lucille (played by Randee Heller) move to Reseda in Los Angeles, California after having lived in Newark, New Jersey previously. Their apartment's handyman is a bit eccentric, but a kind and humble Okinawan immigrant called Mr. Miyagi (played by Pat Morita). Daniel goes to a beach party where he befriends a high school cheerleader called Ali Mills (played by Elisabeth Shue) which draws the attention of her arrogant ex-boyfriend called Johnny Lawrence (played by William Zabka) who is a black belt associated with the Cobra Kai dojo who specialize in aggressive karate. Johnny and his gang continually beat up Daniel until Miyagi intervenes on one occasion and manages to defeat them all. He then goes with Daniel to the Cobra Kai dojo to resolve the conflict, but the sensei there, John Kreese (played by Martin Kove), dismisses it. That is, until Miyagi proposes that Daniel competes in the Under 18 All-Valley Karate Championship, where he can fight Kreese's students on equal terms and not be bullied while training. To which Kreese agrees to, but warns that the harassment may continue if Daniel doesn't appear. Quite a big deal for the unlikely teacher and student duo, but things may turn for the better for them. While the film can come across as predictable due to its set up and all that, what makes it truly work is the relaxed chemistry that Mortia and Macchio have. It's definitely a coming of age film as it's largely about standing up for yourself against bullies, which is an important message, but not necessarily a message about using violence. Nevertheless, great performances from everyone and a worthy start to what would become a pretty alright franchise. 8/10
Part II
The second film begins directly where the last left off, as Miyagi and Daniel leave the tournament and disgrace Cobra Kai and Kreese for his brutal punishment on his students. Six months later, the pair travel to Okinawa where Miyagi's father is dying, and certain things are taking place that may go sideways should Miyagi not intervene. They arrive with a mixed reception, but before long Daniel is forced to learn new moves in the wake of an old adversary of Miyagi making a return. This is one of those sequels that tries to raise the stakes and changes the location. But ultimately fails to be better than the first. It is very much still about the duo with more development being made for Miyagi, but it's a bit of a rinse and repeat, albeit with roles switched in a way. Kinda, sort of. 7/10
Part III
Having been humiliated by Daniel and Miyagi and with his dojo having dispersed since the last film, John Kreese vows revenge on the duo and enlists the help of his Vietnam War comrade Terry Silver (played by Thomas Ian Griffith) to help him personally get revenge on the pair and re-instate Cobra Kai. As part of this plan, Silver has Mike Barnes (played by Sean Kanan), a vicious karate prospect, challenge Daniel at the upcoming All-Valley Karate Tournament. Meanwhile, Daniel and Miyagi return home from the last film, only to find that the apartment complex they once resided in, has been renovated. But all is not lost as the two start a business venture in a bonsai shop, using Daniel's college fund to help finance it. Kreese and Silver soon enough intervene and ultimately Daniel has no choice but to take part in the next tournament even if it means losing his teacher and friend in the process. This is perhaps the weakest of the films that feature Macchio, as it's far too violent when it doesn't need to be, and it feels like a rehash of things we've already seen before. Sometimes having the same basic narrative works for some films, but when you've already had two very similar films, it doesn't bold well-to-do a rinse and repeat. But despite all that, the performances are decent and if you are after more of the same, then that's fine, I guess. 6/10
Next Karate Kid
Mr. Miyagi travels to the Arlington National Cemetery, where he gets a commendation for his role in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II as one of the people of Japanese and American heritage in the unit. There he meets Louisa Pierce (played by Constance Towers), the widow of his commanding officer, and he returns to her home with her and together, they catch up. He meets her aggressive granddaughter called Julie (played by Hilary Swank) who due to her parents being killed in a car accident, is angry nearly all the time which has caused friction between her and her grandmother and people she knows from her school. Miyagi offers to be Julie's caretaker while Louisa goes to his house in Los Angeles to enjoy peace and tend to his garden. Julie soon becomes a constant target of a shady school fraternity known as the Alpha Elite and eventually confides in Miyagi who teaches her karate and other life lessons too in the process. The performances of the two leads are possibly the only good thing going for this film. Apart from that, it doesn't offer much in the way of new things because we've a group of bullies again and other stuff that makes this film not really worth watching. But at least we have Hilary Swank here before the Oscars consume her with awards and nominations. 5/10
2010 film
So now we step away from the Miyagi-verse films as we take a look at this Will and Jada Pinkett Smith produced remake which also acts as a reimagining too. The film begins with the 12-year-old Dre Parker (played by Jaden Smith) and his widowed mum Sherry (played by Taraji P. Henson) moving from Detroit to Beijing after Sherry gets a job transfer in a car factory. Dre goes to a park where he eyes a young violinist called Meiying (played by Wenwen Han) who seems to be attracted to him also. But the 14-year-old Cheng (played by Zhenwei Wang) whose family is close to Meiying's family, starts to hold a grudge against Dre and bullies him any chance he gets. But in one fateful trip, Dre manages to get the upper hand, but not for long as Cheng and his gang beat him up. That is, until Dre is saved by the maintenance man called Mr. Han (played by Jackie Chan) who defeats them and reveals himself as a kung fu master. Much like with Miyagi and Daniel in the original first film, Han chooses not to teach Dre at first, but does accompany him to the dojo where Cheng trains at. There his master (played by Yu Rongguang) much like with Kreese in the original film, also dismisses the peace offering, but agrees on Han's terms that Dre will be taught kung fu for the upcoming open Kung Fu tournament and that his students must not bully him during that time. But makes it clear that he will personally bully the pair should they not show up. From then on, Han begins training Dre in the way of Kung Fu and life lessons too, much like in the original film. Although it's very clear that this is a remake of the first film, it also has a lot of differences. The most noticeable one being that it's not karate this time, it's actually kung fu, which makes the title misleading, but I guess the filmmakers went with it just so it gets money from long time fans of the series. It's also interesting that this has an alternate ending, which basically just expands on the original ending. I like the new location, its switch to kung fu (even though personally it should not be called Karate Kid in spite of that) and the acting is pretty good. Though having Justin Beiber perform at the end does make this film decent more than anything else. Not a fan of Beiber personally, but won't let that be the deciding factor of my thoughts on this film. 7/10
So yeah, not a perfect series of films. But there are collectively about learning how to defend yourself in life, and that some problems don't need violence to resolve them. 7/10
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