Karate Kid (DVD)

With his mum getting a new job in the world of Computers, Daniel Larusso finds himself moving to sunny California just as his senior year approaches. Arriving at their new apartment on the day before the new school year starts, Daniel makes friends with a lad from their block and gets himself invited to the end-of-summer party on the beach. With his fun loving, out going nature, he soon fits in with everyone at the party as well as grabbing the eye of local girl Ali. Harmlessly flirting with her, Daniel finds himself nursing a black eye, as her ex boyfriend, Johnny, shows up with his band of thugs and jealously beats him up. Things don't get any better when ...  Read the complete review

Ah – the 80s – the decade of great music, dodgy fashion and ‘The Karate Kid’ – arguably one of the best martial arts movies ever made. Just for saying that I know that I am going to be flamed by martial artists the world over (or at least I hope I will because it will mean that loads of people will have read this op) because the martial arts choreography is poor – real poor. For example – if you try that kick that Daniel does at the end of the film in a real tournament then your opponent will thank his lucky stars that he is fighting an idiot before pummelling you into the ground. The thing with ‘The Karate Kid’ ...  Read the complete review

After reading an article in a newspaper about a student who took up martial arts after being bullied at school, this inspired John Avildsen (director of Rocky) to re-introduce the theme of an underdog overcoming his adversaries despite all odds. As a result, The Karate Kid was released in cinemas in 1984. Originally from the small island of Okinawa in Japan, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) leads the simple life of a caretaker in a run down apartment block, with hobbies of cultivating plants and fishing to keep him occupied. Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) has difficulty settling into his new life in California. Not only does he miss life back in New Jersey but also the ...  Read the complete review

The Karate Kid is a dark drama/action movie from John G Avildsen who also gave us the heartbreaker "Rocky 2" where another popular champion ultimately loses. The Karate Kid is the story of a hardworking, honest and popular kid named Johnny Lawrence (Famous Academy award nominated actor William Zabka) who has just broken up with his highschool sweet heart Ali played by a very Gentile looking Elishabeth Shue, because she has a nihilistic streak and needs pofessional emotional help instead of being in a serious relationship yet he wants to stand beside her as a friend. The swarthy villian of the story is a vicious swarthy arrogant troublemaker named ...  Read the complete review

Some may say that this film is just another dodgy American action/drama movie which appears every Christmas on the telly, well I disagree. Ralph Macchio stars as Danny Larusso a high school student new to the area who soon becomes the enemy of the local karate students and their teacher. Soon he crosses paths with Mr Miyagi (Pat Morita) an old Karate master who teaches him to defend himself and his honour at an approaching karate tournament. Using old but effective methods of teaching, Larusso soon becomes an expert himself. Alongside the action a love story forms with the kid falling for young Ali Mills (Elizabeth Shue). Him coming from a downtrodden apartment ...  Read the complete review