Film Snail

The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid

7.2

The Karate Kid

PG·1984·126m

Summary

Daniel LaRusso moves to Los Angeles with his mother, Lucille, and soon strikes up a relationship with Ali. He quickly finds himself the target of bullying by a group of high school students, led by Ali's ex-boyfriend Johnny, who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo under ruthless sensei, John Kreese. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi, an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate for self-defense and, later, preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.

Cast

Ralph Macchio

Ralph Macchio

Daniel LaRusso

Pat Morita

Pat Morita

Mr. Miyagi

Elisabeth Shue

Elisabeth Shue

Ali Mills

William Zabka

William Zabka

Johnny Lawrence

Martin Kove

Martin Kove

John Kreese

Randee Heller

Randee Heller

Lucille LaRusso

Ron Thomas

Ron Thomas

Bobby

Rob Garrison

Rob Garrison

Tommy

Chad McQueen

Chad McQueen

Dutch

Tony O'Dell

Tony O'Dell

Jimmy

Israel Juarbe

Israel Juarbe

Freddy

William Bassett

William Bassett

Mr. Mills

Larry B. Scott

Larry B. Scott

Jerry

Juli Fields

Juli Fields

Susan

Dana Andersen

Dana Andersen

Barbara

Frank Burt Avalon

Chucky

Jeff Fishman

Billy

Ken Daly

Chris

Tom Fridley

Alan

Pat E. Johnson

Pat E. Johnson

Referee

Bruce Malmuth

Bruce Malmuth

Ring Announcer

Darryl Vidal

Darryl Vidal

Karate Semi-Finalist

Frances Bay

Frances Bay

Lady with Dog

Christopher Kriesa

Christopher Kriesa

Official

Bernie Kuby

Bernie Kuby

Mr. Harris

Joan Lemmo

Restaurant Manager

Helen Siff

Helen Siff

Cashier

Larry Drake

Larry Drake

Yahoo #1

David Abbott

David Abbott

Yahoo #2

Molly Basler

Cheerleading Coach

Brian Davis

Boy in Bathroom

David De Lange

Waiter

Erik Felix

Karate Student

Peter Jason

Peter Jason

Soccer Coach

Todd Lookinland

Todd Lookinland

Chicken Boy

Clarence McGee Jr.

Referee #2

William Norren

Doctor

Sam Scarber

Sam Scarber

Referee #3

Scott Strader

Scott Strader

Eddie

Shannon Wilcox

Shannon Wilcox

Mrs. Mills (Ali's Mother) (uncredited)

Sharon Spelman

Sharon Spelman

Mrs. Lawrence (Johnny's Mother) (uncredited)

Andrew Shue

Andrew Shue

Member of Cobra Kai (uncredited)

Donald DeNoyer

Donald DeNoyer

Karate Student (uncredited)

David LeBell

Guy at Halloween Dance (uncredited)

Stan Rodarte

Stan Rodarte

Student at Dance (uncredited)

Monty O'Grady

Monty O'Grady

Club Patron (uncredited)

Milanka Stevens

Club Patron (uncredited)

Nick Stevens

Club Patron (uncredited)

Robert Strong

Club Patron (uncredited)

Chris Casamassa

Chris Casamassa

Tournament Guest (uncredited)

Charles Gallant

Karate Fan (uncredited)

Katheryn Gallant

Karate Fan (uncredited)

Kelly Gallant

Karate Fan (uncredited)

Duff Tallahassee

Karate Fan #4 (uncredited)

Ann Oshita

Mrs. Miyagi (uncredited)

Crew

Director

John G. Avildsen

Lyricist

Dennis Lambert

Lyricist

Allee Willis

Lyricist

Peter Beckett

Writer

Robert Mark Kamen

Reviews

John Chard

John Chard

April 18, 2015

8

The Karocky Kid.

The Karate Kid is directed by John G. Avildsen and written by Robert Mark Kamen. It stars Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita (Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor) and Elisabeth Shue.

Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) moves with his mother (Randee Heller) from Newark, New Jersey to Reseda, a neighbourhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Pretty much from the off Daniel finds he doesn't belong and quickly incurs the wrath of Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) who is the ex-boyfriend of the only person Daniel has connected with; Ali Mills (Shue). Not good since Johnny is an ace karate student from the Cobra Kai dojo, a place where the students are taught winning is everything by tough ex-forces sensei, John Kreese (Martin Kove). But salvation and a stop to the beatings at the hands of Lawrence and his bully loving friends may come in the form of the quirky but kind handyman at the apartment complex; Mr. Miyagi (Morita).

In 1976 John G. Avildsen had directed one of the most loved of all the underdog comes good movies, Rocky. Fast forward to 1984 and we find Avildsen treading on the same turf, only for a younger audience. What was to follow would be a monster hit movie (it made over $90 million domestically alone), that spawned three sequels, a remake, pop culture bonanza and more telling; got karate back in the headlines some 11 years after the tragic death of Bruce Lee. Its appeal is not hard to fathom, geeky young guy gets beat up on by some suspiciously Aryan bully types, forms a wonderful and warm friendship with sage old Chinaman, becomes a karate hero after being tutored in an unorthodox manner by kindly Chinaman, then kicks Aryan dudes butt. What's not to like there? Hell us young men even had the all American cutie pie looks of Shue (she was 21 at the time and Macchio 23) to admire as we joined Daniel in chopping, kicking and falling on our asses as we tried the famous "Crane Kick". Sure some of it looks creaky now, but it's creakiness with an 80s charm that still engages today. So lets get waxing on and waxing off and relieve the moment when we all cheered at the climax of this simple, yet utterly beguiling movie. 8/10

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$8,000,000.00

Revenue:

$130,442,786.00

Keywords

high school
friendship
martial arts
fight
halloween
karate
bullying
sensei
teen movie
los angeles, california
martial arts master
single mother
sabotage
beaten
high school student
martial arts tournament
martial arts training
crane
sport competition
nostalgic
school dance
semi autobiographical
mentor protégé relationship
teenage gang
teenage romance
philosophical
high school romance
the karate kid
hopeful
optimistic