The chemistry between Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita is what makes this movie so special. The scene where you discover his wife and child died at Manzanar breaks my heart every time. You need to visit and experience what it was like inside those dormitory blocks in the summer heat or winter cold. The Eastern Sierras are a harsh place.
This movie holds a special place in my heart. Long story alert… My grandmother was from Okinawa, and she met my grandfather (white US soldier) during the Korean War. They got married, her family disowned her, and she came to America nearly 9 months pregnant and had my dad. Fast forward 40+ years, and my uncle had to go to Okinawa for work. He wound up finding our family there, and was able to call my grandmother and let her speak to her father for the first time in decades. Since then, she was able to visit several times. She passed a few years ago unfortunately, but with a small inheritance I got from her, I was able to go to Okinawa and visit our family for the first time in 2019! It was one of the best days of my life. Mr. Miyagi was always an inspiration for me, and I love tying it to my new found family.
What an amazing story! Always love to find such comments under a reaction that connects a movie with some touching real life story. Happy for you, mate.
My grandfather was of the Ainu people in Hokkaido. When the was broke out he was "enlisted" into the imperial army along with his two brothers. After Manchuria they deserted and wound up in LA. They worked their butts off and had homes and two fishing boats. When pearl harbor happened they were sent to the camps. After the war they were released and didn't even get a ride back to CA. When they got home, it wasn't there. All of their property and belongings were sold by the government as reparations for the families of the lost soldiers in Hawaii. Disgusted, they didn't want anything to do with the US, and since they were deserters, they couldn't even go back home to Japan. So they went south into Mexico, he met my grandmother there. She and her mother were Jewish refugees that had left Germany. All three of them actually led really happy lives there, it wasn't until 2011 that they were allowed to return to Japan, of course after they paid a fine for deserting a war they didn't want any part of, for a nation that treated (and still does) the Ainu people as second class citizens at best, or as sub-human at worst.
I always love the scene where Daniel bows to Mr. Miyagi even though he is passed out drunk. He shows such great respect even when no one else is there to see it.
Mr. Miyagi's story has some similarity with Pat Morita himself. Morita was a first generation American who was interned as a kid along with his family during WW2. Morita was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this film. Well deserved. He was such an American treasure. We love you Mr. Miyagi!
He was too young to serve, but he saw Japanese Americans walk out of their prison huts, don US Army uniforms, and go off to fight. He spent his life promoting the 442nd Infantry, the Japanese American regiment that became the most decorated American regiment in World War II.
Morita was able to make a living as a stand-up comedian in the years after WWII, when audiences were still hostile to seeing a Japanese-American person on stage. He was able to tweak his humor in ways that won over the crowds and earned him the nickname "the hip nip", during a time when that term wasn't so politically incorrect. He eventually parlayed that into a role on the famous sitcom Happy Days and later this movie and its sequels. It's kind of funny that he's best known for the serious role of Mr. Miyagi, because it's basically the only non-comedic role of his whole career.
The movie that brought “Sweep the leg,” into the lexicon. This is a classic movie that spawned several enrollments to karate studios across the country.
Karate Kid 2 is excellent as well. It picks up where it is left off here. KK 3 is mostly forgettable, however it does introduce a character that returns in the Cobra Kai series. The Next KK wasn't so good and the Jacky Chan remake changes too much.
The "kid" that you asked about is Ralph Macchico and he was 22yrs of in this movie. He was blessed with a youthful appearance that allowed him to play much young rolls for most of his adult life.
@wallyjackson9543 true but just because they play it doesn't mean they look it. Lol! Ralph Macchico played kids for most of his adult life and it was one of the things he was known for.. looking like a kid. Honestly your just really starting to see his age and he's 60 now. And it's not just his face but his body as well. Anyway I only mentioned it because George actually thought he was a child.
23 I think. But it's because there's laws about child actors and how much work they can do. It makes it difficult to film if your main actor can only work limited hours. That's why they're always adults.
They gave Ralph Macchio the car as a gift after the third movie wrapped and he still owns it today. It is the only known original prop from the movies to show up in Cobra Kai. Also, "You're the Best" was in consideration to be the music that plays over the training montage in Rocky 3.
I don't know if it's as good, but it's a great sequel. Karate Kid 3 is stupid, but Thomas Ian Griffith's performance as the most petty villain ever made it really entertaining for me, and Cobra Kai season 4 and 5 retroactively improved it.
The Director of this movie (John Avildsen) also directed Rocky, the cinematographer (James Crabe) also filmed Rocky which won Best Picture that year so that’s probably why you noticed the high quality of the shots and overall of this movie.
I always felt two and three were shot out of order. I don't want to say why so I don't spoil the movies, but the stakes were much higher in two, than three.
Yea, Part 2 is great. Part 3 should have never been made. Even the Hillary Swank Karate Kid movie was worth watching, but not as good as the first 2 of this series
Karate Kid Part 2 is surprisingly decent, if a little cheesy. I’m pretty sure you guys would enjoy it. Part 3 goes a bit hard on the ‘comical villain’ side, but I’d recommended it if you ever decide to watch Cobra Kai. It’s still a fun movie, but it’s not on the level of the first couple films.
The scene when Miyagi is drunk and Daniel brings him to his bed and reads the letter then bows to him and fades into him training with the music always gets me teary-eyed ( I'm not ashamed to admit it lol)
They didn't want this scene in the movie because it ruined the Asian Mystic troupe. It made Mr. Miyagi a real vunerable person with real trauma in his life. The director (I believe) insisted on it and it is such a powerful scene
The "Birthday Dinner Cut" also includes about fifteen-to-twenty minutes of footage after the tournament, that was cut in favor of a brief, "freeze-frame" ending. FUN FACT: much of the post-tournament footage was later reused in the ending of "Return of the King" 20 years later, which is why that movie felt so long.
The expert craft of this movie makes more sense when you realize the director also directed Rocky several years earlier. They have very similar structures, sensibilities, and aesthetics. Underdog poor Italians in a martial sport vs. arrogant rich highly-trained antagonist. A focus on down-to-earth problems, everyday life, and naturalistic dialogue. A sweet, innocent romance. Unusual training with inspiring music. A message that’s more about proving yourself than winning or getting revenge. And a freeze-frame ending at the emotional high. Rocky goes to high school, indeed!
So Cobra Kai is set way after this, as if the real amount of time between the movies and series have passed. It is *REALLY* good, they do a fantastic job of taking a cheesy (but obviously nostalgic) move from the 80's and give it all kind of context and depth. It shows where the characters are today and how the events of the movies have affected their lives, both Johnny and Daniel. I cannot recommend checking out highly enough. I had a grin on my face through the whole thing.
While I agree with the overall sentiment I want to clarify one thing. It didn't *give* the prior films depth. It expanded upon depth that was already there. Even in the case of Karate Kid 3 that rings true (granted it got more from Cobra Kai than the the others did by a long shot).
The first season of Cobra Kai is great. The later seasons are not bad. Some good bits mixed in with a some contrivance. It got on my nerves, a little, how each episode, the two characters in conflict that episode started to make amends. And then some misunderstanding happens that snaps them right back where they started. There was some progression, eventually. The whole, Take Over The World theme in season 5 seemed a bit over-done, to me. I'm very surprised they're doing another season. I thought season 5 was a very natural stopping point. Still, it kept me watching. You won't regret watching the first season. And, most people will probably like the rest, too.
@@MightyDrakeC You're not wrong. I myself just decided to embrace the cheese, suspend disbelief and ride it to the end, but I'm ready for it to be done.
He had a minor bit in "My Cousin Vinny" where Joe Pesci played his cousin (the lawyer). They also have a show called Cobra Kai where they continue the story but as the trainers
"You're all right Larusso." There's just so many themes in this movie that are well done. Father son dynamic, coming of age, self defense and earning respect vs being a bully, teen dating, dealing with being not as wealthy as friends and not fitting in. Miyagi steals the show through it all.
At the time, so many of my friends' parents wouldn't let them watch it because it had fighting in it. Those same parents would have loved this film if they'd actually watched it.
Just cause you asked if Ralph Macchio (Daniel) still acts, YES HE DOES. He reprised his role in Cobra Kai on Netflix, which is an amazingly nostalgic show. And I used to have the biggest crush on him in the movies and even now, I think he looks really really good. 😅
I am rarely a fan of sequels, but Karate Kid part 2 is pretty great. Cobra Kai has been a fabulous revisit to the series. It's done really well, and has just the right amount of nostalgia for us Karate Kid fans. I hope you guys get there!
I agree the second is a good sequel. The writers seemed to realise that, despite the title of the film, Miyargi was the more interesting character and a movie could be based on him as the central character even if the camera followed Daniel more. The third film fell flat and came out as formulaic.
Speaking of the abrupt ending, the opening scene of Karate Kid 2 was originally filmed as the last scene of this movie, but in editing, the director (incidentally, the same director who directed "Rocky") decided that Daniel's victory didn't need anything more, so he cut it.
It was originally WRITTEN for the film, but it wasn't actually filmed until they filmed the second movie. They brought the case back to film that scene later.
@@jennifersimpson1448 They never played the parking lot scene as the ending of the first film. There is no "extended ending". That scene was written for the first film but they didn't film it until they made the second film.
I think all of your suggestions as to why Mr. Miyagi made Daniel do manual labour were correct. He learned defensive techniques, trained the muscles for those techniques, and he learned disciple, focus, and patience.
It really isn't that different from genuine Okinawan training. You would have a bit more weight training for sure, and definitely more direct technique training and kumite, but the idea of blending Karate into every practice isn't new. Probably not something you would find in most types of Japanese Karate. Maybe old Kyokushinkai schools because of the Goju-Ryu influence, but it's not something I could verify immediately.
In chess, a 'good move' is something that will accomplish multiple things at the same time (such as: force your opponent to defensively react, AND reveal an attack by more than one piece, AND create a pathway to move additional pieces to an offensive position.) Miyagi's having Daniel do manual labor, was like that. (But, I think the most important component, was the repetition: repeat the correct Karate move so often, that you can't get it wrong, even if you wanted to.)
You mentioned how impressive it was for the “kid” (Ralph Macchio) to have remembered “so many lines.” While the character of Danny Larusso was supposed be like 16 years old, the actor (Ralph Macchio) was 22 years old when he filmed these scenes.
Macchio was quite a bit older than his character, and Morita was quite a bit younger than his character. The age gap between the characters is meant to be about 5 decades, but the age gap between the actors was only 3 decades.
I grew up watching this movie which is just a perfect movie and I was hesitant to watch the Cobra Kai TV show and it ended up being one of the most heartwarming wonderful funny TV shows I've ever seen ❤️ thank you for watching this 80s classic
George was on top of his comedy game in this one. Glad you guys really liked this movie. This movie was such a huge part of my childhood. I watched it so many times as a kid and Mr. Myagi was like another father figure in my life. I'm also glad you guys really appreciated the various aspects of the filmmaking in this like the cinematography, staging, and pacing etc of the film. I think one of the reasons this film has held up so well over the years is because even though the film's target demographic was kids and adolescents, the filmmakers didn't treat it like a kids movie. There's clearly a lot of care that went into the script and filming of the movie. And I think because they treated it like a legit drama it really elevated this into a great film. I still absolutely love watching this film all these decades later. On a side note for Simone: do yourself a favor and leave your memories of the Hillary Swank sequel as they are in your mind now and intact and don't go and rewatch that film now as an adult. :D
Definitely watch 2, it’s good. 3 isn’t good but is fun, and y’all should absolutely keep watching them with how much you enjoyed this one. Also, as one of my favorite childhood movies that I think still holds up today, I absolutely loved seeing both of you engage with this movie and appreciate it.
Pat Morita was nominated for an Oscar for this movie, but Haing S. Ngor, a Vietnamese doctor in his debut movie, eventually won. Since then, no Asian man has won in this category. Hopefully next week, that will all change when Ke Huy Quan, another Vietnamese-born actor, wins for "Everything Everywhere All At Once".
@@cjmars822 Wow, the academy actually got something right for once. It's rare that a movie that dominates the awards the way EEAAO did actually deserves it, but in this case it's well earned.
Haing S. Ngor was actually Cambodian, and his performance in The Killing Fields is amazing. The actor’s personal experiences share some of the trauma that his character goes through on screen. That film should be reacted to here-when I saw it in college, the usually rowdy Friday night crowd of students was dead silent within ten minutes of the film’s beginning and all that could be heard throughout were occasional sniffles and muffled sobs.
Ke Huy Quan's win was so long in coming that even Ariana DeBose's voice cracked when she announced his name as the winner. I'm not Asian but I always felt like the character of Data was one of the trailblazers in cinema for those of us who are ethnically Nerd-American.
Elizabeth Shue as the mom? Aw, do the math. She was on the list of the actresses the young guys fell in love with back in the '80s. Still just as cute today, really.
I do like Johnny's turn around at the end of the movie... him actually having a change of heart and congratulating Daniel on his win. It may seem like a movie trope.... but I can attest to it happening in real life. I was 80lbs when I went into high school in grade 9. A couple years before, in elementary school, I was in grade 7 in the same classroom as the grade 8's, and because I was small I became the target of massive bullying from a group of 4 or 5 guys that found it hillarious to torment me whenever the teacher left the room. When I moved on to grade 8 , and my bullies moves on to high school, it as like a sigh of relief. I was free from the torment that entire last year of elementary. Then came summer break where the pit in my stomach came back knowing I could see those same bullies in the high school that I was going to attend in fall. Most of those guys ended up going to the rival high school down the road, but I found a new group of bullies at the new school to torment me. I ended up going home in tears early on in grade 9 as I couldn't take the abuse anymore... and my parents told me to go back the next day and talk to the principal about it. I did, and when the principal came and brought me and the two guys who were bullying me, out of class together.... I thought I was going to get it worse for snitching. I'm not sure really how it went... being 38 odd years ago... but the principal put the fear of god into the two guys and suggested that they try to get to know me instead. I do remember being invited to one of their houses afterwards and it feeling very awkward to be hanging out with my bullies. But that was all it took... the three of us were inseparable for the remainder of high school. Three absolute best friends to graduation. I really wish I could remember how, exactly, that turned into friendships..... but I'm proof that it actually can happen like in the movies.
I was bullied early in my school years, especially by one kid. He was bigger than me, always punched me in the shoulder and laughed about it. After this was going on for months I finally reached a point where I had enough. He was sitting behind me and was punching me in the back, I got up and then he got up and I shoved him so hard he felt back into his seat with such a surprised look on his face. I told him don't ever touch me again. From the day forward he never hit me again. And the funny thing is we ended up becoming friends for the rest of our school years
Sometimes you gotta check people, but most times its realizing that we have more in common with each other than differences that really changes our perspective. I once saw a video where a principal of a school brought everyone into the gym and split the group evenly so that everyone could see each other pretty easily. Then asked the students as a whole different questions, some easy, some more personal and asked students to raise their hands when a question applied to them. The goal was to show that none of them were alone, that regardless of skin color or status or whatever, that we all share a lot of similarities and experiences. I think it was an eye opening experience for a lot of them and believe it should be implemented in all schools.
You never know what's behind the bully. I finally had enough of my bully and sucker punched him in the stomach as hard as I could. He probably didn't even feel it. He followed me and everyone thought he was going to kill me but when he cornered me instead he asked me why I did that. I told him and he apologized, said he didn't know he was taking it too far. Still talk to him on social media almost 40 years later.
Both Daniel and Johnny are still acting, the Cobra Kai tv series focuses around them both. The character development of Johnny and Daniel after the Karate Kid movies is excellent. Definetely watch KK2 and KK3, as characters from all 3 movies feature in the TV series. Then binge the Cobrai Kai TV series, one of the best TV shows ever made in my opinion.
George is officially the best philosopher of all time. Many nails to build crib, one screw to fill it had me dying. Funniest thing I've heard in awhile.
The song during the tournament montage "You're The Best" was originally going to be used in Rocky 3 until the song "Eye of the Tiger" was written for that movie.
"Does the kid still act? I wonder if he's in other movies." - Yes, there are 2 more sequels with him in them. Also there is a wonderful tv show Cobra Kai I'd suggest watching after the trilogy staring him and Johnny that's been on 5 seasons so far and follows the events of the films. Also watch the sequel if you want more of an ending for this film. It picks up directly after the first. The trilogy is definitely worth watching as it continues the story with Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. After that not so much as they lose the magic with only Pat remaining from the original cast.
Love this movie! I’d say Karate Kid 2 is worth the watch and then the franchise gets bad after that. Cobra Kai is campy and a little cheesy but I enjoy it. Thanks for this awesome reaction. Glad you both enjoyed this one.
19:47, yes he does, he's currently reprising his role in the Cobra Kai series, which is a continuation of this movie, and the best part is that everyone reprised their roles, every one of them who are alive came back, and I think the show is still running.
The thing that always gets me rewatching these films is how hilarious Mr Miyagi is. Of course, Pat Morita was a pretty accomplished comedian but it's still a welcome inclusion in this genre
Seeing this movie in a theatre heightens the experience. The scene where Miyagi claps his hands before ”healing” Daniel’s knee injury for example: The rumbling low note that plays when his hands meet makes it epic, when coming out of a theatre’s sound system. And the final kick that gave Daniel the tournament win…people were standing up, hollering. There’s nothing like a bully victim’s revenge story, I guess. I wonder how many kids started taking karate lessons after seeing this movie.
Funny you mentioned Rocky because the director, John G. Avildsen, also happened to direct the original "Rocky." He also directed the next two Karate Kid movies. KK2 kicks off right where this one ended and shows the scene everyone wants to see, the reaction of the evil Karate instructor Kreese (played by Martin Kove) and his confrontation with Mr. Miyagi (IMHO, the highlight of the trilogy).
Pat Morita made Karate Kid the untouchable classic it still remains (no offence Jackie Chan). The character Morita created in Miyagi is still remembered now as is his lessons (you saw the Mr. Miyagi-like Mentor poster in the Megamind film). The scene where Miyagi tearfully celebrates his anniversary to his dead wife still makes me cry (and it was this scene that won him the role. The director wasn't sure this comedian could perform such a serious moment until he saw Morita do the scene and was blown away). I was also impressed an 80s film mentioned the US Japanese internment camps as the tragedy it was. Over time "Johnny" was is still remembered as the villain, with his redemption at the end forgotten but the film did teach who the real villain was, the Cobra Kai sensei, John Kreese, (another reason you should watch the sequel). Another one of Mr. Miyagi's timeless quotes, "No Such Thing as Bad Student, only Bad Teacher".
@@matthewrottaris7554 idk i tried to like it but the dialogue writing and camera production is B tier maybe even C tier if im being strict. Have some similarities with dexter (yes dexter has some noticeable flaws despite the popularity)
This movie is so great! Seeing it as a kid in the early 90s! Still holds up today! So much sentiment too. And Omg I had such a crush on Elizabeth Shue as a kid.
Genuinely, we riot if yall don't check out the rest and Cobra Kai (Edit) in a caring way. And Cobra kai will really flip your perspectives of characters from the movies
"All over my face." Uhhh... wow. No, really... wow. Thank you, George, for bringing attention to the obvious awkwardness of the moment. Well done. 🤣Now you guys need to do Karate Kid 2. It picks up right where this ends.
The 442d Infantry Regiment was made up entirely of Japanese-American soldiers, many of whose families were interned at home while they fought, just like in the movie. The 442d became, and remains to this day, the most decorated unit in the history of the US Army in any war, showing that there as no lack of bravery or patriotism among the Japanese-Americans who served. I always thought someone should make a movie about it.
People forget that Pat Morita was a stand up comic before he started acting so that scene where we learn about his wife and son is all the more impressive. Got pipped to the Oscar that year by another amazing performance by someone with even less serious acting experience
A lot of people probably weren't old enough to know that. my first exposure to him was from Sanford & Son and other comedic performances in 70s tv shows. I never knew he had that range.
This movie meant so much to me as a kid and I probably wouldn't be nearly the same person I am now without it. I couldn't finish it on rewatch myself, but your reaction is a sort of best of. Glad that you liked it more than I do now! Ralph Macchio was 23 when the movie came out but man did he have a babyface.
@@The-Underbaker Part of me wonders if I ever liked the whole movie, even as a kid, and just looked forward to "the good parts". That happened a lot back then. I think Mr. Miyagi's teachings influenced me a lot, though. Now, the combination of intense bullying and mid-80s aesthetics is just not something I enjoy. Even if the good guy wins at the end, the journey is a bit too rough.
the real crazy part, is by the time they made the third movie, he was like 27, and he is older than terry silver, even though in that movie he looks like he could be Daniels dad daniel is actually older than him:P
Minor Historical Trivia: notice anything missing from the scenes at school? :) Nobody has a backpack. Backpacks to carry your binder and books and stuff weren't a thing then. You had your binder, which was usually the biggest thing, and you stacked your books on top of it, and just carried the stack. Girls often carried their stack in the crook of one arm curled up, while boys often carried their stack dangling down at the end of their arm with their hand curled around, unless they had too many books for that to work. You went back and forth to your locker; in junior high and high school, I never had more than two classes in a row before a break or lunch, and everyone went to their locker then to change out books. But kids today can't imagine carrying all their crap to school without a backpack. The only backpacks available in the 70s and early 80s were the big ones for actual *backpacking.* Most people didn't have one, and you'd never haul that to school even if you did. The smaller ones specifically for students came along later.
Karate Kid 2 is great and definitely worth a watch. KK3 .... has Robyn Lively. No clue about the TV show, as I haven't seen it. Not knowing who Ralph Macchio is means you need to add "The Outsiders" and "My Cousin Vinnie" to your list to react to and "Crossroads" to your list of movies to watch in private.
Simone and George do you remember seeing Ralph Macchio in My Cousin Vinny? He been in lots. Such as The Outsiders from 1983 and Crossroads from 1986 Check them out. The Karate kid Franchise was a fun part of my childhood in the 80's. I was only 9 when this came out but that didn't stop Elizabeth Shue from being one of my first crushes. You mentioned the car being push started. We appear to see Mrs LaRusso's station wagon being push started. However in reality that particular model has an automatic transmission. Meaning it can't actually be push started. If you look for it you'll see the automatic shifter on the steering column. I was so jealous when Mr Miyagi gave Daniel the 1947 Ford Super Deluxe convertible. After the movie the films producer gave it to actor Ralph Macchio. He still has it today. I love Karate kid 2. I hope you guys watch the sequels then Cobra Kai series. It takes place in current times and several original actors are in it from the movie franchise.
I have been watching this film over and over for 35 years and never did it occur to me that Daniel blew off his mother on his birthday even after he left Mr. Miyagi's house. That's hilarious.
In my head they always just jumped past it. I figured he went to dinner with his mom and then went out and found the girl, but the dinner wasn't important to the movie, itself, so it was skipped.
Actor of Daniel Laruso - Ralph Macchio has been in over 50 movies/TV shows/Video games since the early 80s - including the new series "Cobra Kai" (2018/2023) a sequel series of "The Karate Kid"
You can start watching the Cobra Kai first season after this movie, but just the first one. You need to see two and three to see the rest of the show. Karate Kid II and III are watchable, Cobra Kai defenetly worth it.
I wouldn't say the third movie is required viewing. I've never seen the 3rd movie and I've enjoyed the show plenty. It does a good enough job showing relevant flashback clips that you get the gist.
@@shaggjones4854 And yet, I haven't seen the 3rd movie and feel like I appreciate the show just fine. But please, continue to explain how my view of a subjective opinion is incorrect.
@@chriswhinery925 easy, the biggest villain is in the 3rd one, also the biggest villain in the show, simple, now theres my opinion...you can now go take your Chris ''Whine''ry ass elsewhere
@@chriswhinery925 You could also enjoy a sequel without seeing its prequel, but you cannot get any reference. If you don't watch Karate Kid III you cannot feel the perception of the villain by the protagonists. It's like seeing a movie from the second half: can you enjoy it? Yes, but you cannot fully understand it if you missed the development and construction of the characters.
So, I always took the birthday stuff as the Mom thing was in between when he left with the car and arrived at the fair later in the night. It just seems like there was nothing inbetween because he left and arrived in the same car back to back.
This movie was huge for me, largely because I was the same age as Daniel and because I changed high schools. It was a hurtful time for me. We moved 1000 miles when I was a sophomore.
I got beat up a lot when this movie came out and it showed me a positive way to channel that anger through discipline instead of lashing out like just another bully. I ended up getting a job loading trucks and learning karate from the same guy who taught Elvis, Master Khang Ree.
28:32 There was a scene in the script that has more of a wrapup to the story, but the director opted not to film it. He knew the ending they had was perfect. Although they did do a few pickup shots of closeups of Pat Morita. The wrapup scene was saved for Part II and opens that film.
Fun story about the ending: They had written more to be filmed, but the director got the last shot of Miyagi reacting to Daniel's victory and told everyone "I have my movie, that's it." They took the extra parts from the script and that's how the 2nd film opens. I really like the second movie, the third is kinda bananas but not horrible. Cobra Kai, the show, is excellent. The vibe is similar yet different. It's a great throwback. Lots of returning actors. Big fan.
I have nothing but great memories of Karate Kid II; it was one of about three films my HS had German-dubbed versions of. Whenever my HS German teacher was hung over (which wasn’t rare…), we knew it was time for 50 min of Back to the Future or Karate Kid II. Good times… 😂
Ralph Macchio was on the Outsiders and other movies before this. This one made him a huge star. He kind of dropped out for a bit, but now there is a series called Cobra Kai that picks up this story years later and he's back, along with Johnny. There is also a theory that Daniel is actually the bully here which is kind of funny.
21:58 somebody is definitely gonna clip that up... oh simone 🤣 the karate kid is a an absolute right of passage growing up for certain generations, still holds up well today
Omg. I'm laughing so much at George's comment: "Man who drops watch in toilet has shitty time." 🤣 🤣 I can't wait to see Simone's reaction to when Mr Myagi gets drunk and Daniel finds out about his family.
I may have misinterpreted, but, it sounds to me like you didn't recognize... Daniel is the same actor (Ralph Macchio) as played one of the defendants in My Cousin Vinnie! This is one of the great films of my youth! You *MUST* do Karate Kid 2! It's one of those rare instances where the sequel is as good or better than the 1st! KKIII is worth watching, especially if you're going to do Cobra Kai, which I *HIGHLY* recommend!! Cobra Kai is an awesome series! As far as the Hillary Swank film, "The Next Karate Kid," sure, if you wanna, but, it's not required viewing by any means!
Mr. Miyagi is one of my favourite movie characters. ♥ I highly recommend watching at least KK2. Watch KK3 for context (it's not bad) if you plan to watch Cobra Kai, which is incredibly well done.
Karate Kid 2 is a brilliant film, more I think for the Mr Miyagi storyline than for Daniel's journey which feels somewhat copy pasted from this one. Then Karate Kid 3, wow. The lesson Daniel learns in that one was powerful. After that, the entire COBRA KAI series picks up in modern times and is actually phenomenal. A must watch after seeing these films. I barely remember the Hillary Swank one. But it was the final appearance of the Mr. Miyagi character and I remember thinking it was ok. The remake was also ok, even though it's Jackie Chan teaching Jaden Smith to use Kung Fu which makes keeping the franchise name kinda silly.
Part 2 picks up right after this. Originally the beginning of Part 2 was part of the script for Part 1, though it was cut and not filmed until Part 2, so at least in the original script it was not that abrupt. Also, when you mentioned how old the movie is and how you weren't even born yet when it came out, man did I feel old.
I was born in 1971 and started to listen to heavy metal rock since 1987 (of course after the Peter Cetera's The Glory of Love), and I just found out a lot of RU-vidrs thought some heavy metal classics from over 35 years ago were too violent. I feel old.
You guys didn't seem to remember Ralph Macchio from "My Cousin Vinny." He was the cousin....of Vinny. :) He was kind of typecast by these movies, but recently, he's been the Cobra Kai series. As others have mentioned, he was in "Crossroads" which was a pretty good flick.
Definitely must watch part 2 (no spoilers), you will understand then. (Hillary Swank movie was the 4th, tried to continue the story but not so successful.) Story of Japanese Americans labelled as enemies hits home hard in Hawaii. George Takei (Sulu of Star Trek) was also sent to a camp during the war. The Medal Daniel held in his hand (CMOH Congressional Medal of Honor) is the Highest Award in the U.S. Military, most being awarded posthumously for exceptional valor. Please research the 442nd Regiment 100th Infantry Battalion of WWII, the highest decorated unit in the war, with many casualties.
Like Rocky there was more filmed but in the editting they felt it was the right place to end at the end of the fight. The beginning of Karate Kid 2 is actually the original end of Karate Kid.
The scene where Miyagi gets drunk is why Pat Morita got an Oscar nomination. The anguish and sorrow is palpable and Daniel being there is the catalyst that elevates their relationship from teacher/student to more of a father/son one. It gets a lot of flack but the remake with Jaxkie Chan has a similar scene and it makes the rest of the movie worth the watxh.
The idiots at the studio wanted to cut that drinking scene because it supposedly slowed the movie down. Ridiculous. The director fought for it to stay in.
This movie was responsible for me being called 'Daniel-san' by everyone throughout elementary school. It also conditioned me at a young age to expect to be bullied mercilessly once I got into high school.
Golf’nStuff is still open today. When it was closed middle of the week several years ago we joked it might be about Karate Kid. Turns out they were filming Cobra Kai.
There was a scene that was meant to come after the tournament win, involving a face-off between the two teachers. It ended up getting cut from the movie, but was used to open Karate Kid part 2.
Okay, so I think by law you now have to react to 2, 3, 4, and the whole of Cobra Kai. And you were asking whether Cobra Kai was any good. It’s awesome. It truly gets it absolutely right between making something fresh and new for a new generation while also being a complete nostalgiafest; and in recognising the inherent silliness of its premise while never feeling like it’s mocking itself or not taking the drama or characters seriously. It is 100% the best example of “we’re doing a continuation 30 years later”. It has no right to be as good as it is and, fun in a cheesy way though they are, watching Cobra Kai is in and of itself a fantasic reason to watch the sequels. Everybody that I’ve seen watch it, young or old, has said that it’s excellent and far exceeded their expectations.
I'm sure the ending had more footage, but the movie already had a 2 hrs & 6 min running time, and the theaters liked a shorter running time on movies, so they could show it more times a day.
Ralph Macchio was also in the 1986 _"Crossroads,"_ about a young man who leaves classical music school to chase a blues guitar legend. It's an *_outstanding_* piece of work with a finale that is hard to top.
FUN FACT: Eternally-youthful Ralph Macchio was actually seven years older than Pat Morita when this film was made. That boy sleeps in a pool of moisturizer. ;-)
Mr. Miyagi's backstory has him having served in the 442nd Infantry Regiment during World War 2 (and earning the Medal of Honor during his service). Worth a bit of research into that unit, along with the American internment of people of Japanese descent during the war.
The 442d Infantry Regiment was made up entirely of Japanese-American soldiers, many of whose families were interned at home while they fought, just like in the movie. The 442d became, and remains to this day, the most decorated unit in the history of the US Army in any war, showing that there as no lack of bravery or patriotism among the Japanese-Americans who served. I always thought someone should make a movie about it.
I wish you guys would continue the Rocky franchise. I immediately thought of those movies at the end and George beat me to it by mentioning the end of part 1. Great review/reaction as always from you two!!!
Much like the Rambo franchise, I would love to see a prequel to this movie. Miyagi had a really eventful life following the events of this movie. I would love to see a miniseries showing his early life in Okinawa, immigrating to the US, his wife, the interment camps, fighting in WW2 and losing his wife and child. And of course, him learning martial arts. It would be a great story if done right.
