The Karate Kid

June 22nd, 1984



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The Karate Kid

The Karate KidStill of Pat Morita in The Karate KidStill of Elisabeth Shue and Ralph Macchio in The Karate Kid

Plot
A handyman/martial arts master agrees to teach a bullied boy karate and shows him that there is more to the martial art than fighting.

Release Year: 1984

Rating: 7.0/10 (54,981 voted)

Director: John G. Avildsen

Stars: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue

Storyline
Daniel and his mother move from New Jersey to California. She has a wonderful new job, but Daniel quickly discovers that a dark haired Italian boy with a Jersey accent doesn't fit into the blond surfer crowd. Daniel manages to talk his way out of some fights, but he is finally cornered by several who belong to the same karate school. As Daniel is passing out from the beating he sees Miyagi, the elderly gardener leaps into the fray and save him by outfighting half a dozen teenagers. Miyagi and Daniel soon find out the real motivator behind the boys' violent attitude in the form of their karate teacher. Miyagi promises to teach Daniel karate and arranges a fight at the all-valley tournament some months off. When his training begins, Daniel doesn't understand what he is being shown. Miyagi seems more interested in having Daniel paint fences and wax cars than teaching him Karate.

Cast:
Ralph Macchio - Daniel Larusso
Pat Morita - Mr. Kesuke Miyagi (as Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita)
Elisabeth Shue - Ali Mills
Martin Kove - John Kreese
Randee Heller - Lucille Larusso
William Zabka - Johnny Lawrence
Ron Thomas - Bobby Brown
Rob Garrison - Tommy
Chad McQueen - Dutch
Tony O'Dell - Jimmy
Israel Juarbe - Freddy Fernandez
William Bassett - Mr. Mills
Larry B. Scott - Jerry
Juli Fields - Susan
Dana Andersen - Barbara

Taglines: Only the 'Old One' could teach him the secrets of the masters.

Release Date: 22 June 1984

Filming Locations: 19223 Saticoy Street, Reseda, Los Angeles, California, USA

Opening Weekend: $5,031,753 (USA) (24 June 1984) (931 Screens)

Gross: $90,815,558 (USA) (1 January 1985)



Technical Specs

Runtime:



Did You Know?

Trivia:
The last spin kick that Daniel is hit with before he is saved by Mr. Miyagi actually hit Ralph Macchio and hurt him.

Goofs:
Continuity: When Johnny first fights Daniel at the beach, Johnny pushes the radio against Daniel's chest with the speakers facing Daniel, but as Daniel falls the speakers are facing Johnny.

Quotes:
Daniel: [throwing his bicycle into a dumpster after being beaten up] This damn bike! I hate this bike. I hate this frickin' bike! Stupid bike.
Lucille Larusso: Daniel! What's the matter? Why did you throw your bike away?
Daniel: Because I felt like it.
Lucille Larusso: Please look at me when I'm talking to you.
[sees Daniel's bruised face]
Lucille Larusso: Oh my god!
Daniel: Mom.
Lucille Larusso: Can you tell me what's going on and don't tell me about another bike accident?
Daniel: What do you want to hear mom?
Lucille Larusso: I want to hear the truth!
[...]



User Review

not just a teen movie

Rating: 10/10

A lot of posts focus on the 'coming of age' aspect of this movie, but the very overlooked part is the role it played in helping to alleviate many of the stereotypes a very Asian phobic America was after WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

They make a point of showing Miyagi in a US Army Uniform--and a War Hero-- and makes references to detention camps Miyagi's family was sent to (a horribly dark period in American history)...where Miyagi's wife was being sent (pregnant) and where she and his unborn child (son) ultimately die during childbirth. There are also a few scenes in which ethnic slurs are used by rednecks toward Miyagi.

Taking this into light, and taking the fact that Daniel has no father that we know of in this movie, the name Daniel-san (sounds like Daniel-SON) helps demonstrate a father son bond that is overlooked. Much of the conversation between Daniel and Miyagi is about Miyagi's great father in Okinawa, because Miyagi has acquired all this knowledge and wants to share it. Daniel substitutes for the son Miyagi never had and Miyagi substitutes for the father Daniel doesn't have.

Holiday BlockBusters at AllPoster!
Holiday BlockBusters at AllPoster!


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