A Look Back at the Original “Karate Kid” Movies

To coincide with the latest movie in the franchise, “Karate Kid: Legends,” I wanted to take a look at the first three movies of the series. And, even though I already revisited the 1984 classic in November for my Family Movie night series, I couldn’t leave it out for this review. So, let’s get into it!

In the 1984 classic “The Karate Kid,” Daniel moves to Southern California with his mother, but quickly finds himself the target of a group of bullies who study karate at the Cobra kai dojo.

Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi, an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself.

Myagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate and preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.

This 1984 classic is an 80s movie that shouldn’t be missed! Sure, the underdog story has been done countless times. But, this heartwarming story of mentorship between Daniel and Miyagi and its iconic scenes will still make this a beloved classic for years to come.

The Daniel LaRusso/Miyagi moments can be both humorous at times and also moving as Miyagi helps the young man find his inner strength. There are so many other iconic moments in this classic that are still very appealing after all these years, especially the training routine and the infamous final tournament.

“The Karate Kid” (1984) delivers a moving story, memorable/iconic moments and a positive message of finding your inner strength. This movie will surely continue to inspire and entertain audiences for generations to come!

In the 1986 sequel “The Karate Kid Part II,” after learning that his father is dying, karate

master Mr. Miyagi returns home to Okinawa, bringing his protege, Daniel, with him.

In Japan, Miyagi is surprised to discover that his old sweetheart, Yukie, has remained single. Meanwhile, Daniel is attracted to Yuki’s niece, Kumiko.

But romance must be put on hold while Daniel and Miyagi deal with local bullies and long-harbored grudges.

Now, while I have seen the first movie several times over the years, this was actually the first time watching these next two sequels. Now, while this doesn’t have the emotional and iconic impact of the first movie, “The Karate Kid Part II” is still a worthy, enjoyable follow up.

When it was initially released, some critics have stated that this sequel could be on the predictable side (which it can be). Besides the few predictable parts here and there, it’s still really enjoyable. One aspect I really enjoyed about this movie is that, unlike the first movie where Miyagi is a secondary character, he’s pretty much front and center for this sequel.

We also get a bit of background to the iconic character, which is a great touch since there was little known about Miyagi besides what we learned from the first movie with the death of his wife and child. “Part II” also incorporates a lot of cultural insights and offers a glimpse of Okinawan life.

This follow up also delivers a powerful message and emphasis on honor and friendship. So, “The Karate Kid Part II” is a decent sequel that you don’t want to miss! Now, it’s time to get to “Part III” - easily the weakest of the three.

In “Part III,’ Cobra Kai instructor John Kreese is still brooding over the defeat handed to him by LaRusso and Miyagi.

With his partner, Terry Silver, Kreese plans an intricate payback that involves hiring a mean-spirited ringer to rob Daniel of his title. When Miyagi refuses to train Daniel, even under threat, the boy makes the mistake of turning to Terry for guidance.

While “Part II” and “Part III” were released a few years apart, this sequel’s story picks up immediately after the 1986 movie’s conclusion. Despite a few karate/action moments scattered throughout, the third entry is definitely the weakest of the trilogy.

“Part III” pretty much just rehashes a lot of the elements from the previous movies, which made this third movie really predictable. While the first two movies are exciting and compelling, this one lacks all of that - even the tournament sequence isn’t exciting. And another thing that took me out of this one was the way over-the-top villains.

You can currently stream “The Karate Kid” and its two sequels on Hulu, while “The Next Karate Kid” and the 2010 remake can currently be streamed on Tubi.

THE KARATE KID TRIVIA (1984)

• Ralph Macchio was 22 during filming. Some of the cast did not believe him when they asked about his age.

• The yellow classic automobile that Daniel polishes in the famous "wax-on/wax-off" training scene, then later offered by Mr. Miyagi as Daniel's birthday gift, was actually given to Ralph Macchio by the producer, and he still owns it. The car is a 1948 Ford Super De Luxe.

• The studio wanted to drop the "drunk Miyagi" scene, feeling it slowed the pace down. Director John G. Avildsen argued for it and has felt it was the scene that got Pat Morita nominated for an Oscar.

• Extras were so caught up in the tournament scene that they would boo William Zabka even when the cameras were not rolling. Zabka's mother was in the crowd and kept trying to tell people that he was actually very nice in real life.

• According to Pat Morita, he is credited as Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita because the producers wanted to promote his Japanese heritage.

• Pat Morita's portrayal of Mr. Miyagi was heavily influenced by karate master Fumio Demura. Morita spent a lot of time with Demura, who doubled him for his fight scenes, and translated not only Demura's attitude towards the martial arts to the character, but also his mannerisms and speech.

• Ralph Macchio paid tribute to the late Pat Morita by calling him "My sensei" during his eulogy.

THE KARATE KID PART II TRIVIA

• Although set in Okinawa, the film was actually shot in Oahu, Hawaii. The island was chosen because of its similar climate to Japan, its large Okinawan population and the convenience of shooting on US soil.

• Work on The Karate Kid Part II (1986) started ten days after the release of The Karate Kid (1984).

• The opening scenes (Daniel in the shower, and the confrontation in the parking lot with Kreese) were in the script for The Karate Kid (1984) but contrary to urban legend never filmed. They were shot specifically for The Karate Kid Part II (1986).

• THE KARATE KID PART III TRIVIA The house where Terry lives is actually the Ennis House, a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1924. The house has been used in multiple films, but most notably as the original "House on Haunted Hill (1959)," but also in Blade Runner (1982) and Grand Canyon (1991).

• When the The Karate Kid Part III (1989) was released, Ralph Macchio was 27 years old.

• According to director/editor John G. Avildsen in a 2000 interview, he himself was no fan of this movie. He considered it a "horrible imitation of Part One", which "...will baffle those who haven't seen the first two films, and insult those who have". He agreed with star Ralph Macchio that making the picture was a miserable experience, largely because "(The screenplay) was hastily written and sloppily rewritten, which is a risky procedure at best, and for us, it was deadly".

• Creator Robert Mark Kamen said his pitch for this movie involved Mr. Miyagi waking up in olden-day China with a girl, between two warring Chinese factions, in a dreamlike story similar to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), which would explore the origins of Miyagi Family Karate. However, studio executives turned the idea down in favor of a story more in line with the first movie.