The classic film that would unsuspectingly launch an entire new generation of fans through a YouTube show, which later was saved by Netflix and turned into a pop culture phenomenon. Of course, I’m talking about The Karate Kid. The original. A film you wouldn’t expect to be nominated for an Academy Award, but actually got Pat Morita a nomination for his iconic Mr. Miyagi performance. An unlikely film to stand the test of time, but it has.
The Karate Kid is about a rising Karate star named Johnny (William Zappa) who studies at the top dojo in the area, Cobra Kai, and is trying to reconcile with his girlfriend (Elisabeth Shue). Then, this kid from Jersey shows up, totally ruining his mojo, and threatening to take the thing most important to him. The 1st place trophy at the local Karate championship. Can Johnny beat this young Jersey upstart?
Of course, he’ll have to Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy.
That’s not really what the movie is about, but if you’re watching it from Johnny’s perspective it is.From Daniel’s (Ralph Macchio) perspective, it’s about standing up to a bully, and learning how to wax a car.
This is a film I fully acknowledge is a classic. I’ve seen this before. I’m sure I’ve even seen this more than once. I just don’t have that deep love for this film. Truthfully, I didn’t really love this series until Cobra Kai, which is giving me new perspective on the films. That, plus the audio description track from motion Picture Solutions, written and narrated by Sonya Castello Blanco, marking my first time with audio description. And, the 2024 lens, thinking about the content of the film, and how we have evolved over time puts this into even more perspective.
I like William Zapka’s Johnny on Cobra Kai, because he’s written in a way that makes him a complicated and relatable lead character with lots of growth. That being said, he’s dangerously walking a fine line between redeemable and irredeemable in the movie as Johnny. his behavior toward his ex-girlfriend is incredibly problematic, and he comes across as a future domestic abuse violater.
But, the 80’s were their own time, and Johnny is not intended to be a relatable person. You are supposed to not like him, tht’s the whole point. It works. The audio description is solid, and I truly spent most of the film waiting for that final fight and that crane kick.
So, regardless of your dojo alliance, celebrate 40 years of The Karate Kid, just in time for the launch of the final season of Cobra Kai later this month.
Final Grade: A-
