The Karate Kid - Movie Review

The Karate Kid is about a young man named Daniel LaRusso who is a new comer to the land of Residence in Los Angeles. In the story he is bullied by the students of Cobra Kai dojo but he finds a kind sensei and mentor in Mr. Miyagi. In his training with the new sensei, Mr. Miyagi, Daniel gets not only a lesson in karate but also importance of life. Daniel rises to the final round of the film where the ultimate battle in a karate tournament occurs. This makes it afford humor and gravity in its narrative, which is an accurate depiction of the coming-of-age process. The relationship between Miyagi and his pupil Daniel also adds more color to the movie and also deepen the tone of the story.

Ralph Macchio who plays Daniel, does justice to his role as an ailing young man with a dream. Wise, funny and extraordinary in his portrayal of Mr. Miyagi, Pat Morita succeeds in creating an interesting and creative pair with Ralph Macchio. Elisabeth Shue and William Zabka also shine brightly in the film, contributing memorable dimensions to the supporting parts. His direction controls rhythm and pacing well and it feels close to Daniel’s emotional and stress arch.

The film has an incredible choice of music – ‘You’re The Best’ by Joe Esposito BOOSTS every film with good uplifting music. Bill Conti has complemented the movie with sept music which adds to the uplifting spirit of the characters and to the overall experience of the film.

The contribution of James Crabe through the cinematography of the film is worth noting where he captures Southern California preparing to train and the tension that arises with preparations for the tournament. The visual storytelling complements the films themes of growth and resilience.

The production design authentically recreates the 1980s suburban setting, with attention to cultural details like Mr. Miyagis bonsai garden, which symbolizes peace and dedication, enhancing the films aesthetic value.

While not reliant on special effects, the films choreography and fight scenes are executed with precision and realism, providing a sense of authenticity to the martial arts sequences.

Edited by Walt Mulconery and Bud S. Smith, the films seamless transitions maintain narrative clarity and pace. The movie editing contributes to the thrilling narrative, especially in the tournament sequences, which make it more impactful.

The pace of the movie is also set for the most part well, with Daniel’s development as a character and his training well-paced. This pacing lets the viewer begin to care about what happens to Daniel and the people in his life.

This prove to be a good type of dialog because they are wise and have humor in it as seen in the dialog between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi. Cliché phrases like ‘wax on, wax off’ have become part of common vernacular proving the movie’s decades-long impact.

Overall ‘The Karate Kid’ is mostly successful, although some may have thought that script development of the antagonists is not complete, they are merely bullies. However, it can be argued that reliance on the typical clichéd idea of an underdog may not work well for every consumer. These aspects though are hidden behind emotions and great performances of the movie.

In fact, people who will be watching ‘The Karate Kid ‘ will feel like overcoming the world as they are driven by emotions and good performance. The themes of aidan turning away his previous mentor and the triumph of the underdog remain timeless, thus making the movie more relevant and fascinating, expressing the feeling of the eighties and depicting the art of karate.