In 1976 John G. Avildsen directed Rocky, film that became the ultimate story of underdog beating the odds, essential part of popular culture and start of long-lasting and successful media franchise. Eight years later he repeated the same feat with teen martial arts film The Karate Kid.
Protagonist, played by Ralph Macchio, is Daniel LaRusso, 17-year old boy from New Jersey who is moving with his mother Lucille (played by Randee Heller) to Los Angeles. Unlike his mother, who is enthusiastic about climate and beaches, he is initially unhappy with everything about his new home. The only exception seems to be Ali Mills (played by Elisabeth Shue), good-looking cheerleader with whom he attends high school and who takes romantic interest in him. This, however, proves to be source of conflict with Johnny Lawrence (played by William Zabka), Ali’s former boyfriend who uses every opportunity to beat and harass Daniel with the help of his friends who are studying karate at fascist-like dojo led by authoritarian Vietnam War veteran John Kreese (played by Martin Kove). During one of such incidents Daniel is rescued by Mr. Miyagi (played by Pat Morita), elderly maintenance attendant who defeats Johnny and his cohorts with surprising display of martial arts skills. Miyagi later approaches Kreese in order to defuse the situation but Kreese insists on Johnny and Daniel settling their scores while agreeing to do so at the karate tournament. Miyagi has two months to teach Daniel his skills before the final showdown.
Apart from having the same director, there are a lot of similarities between Rocky in this film. Just like Sylvester Stallone’s script from earlier film, The Karate Kid was based on script with autobiographic elements. Its author Robert Mark Kamen was, just like the protagonist, beaten by bullies and afterwards took interest in martial arts to defend himself. Like Rocky, this film also features music soundtrack written by Bill Conti. Like previous film, this one also ends in final contest during which protagonist triumphs over adversity and wins back his dignity. Inevitable comparisons would also point towards major differences. Rocky was made in bleak 1970s, took place in cold and decaying Philadelphia and had as protagonist a grown man whose best days had been obviously behind him. The Karate Kid was, on the other hand, made in much more optimistic 1980s, set in sunny California and featured teenage protagonist whose best days were clearly ahead of him.
While the script made the plot conclusion quite predictable, it was the way the story unfolds that allows Avildsen to show his skill. With more than two hours of running time, The Karate Kid looks little bit too long for teen film, but this allows better character exposition and plot building. The protagonist is, especially at the beginning, anything but perfect and displays lack of proper judgment and short temper that would often get him into unnecessary trouble. Ralph Macchio proves to be very effective in this role because, partly due to youthful looks and partly due to his skinny physique, creates both sympathy among the audience and portrays Daniel as someone most of the audience could identify with. William Zabka also does good job as his opponent and very realistically displays his moral realignment at the very end. Elisabeth Shue in her first film role is also good although script, in an attempt to use her as more than just pretty face, burdens her with upper class background adding cliches that were supposed to serve as some sort of commentary on the deepening class divisions in Reagan’s America. But the most impressive performance is given by Pat Morita, comedian who took the role of elderly exotic sage very seriously and played it with great deal of gravitas and realism. The script wisely made Mr. Miyagi human in a moving scene when he gets drunk remembering tragically deceased wife and shameful chapter of US history when Japanese Americans were brought into concentration camps during WW2. This performance, which was later nominated for “Oscar”, elevated this film from its presumed status of aspiring summer blockbuster. Although some of the elements of the film, namely pop hits as part of soundtrack (with “Cruel Summer” by Bananarama being the most recognisable) make this film slightly dated and somewhat too obvious in pandering to teen and young audience, The Karate Kid looks very good after even after many decades. It isn’t surprising that Avildsen, Macchio and Morita got reunited for two new sequels and that Macchio and Zabka currently play middle-aged versions of their respective characters in highly regarded television series Cobra Kai.
RATING: 7/10 (++)
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