56. Karate Kid

DIRECTED BY JOHN G AVILDSEN

WRITTEN BY ROBERT MARK KAMEN

STARRING: RALPH MACCHIO, PAT MORITA, ELIZABETH SHUE

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 22, 1984

AGE RECOMMENDED: 6 AND UP

When I think in this movie, I don’t think in karate or the famous quotes of the movie. I think in cousin wall, she was 12 or 13 and her walls were cover completely with Ralph Macchio posters. Ralph Macchio was the teenager idol and example of many ones to come, nobody know what happened with him. Also this movie gave Pat Morita the role he played until he died, the wise old master.

This movie cause a complete revolution world wide Karate dojos star blooming all over , and everybody was learning karate.  The movie as most the good sport movies is the story of an underdog.

This movie is a complete hit whit kids, he will love Daniel and all the wacky exercises he do with Mr. Miygagi

PLOT

Daniel LaRusso moves with his mother to California. Their apartment’s handyman is an odd immigrant named Mr. Miyagi.

Daniel meets Ali Mills, but earns the anger of her ex-boyfriend, Johnny Lawrence, a karate student. Johnny is the best student at the Cobra Kai dojo, where he is taught an unethical, vicious form of karate. Daniel knows some karate from books, and from a few months’ experience at the Y, but is the victim of repeated beatings from Johnny and his friends.

When Miyagi witnesses one of the beatings, he intervenes and single-handedly defeats all five Cobra Kai with ease. Awed, Daniel asks Miyagi to be his teacher. Miyagi refuses, but agrees to go with Daniel to the Cobra Kai dojo in order to resolve the conflict. They confront the sensei, who sneers at the concepts of mercy and restraint. Kreese and Miyagi agree to a match between Johnny and Daniel in two months’ time at the “All Valley Karate Tournament”, where Cobra Kai students can fight Daniel on equal terms. Miyagi also requests that the bullying stop while Daniel trains. Kreese orders his students to leave Daniel alone, but threatens that if Daniel does not show up for the tournament, the harassment will resume and Miyagi will also become a target.

Miyagi becomes Daniel’s teacher. He begins Daniel’s training by having him perform laborious chores such as waxing cars, sanding a wooden floor, refinishing a fence, and painting Miyagi’s house. Each chore is accompanied with a specific movement, such as clockwise/counter-clockwise hand motions. Daniel eventually feels frustrated, believing he has learned nothing of karate. When he expresses his frustration, Miyagi reveals that Daniel has been learning defensive blocks through muscle memory learned by performing the chores.

As Daniel’s training continues, his bond with Miyagi becomes closer.  Through the teaching, Daniel learns not only karate but also important life lessons such as the importance of balance, reflected by the belief that martial arts training is as much about training the spirit as the body. Daniel applies the life lessons that Miyagi has taught him to strengthen his relationship with Ali.

At the tournament, Daniel surprises everyone by reaching the semi-finals. Johnny advances to the finals, scoring three unanswered points against a highly skilled opponent. Kreese instructs Bobby Brown, one of his more compassionate students and the least vicious of Daniel’s tormentors, to disable Daniel with an illegal attack to the knee. Bobby reluctantly does so, severely injuring Daniel and getting disqualified in the process. As Daniel writhes in pain on the ground, Bobby profusely apologizes before he is pulled away. Daniel is taken to the locker room and checked out, with the physician determining that he can not continue. Although Miyagi assures him he has already proven himself, Daniel believes that if he does not continue, his tormentors will have gotten the best of him. He persuades Miyagi to use a pain suppression technique to allow him to finish the tournament. As Johnny is about to be declared the winner by default, Daniel hobbles into the ring.

Kreese directs Johnny to repeat unethical moves to achieve victory. Despite the moves, Daniel gets up each time. Ultimately Daniel and Johnny are tied. Daniel, barely able to stand, assumes the “Crane Kick” stance and delivers a blow to Johnny’s chin, winning the tournament. Johnny, having gained newfound respect for his adversary, takes Daniel’s trophy  and presents it to Daniel himself. Miyagi looks on proudly as Daniel celebrates his victory.

We make sacred pact. I promise teach karate to you, you promise learn. I say, you do, no questions.