The Karate Kid (1984)

Directed by John G. Avildsen. Starring Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki “Pat” Morita, Elisabeth Shue, William Zabka, Randee Heller, Martin Kove, Ron Thomas, Chad McQueen, Rob Garrison, Tony O’Dell, Israel Juarbe. [PG]

Macchio’s Jersey kid, Daniel, moves to the Valley and befriends apartment handyman Mr. Miyagi (Morita), who agrees to teach him courage and self-confidence through karate so that he can stand up to a pack of bullies led by Zabka. A calculated crowd-pleaser that (mostly) works thanks to likable performances and a sweetness that falls just short of cloying. Avildsen’s experience directing Rocky pays off here (the formulas are very similar), but he fails to give the film much aesthetic personality or rectify the inconsistent pacing and overlength. Zabka and Kove (as an ex-Special Forces sensei whose “Way of the Fist” motto is: “strike first, strike hard, no mercy”) are old-fashioned, one-dimensional villains, but this is a piece of old-fashioned, one-dimensional entertainment. Followed by a handful of sequels, a 2010 remake, an animated television show, and a spinoff/sequel series called “Cobra Kai.” Shue’s film debut.

69/100