What was karate kid about

Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi Noriyuki "Pat" Morita , an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate and preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.

John G. Jerry Weintraub. Robert Mark Kamen. Feb 1, Karate Kid. Ralph Macchio Daniel LaRusso. Pat Morita Mr. Kesuke Miyagi. Elisabeth Shue Ali Mills. Randee Heller Lucille Larusso. Martin Kove John Kreese. William Zabka Johnny Lawrence. Chad McQueen Dutch. Tony O'Dell Jimmy. Ron Thomas Bobby. Rob Garrison Tommy. Israel Juarbe Freddy Fernandez.

William Bassett Mr. Larry B. Scott Jerry. Juli Fields Susan. Dana Andersen Barbara. Frank Burt Avalon Chucky. Jeff Fishman Billy. Ken Daly Chris. Tom Fridley Alan. Pat E. Johnson Referee. Avildsen Director. Louis Executive Producer. Jerry Weintraub Producer. Bill Conti Original Music. James Crabe Cinematographer. Avildsen Film Editor. Walt Mulconery Film Editor. Pennie DuPont Casting.

Bonnie Timmermann Casting. William J. Cassidy Production Design. John Anderson Set Decoration. Richard Bruno Costume Designer. Issues of class, race, teen romance, and even war are explored in this coming-of-age tale, where karate is a metaphor for life.

Add your rating See all 25 parent reviews. Add your rating See all 75 kid reviews. The cool guys in school drive expensive convertibles and take karate so seriously that they're more than happy to beat Daniel silly again and again.

Daniel's one pretty friend Ali Elisabeth Shue is unfortunately also the ex-girlfriend of Daniel's chief bully, blackbelt-champion Johnny William Zabka. Unable to adequately defend himself, Daniel turns to his apartment's Okinawan super, Mr. Miyagi Pat Morita , for help. Miyagi agrees to teach Daniel karate -- but in his own, unique way. After some unorthodox training waxing cars, sanding floors, painting fences, catching flies , Miyagi convinces Johnny's aggressive karate instructor Martin Kove to make his pupils back off This movie isn't a slick, angsty coming-of-age drama, but there's so much to just enjoy about it.

Shue's Ali is sweet -- especially because she doesn't mind Daniel's working-class background -- but the teens' romance is filler for the central relationship in the movie: that of Daniel and Mr. Not many movies can make multi-generational friendships seem authentic, but Macchio and the late Morita managed to achieve a closeness that was believably touching. When Daniel tells Mr. Miyagi "You're my best friend," it's not awkward -- it's true. Daniel and Mr.

Miyagi are a more relatable Luke and Obi Wan or Harry and Dumbledore, and it's that archetypal teacher-hero dynamic that ultimately makes The Karate Kid a winner. If you say "wax on! Like Ferris Bueller's Day Off or Dirty Dancing , this is just one of those special, mid-'80s classics from which fans can quote countless scenes. And despite some dated details the big hair, the track suits, the funny-looking cars and wardrobe , the story holds up remarkably well, because Daniel is a high-school Everyman.

He's not Gossip Girl rich or Zac Efron handsome or extraordinarily gifted in any way; he's just a new kid in town who's willing to train hard, actually get to know an older Japanese man most teenage guys would have made fun of, and better himself in the process. Oh, and he does a killer job at winning the girl, the championship, and the hearts of moviegoers everywhere. Families can talk about whether Daniel is the stereotypical "new boy in town" in The Karate Kid.

How does he feel about starting over in a completely new place? How does Daniel's relationship with Mr. Miyagi change both of their lives? This is at its root, an underdog story. What other movies fit into this genre?

What are some similarities between the main characters' journeys? Who helps them? Who are their rivals? How do class and financial status affect Daniel's place in the high-school hierarchy?

Ali's country-club parents treat Daniel shabbily. Kids: How do you treat people from different backgrounds or those who are new in town? How do the characters in The Karate Kid demonstrate self-control , perseverance , and courage? Why are these important character strengths?

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Thank you for your support. Our ratings are based on child development best practices. We display the minimum age for which content is developmentally appropriate. The star rating reflects overall quality. Learn how we rate. Parents' Ultimate Guide to I was completely wrong. The friends come from different worlds. An old guy named Miyagi Pat Morita is the Japanese janitor in their apartment building. When Daniel starts to date the former girlfriend of the toughest kid in the senior class, the kid starts pounding on Daniel's head on a regular basis.

Daniel tries to fight back, but this is a Southern California kid, and so of course he has a black belt in karate. Enter Mr. Miyagi, who seems to be a harmless old eccentric with a curious hobby: He tries to catch flies with chopsticks. It turns out that Miyagi is a karate master, a student not only of karate fighting but of the total philosophy of the martial arts.

He agrees to take Daniel as his student. And then begins the wonderful center section of "The Karate Kid," as the old man and the kid from Jersey become friends. Miyagi's system of karate instruction is offbeat, to say the least. He puts Daniel to work shining cars, painting fences, scrubbing the bottoms of pools. Daniel complains that he isn't learning karate, he's acting as free labor.