Comments on: At 25, ‘The Karate Kid’ Still Packs a Punch

By: Karate Kid Turns 25 | Midnight Blue Says

Karate Kid Turns 25 | Midnight Blue Says — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:06:58 +0000

[...] how time flies…this week is the 25th anniversary of the release of the classic summer blockbuster – The Karate [...]

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:19:05 +0000

I just finished re-watching this movie because of this great review! I'm 31, and I've seen Karate Kid before, but I forgot how well-rounded and good it is. Over time, it's known for it's phrases ("Sweep the leg!") and cheesy 80s music, but it's one of those rare "teen" films that holds up over time. I loved the extras on the Special Edition DVD. Kreese is one of the more memorable bad guys in film history, amazing since he's only in the film for a few scenes.

Great, great review. We all need a Mr. Miyagi in our lives!!

By: dan_hughes

dan_hughes — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:27:44 +0000

"If do right, can be no defense." Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:49:47 +0000

"Really, the only problem with it is that Miyagi really should speak English better after 40-some years in America. "

He should.

On the other hand, my wife's aunt immigrated here 49 years ago – and she can't speak more than a few dozen words of English. She prefers Korean and has always managed to get by.

Brian

By: tublecane

tublecane — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:41:21 +0000

"Also, as a martial artist (since 1975), I can't stand the ridiculousness of that stupid 'crane' stance which the kid used throughout the film. It's just unbearably false, foolish, etc."

But it looks cool, which is the point.

By: tublecane

tublecane — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:37:35 +0000

"if anything, the racial politics of Ali v. Frazier were far nastier than a simple question of white and black boxing fans backing 'their' guy"

Agreed. Internecine conflicts can be the nastiest of all. Just look at communists and fascists.

I was just saying the racial politics were different. Apollo exploits racial tensions to promote the fight in "Rocky," but not by attacling the white power structure, or saying he was going to take out the stress of centuries of slavery and Jim Crow on Rocky's face. It's subtler than that. He perceives that white fans get tired of watching black guys fight eachother. That they want to root for "one of their own," and that they'll do so even if it's a bum without a prayer of winning.

By: tublecane

tublecane — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:30:36 +0000

"Actually, Ali agreed to the fight because he thought Frazier was washed up"

If true, he was arrogant or foolish or both. Then again, he underestimated the guy in the first place, so no big surprise. If it were me, I might be wary of the first guy who ever beat me. Foreman notwithstanding, since, as we all know, different fighters match up differently.

I feel I should add that in addition to Frazier and Wepner, there is also the rather obvious inspiration of Rocky Marciano, what with the name, the Italian heritage, the "great white hope" aura, and the fighting style.

By: Retro Hound

Retro Hound — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:07:37 +0000

I guess I'm too young to have ever thought of The Karate Kid as a rip off of anything, certainly not Rocky. It seemed totally new and original to me. Of course, that was 25 years ago.

By: Gyro

Gyro — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:41:23 +0000

Not that it means anything in the movie. I believe he was played by Steve McQueen son.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:13:41 +0000

Love the movie… I hated the start of the sequel though. Kind of made the first one seem less, like the Matrix sequels.