The Karate Kid
There is no fear in this review because The Karate Kid remains one of the greatest films ever made. Let’s sweep the leg, and revisit this 1984 classic.
PRE-GAME 🥋
Welcome back to Balls on Film! 👋🏻
Thanks to everyone who checked out the first edition of The Clubhouse. I want that section of Balls of Film to be an ever-evolving one, and I’ll be making changes going forward, based on your feedback. I’m looking forward to continuing our Ted Lasso rewatch and getting into a bunch of other sports tv shows. I’m open to any suggestions when it comes to what to watch next.
I’ve got some exciting news to share about the upcoming Friday schedule later in the post-game section too. I’ve got a special guest joining me for next week’s movie, and have been working on putting the upcoming review schedule together, based on your comments and suggestions. More on that later!
With Cobra Kai returning to Netflix for its final season, it felt like a perfect time to revisit one of my favourite movies of all time - The Karate Kid. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched it, and I’ve been looking forward to writing about it here since this newsletter was in the early planning stages.
FIRST HALF 🥋
The Karate Kid is not only one of my favourite sports movies, but one of my favourite movies of all time. I am incredibly fond of the film, the characters and the cinematic universe that’s been born from it since 1984. For me, it’s deeply-rooted in some of my most cherished childhood memories. It was one of the first movies that I can remember renting from the video store and watching over and over again with my cousin, John. We watched the film so many times that we probably knew it word-for-word. We’d draw pictures of Daniel LaRusso as kids, practice our own crane kicks, and - like many others I’m sure, even took up karate classes - all because of this film. I think I also tried to catch a fly with some chopsticks too, but with very little success.
I’m fairly certain that everyone reading this will be familiar with the plot. The Karate Kid tells the story of Daniel LaRusso, a teenager thrust into the unfamiliar territory of Southern California when his mother relocates there for work. He struggles to fit in and faces relentless torment from a gang of karate-trained bullies. Daniel finds a friend in Mr. Miyagi, a quiet and wise maintenance man at his apartment complex, who teaches him karate and prepares him to take part in an upcoming tournament. It’s here he’ll face off against the bullies from the Cobra Kai dojo.
What always strikes me about The Karate Kid is how relatable it is. Nope, we’re not all taking part in karate tournaments and being bullied by a rival dojo on a daily basis. It’s the premise of being the new person in a new situation, the nerves that come with it and the struggle of trying to fit in - it’s a situation that resonates with everyone. It’s this setup, and Ralph Macchio’s instant like-ability as Daniel that have you firmly invested in the film from the very beginning. For a cheesy 80s sports movie, Daniel is isn’t the typical underdog either. Despite being the fish-out-of-water, he’s still confident and charismatic. You get the sense that he was a fairly popular kid with tons of friends back in New Jersey, but is barely treading water trying to fit in out in California. It would have been easy to write the character as the typical loner kid who never fits in anywhere and is an instant magnet for bullies - but it would be a much less interesting story that way. What makes the setup here more effective is that Daniel’s torment simply stems from him being in a certain place at a certain time, and a chance encounter with a girl that he quickly falls for. He’s a fairly outgoing kid who still becomes a target - and it makes the bullies from Cobra Kai feel all the more intimidating. In addition, Macchio’s portrayal of Daniel is so earnest, and it perfectly captures the angst and determination of a young man trying to find his place in the world. It’s what has the viewer instantly invested in his story.
The heart and soul of the film, however, is Pat Morita’s performance as Mr. Miyagi. Morita plays the character with a quiet, unassuming wisdom and gentle humour that elevates the typical student-teacher relationship into something that feels much more moving and personal. There’s one scene in particular, where Daniel comes home to find Miyagi toasting the memory of his late wife, and recounting her death during childbirth. It’s an emotional layer of the film that I never fully appreciated during my younger, Karate Kid-obsessed childhood days. Watching now, it adds a whole other layer to depth to the character, and to the father figure role that he takes on with Daniel.
No classic 80s sports movie would be complete without memorable villains, and great supporting characters. The Karate Kid certainly delivers on that front. Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), is the archetypal 1980s high school bully, and appears to have everything Daniel lacks when it comes to popularity and karate ability. If you’ve ever seen him in the 1985 comedy Just One of the Guys, he’s pretty much the same type of bully here but with added karate skills. He’s a much more complex character than initially presented though, and his antagonistic behaviour is heavily influenced by the teachings of his sensei, John Kreese (Martin Kove) and his ‘No Mercy’ approach to teaching. In fact, despite being one of the film’s villains, Johnny is still such a beloved and well-written character that there’s a whole school of thought in Karate Kid fandom that actually sees Daniel as the real villain. Many fans regard Johnny as the misunderstood victim who lost his girlfriend Ali (Elisabeth Shue) to the new, cocky kid from Jersey. It’s a really fun plot thread that’s brilliantly explored in the tv series and can often make you look back at the events of this film in a much different way!
Going back to Kreese - he is the true villain here, and the Cobra Kai students are simply an extension of him and his anger. His toxic philosophy contrasts with the values of honour and respect taught by Mr. Miyagi, which lends weight to the film’s final showdown. This contrast, and the problematic and storied history between Kreese and his students is very nicely carried over into the Cobra Kai series, which expands on The Karate Kid universe and its history many years later. These characters and relationships feel deeper and all the more alive on rewatch, once you’ve also seen Cobra Kai. The series has quickly evolved from a fun movie spin-off that debuted on YouTube, to essential companion-piece viewing. The Karate Kid has spawned a sports movie universe quite unlike any other, and the ways in which the tv series has been able to expand upon, and peel back more and more layers of a movie released in 1984 is masterful. It’s one of the main reasons it still feels fresh to this day.
Another of the film’s strengths lies in its pacing and direction. Director John G. Avildsen builds tension and intrigue around Daniel’s training and carefully reveals Miyagi’s unorthodox training style to the viewer at the same time as its revealed to Daniel. It’s so well done, and the moment where it all clicks into place, and both we and an exhausted Daniel realise what all of those mundane tasks were actually preparing him for is joyous.
The Karate Kid zips by at such a quick pace, and every plot thread is given ample time to breathe. Whether it’s Daniel’s blooming relationship with Ali, the harsh teaching methods of Kreese and how it warps the minds of his students, Miyagi’s emotional backstory, Daniel adjusting to life in California or the karate training and tournament itself - nothing feels rushed or under-developed. It’s what makes the film’s climax so brilliant. The tournament really does have a ‘main event’ feel to it too, and is perfectly constructed - right down to the classic 80s movie rock montage to speed certain things along. The way in which the whole thing is framed, to really make the viewer feel like an audience member is so effective and adds to the tension of each fight. I wore out my VHS copy of the Karate Kid rewatching the infamous crane kick, and it still absolutely rocks just as much in 2024.
A special mention also has to go to the brilliant soundtrack, which really amplifies the film’s powerful moments. I still find myself Shazam’ing songs during certain scenes every time I rewatch it.
The Karate Kid is a feel-good, rousing and emotional sports movie that’s much more than a nostalgic trip back to the 80s. It’s a timeless tale about the power of mentorship and facing your fears that resonates just as much today. The success of Cobra Kai and the ways in which the original trilogy continues to be explored and expanded upon only emphasises this. It’s a classic sports movie underdog tale with fantastic villains, rich characters, an amazing soundtrack and exciting action. It makes for an all-time classic that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
The Karate Kid is available to stream on Netflix, and available to buy or rent on most digital platforms.
HALFTIME 🥋
Let’s take a break for halftime.
Did anyone else watch the finale of Presumed Innocent on Apple TV+? I don’t think I’ve been so utterly gripped by the finale of a television show since Severance. My jaw was on the floor! I went into this show thinking I was in for just another glossy courtroom drama, and didn’t have any expectations. It’s probably the most entertaining series I’ve watched all year.
I’m currently rewatching Gilmore Girls on Netflix. I was very late to the party with Gilmore Girls, and only watched it for the first time at the beginning of this year. My sister had been telling me to watch it for years, and after finally giving it a go, I was kicking myself for not watching it sooner. I love it. It’s since become one of those shows that’s just on in the background in our house. We usually rotate that, Frasier and Seinfeld for background noise. Anyway, the reason I bring it up is that I’ve been properly rewatching the episodes recently and there’s one thing that still sticks out to me, and it was something I also felt strongly about back when I watched it for the first time. I may ruffle some feathers with this take, but does anyone else agree that this man is the absolute worst, most insufferable character in the entire show?
If you disagree, let’s battle it out in the comments! 😆
SECOND HALF 🥋
Let’s jump into some awards and bonus content.
BEST SCENE 🏆
It’s the tournament at the end for sure, namely the fight between Daniel and Johnny. For me, it’s one of the most triumphant and exciting finales in movie history.
BEST LINE 🏆
Tommy : Get him a body bag! Yeah!!!
So dumb and totally inconsequential to the plot, but this is always the line that comes into my head when I think of The Karate Kid.
MVP AWARD 🏆
It’s Mr. Miyagi. He’s truly the heart and soul of the film.
IMDB TRIVIA HIGHLIGHT 🏆
Extras were so caught up in the tournament scene that they would boo William Zabka even when the cameras were not rolling. Zabka's mother was in the crowd and kept trying to tell people that he was actually very nice in real life.
BEST LETTERBOXD REVIEW 🏆
I genuinely laughed out loud at this.
BONUS FEATURE 💿
In this video, Ralph Macchio and William Zabka rewatch their All Valley Karate Tournament fight and share their memories and reactions.
Here’s Martin Kove telling a story about the casting of Pat Morita.
Years before Cobra Kai even hit the air, the lore of Johnny being the real victim and Daniel being the villain was hilariously used in an episode of How I Met Your Mother. Even though I’m still mad at how that show ended, I can’t not include this brilliant moment. I look back at this as the real birth of the Cobra Kai series! 😆
POST-GAME 🥋
Please remember to check out The Clubhouse if you haven’t already, and catch up on Ted Lasso for episode 2 of our rewatch next week. Episode 2 is where I knew deep down that I was going to love the show, and I can’t wait to revisit it.
I’d also like to share the upcoming Friday edition sports movie schedule with you through the next few weeks. I’ve put together a list of the next few films we’re going to watch, as you guys have been awesome with the suggestions recently. So here’s the upcoming schedule:
Friday August 2nd: I’m going to have a special guest join for this one - my cousin,
. I mentioned obsessively re-watching The Karate Kid with John when we were kids earlier in the newsletter, and I can’t wait for you guys to meet him right here next week. For those who don’t know, my cousin writes comics and his work includes And Then Emily Was Gone, Oxymoron: The Loveliest Nightmare, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #6 and Glasgow-based crime thriller Sink, all to critical acclaim. His horror anthology series Hotell has been optioned for film, with an adaptation from writer/director Elle Callahan currently in development. John is an avid pro-wrestling fan and he’ll be taking the reins next week to review Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler.Friday August 9th: We’re going to be hitting the gridiron for the first time here at Balls on Film with Friday Night Lights. I’ve had a few comments asking for this one, and I’m looking forward to finally getting to it.
Friday August 16th: We’re staying on the football field for another week with Little Giants. This one is inspired by
’s awesome feature on the best PB&J sandwiches in film, which is a must-read. Check it out below:
Friday August 23rd: I received a message from Sigmund Judge, Balls on Film reader and host of the Magic Rays of Light podcast that I mentioned this week over in The Clubhouse. He suggested BASEketball for review, and I thought it would make a nice change of pace for this point in the schedule.
On top of all that, The Clubhouse will be open every Tuesday and I’ll be bringing you more Ted Lasso and other sports-related tv. This coming Tuesday I’ll be checking out the new Simone Biles Rising docuseries on Netflix.
A packed schedule ahead indeed! Remember to let me know what you’d like to see added to the review schedule, and keep your comments coming. Discussing the movies with you guys each week is my favourite part of publishing the newsletter.
Have a great weekend. I’ll see you on Tuesday over in The Clubhouse.
~James
That letterboxd review is amazing 😂
This used to be one of my favorite films as a kid. I haven’t seen it in probably 25 years. Your review brought me back. Agree on Pat Morita.