Classic 80s Movie: “The Karate Kid”

Today’s Classic 80s Movie guest post comes from Daryl Powell.

Movie Title: The Karate Kid

Year: 1984

Writers: Robert Mark Kamen

Lead Actors: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita

Director: John G. Avildsen

Plot Summary: A handyman/martial arts master agrees to teach a bullied boy karate and shows him that there is more to the martial art than fighting.

Why I Think This Is A Classic 80s Movies: Robert Kamen took a simple story with a powerful message and made a great feel good movie about an underdog. A classic movie has the ability to change culture, and things like “wax on, wax off” and “crane technique” did just that.

My Favorite Moment In The Movie: Daniel has had it with Miyagi and his “teaching” and he confronts him.

My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie:

Daniel: Hey, what kind of belt do you have?
Miyagi: Canvas. JC Penny, $3.98. You like?
Daniel: (laughs) No, I meant…
Miyagi: In Okinawa, belt mean no need rope to hold up pants. (laughs; then seriously) Daniel-san… (taps head) karate here. (taps heart) karate here. (taps his belt) Karate never here. Understand?

Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie: The Karate Kid, like most underdog movies, is about respect. In addition to Daniel’s journey keep an eye out for the other character’s journeys.

Johnny (William Zabka) thinks Daniel has disrespected him by stealing his girlfriend. Daniel’s mother moves out west for a better life and winds up quitting her new job for a manager’s position because the position and benefits are more respectable. Miyagi is a fallen mentor, emotionally damaged from his past, as evidenced by his cold, almost alien first encounter with Daniel. It is the respect between him and Daniel and their father/son style relationship that allows him to become emotionally whole by the end of the movie.

Thanks, Daryl! To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!

Tomorrow: Another Classic 80s Movie!

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