The Karate Kid

Production year: 1984

Drama PG   Running time: 2:07 

IMDB rating:   7.2     Aspect: Wide;  Languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese;  Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Thai;  Audio: DD 5.1

John G. Avildsen not only directed Rocky, he tried remaking it over the years in a dozen different ways. One of them was this popular 1984 drama about a new kid (Ralph Macchio) in town targeted by karate-wielding bullies until he gets a new mentor: the handyman (Pat Morita) from his apartment building, who teaches him self-confidence and fighting skills. The screen partnership of Macchio's motor-mouth character and Morita's reserved father figure works well, and the script allows for the younger man to develop sympathy for the painful memories of his teacher. But the film's real engine, as with Rocky, is the fighting, and there's plenty of that. Elisabeth Shue is on board as the girl the klutzy Macchio dreams of winning.

Director

Features

Audio commentary
Featurettes/Behind-The-Scenes/Documentaries

Special features

Director/Writer/Actor Audio Commentary
"The Way Of The Karate Kid" (Multi-part "Making Of" Featurette)
"Beyond The Form" Featurette
East Meets West: A Composer's Notebook
"Life Of Bonzai" Featurette
Blu Pop: Pop-up Trivia
The Karate Kid