The Karate Kid (1984)

Director:

John G. Avildsen

Writer:

Robert Mark Kamen (written by)

Release Date:

22 June 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Only the 'Old One' could teach him the secrets of the masters.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Karate | Bully | Fight | Apartment | Master

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Ralph Macchio	...	Daniel Larusso
Pat Morita	...	Mr. Kesuke Miyagi (as Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita)
Elisabeth Shue	...	Ali Mills
Martin Kove	...	John Kreese
Randee Heller	...	Lucille Larusso
William Zabka	...	Johnny Lawrence
Ron Thomas	...	Bobby Brown
Rob Garrison	...	Tommy
Chad McQueen	...	Dutch
Tony O'Dell	...	Jimmy
Israel Juarbe	...	Freddy Fernandez
William Bassett	...	Mr. Mills
Larry B. Scott	...	Jerry
Juli Fields	...	Susan
Dana Andersen	...	Barbara

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Australia:PG | UK:12 (re-rating) (2005)

Filming Locations:

19223 Saticoy Street, Reseda, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Delphi Films

Trivia:

Elisabeth Shue's second movie. The first movie was Somewhere, Tomorrow.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): At the part where Ali trips the members of the Cobra Kai at the Halloween dance, if you watch closely you can see the one Cobra Kai crack a smile as he falls for a brief second. Watch the one on the far right side of the screen as he falls on the other.

Quotes:

Ring Announcer: [Daniel has just scored the winning point with a kick to Johnny's chin, thus winning the championship... ring announcer prepares to present trophy] OUR NEW CHAMPION!
Johnny Lawrence: [with bloodied face taking trophy from ring announcer and presenting it himself to Daniel] You're all right, LaRusso! Good match!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "How I Met Your Mother: The Stinsons (#4.15)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

NO SHELTER

The late Pat Morita, karate kid man

Metaphorically speaking, the late Pat Morita is the real life Daniel-san. Mr. Morita was humbled by the following incidents in his life: interned during WWI, suffered from a weak spine, short in stature and a stereotypical Japanese, nicknamed "Hip Nip" and casted for mainly comically roles in American TV and cinema. As if through divine intervention, the role of Mr. Miyagi was created, a natural and defining role for Pat Morita. Like the main character Daniel-san, who earned dignity and respect through karate, so too did Pat Morita earn dignity and respect as an actor for his role as Mr. Miyagi. The Miyagi character is a humble, soft-spoken, respected, Asian sensei (teacher.) He is humble not because he is weak and avoids being some bully's victim, but because he knows he holds the fate of all who bullies him in his hands. So it was that Pat Morita finally achieved through the character of Mr. Miyagi in the Karate Kid series what Daniel-san always gains at the end of each movie: dignity, respect, and honor to compensate for all the times of abuse, suffering, and humiliation.