Karate Kid, The / The Karate Kid 2 / The Karate Kid 3 Review

Overall Rating

Karate Kid, The / The Karate Kid 2 / The Karate Kid 3 - This trilogy of films starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita make for great family viewing and are a good introduction for the youngsters into kung-fu. The first film is the story of a teenager, transplanted from New York to LA who meets a pretty girl but falls afoul of the school bullies, who are all karate experts. He meets a nice man who teaches him karate and helps him to win the respect of the girl and the bullies by beating them in a karate championship. In the second installment he goes with his mentor to Okinawa and helps his mentor restore his family's good name by once again having to fight for his honour. In the third installment, he is blackmailed into competing in a karate tournament and falls out with his mentor only to have to turn to a former enemy for help. When he realises it is all a conspiracy designed to destroy his honour will he convince his mentor to help him out?

While Ralph Macchio was already 27 when the final installment was filmed, he manages to pull off his role as the slightly geeky Daniel with aplomb and Pat Morita as his mentor Mr. Miyagi is inspired. The original Karate Kid is an '80's classic and should be essential viewing for all kids.