Throwback Thursday: The Karate Kid

For today's Throwback Thursday, we're firing up the Flux Capacitor and revisiting the mid-80s, when you couldn't turn on the radio without hearing Madonna or Michael Jackson, when neon and BIG hair were the height of fashion, and when you could not go a day without hearing the phrase, "Wax-On/Wax-Off".

And speaking of Wax-On, Wax-Off...

Yep, I'm talking about The Karate Kid. Not the failed remake attempt, but the original. The one with Danielsan and Johnny and Ali-with-an-I, and, of course, the Great Mr. Miyagi. After binging all three seasons of Cobra Kai (twice!), I was inspired to revisit the movie (and its sequels) that was probably a bigger part of my childhood than Star Wars and The Goonies combined. And I've gotta say, having watched (and loved) Cobra Kai, I enjoyed the source material even more!

The story, of course, begins when Daniel, a scrawny teen with more pent-up angst than is probably considered healthy, moves across the country so his mom can start a new job. Daniel pretty much instantly angers Johnny, the ringleader of a karate-obsessed gang of bullies, when he moves in on Johnny's girlfriend, Ali. The two rivals go back and fourth, each trying to one-up the other, until the rivalry comes to a head the night of the Halloween dance. Fortunately for Daniel, a mysterious fighter comes to his rescue...and is later revealed to be Mr. Miyagi, the elderly handyman for his apartment complex. Following a confrontation at Cobra Kai, the karate dojo where Johnny and Co train under the diabolical Sensei Kreese, an arrangement is made: If Daniel somehow beats Cobra Kai's students in the upcoming tournament, he will be left in peace. If not... Well, it's Open Season on both him and Miyagi.

Karate Kid II picks up after the tournament and follows Daniel and Mr. Miyagi to Okinawa, where Miyagi pays respects to his dying father and must settle a decades-old score with an old friend-turned-enemy. Daniel's attitude gets him in trouble when he "dishonors" the nephew of Miyagi's nemesis. Of course, these fights are not refereed. And in these situations, it's life or death.

Karate Kid III brings back Kreese. After the tournament, he lost everything...and is now single-mindedly bent on getting revenge on Daniel and Miyagi, who he believes are responsible for ruining his life. This film introduces two new (and scary) villains, both of whom make Kreese seem not so bad (and that's saying something!). And now Daniel is forced back into the ring where he must defend his title, or else...

You can find all three Karate Kid movies in our DVD area. All are fun to watch and all contain characters and references that appear in the current Netflix series inspired by the films (Go on an Easter Egg hunt! It's fun!). 

--AJB