The Karate Kid Part III
by John G. Avildsen
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Actor: Martin Kove, Pat Morita, Ralph Macchio, Robyn Lively, Thomas Ian GriffithDirector: John G. Avildsen
Brand: Sony
Cinematographer: Steve Yaconelli
Editor: John Carter
Producer: Doug Seelig
Producer: Jerry Weintraub
Producer: Karen Trudy Rosenfelt
Producer: Sheldon Schrager
Writer: Robert Mark Kamen
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown); Chinese (Subtitled); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Korean (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Dubbed); Portuguese (Dubbed); Spanish (Dubbed)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 112 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-07-10
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Reviews of The Karate Kid Part III
DVD Review: Not *that* bad, but not as good as some say
Summary: 3 Stars
Karate Kid III has gotten a lot of play time on cable TV, which is where I first saw it. Not nearly as beloved as the previous two installments for a variety of reasons it's generally panned as being cartoonishly acted and using the same basic formula as it's predecessors. Ralph Macchio returns as the getting older but seldom wiser Daniel while Pat Morita resumes the role of the sagely guiding force of Mr. Miyagi.
First off, despite my 3 star rating, I actually *did* enjoy this movie. There are parts in the movie that really shine and then others that are slogged down by what can only be described as the result of over the top acting and in may ways a really weak script. It's a pretty simple plot that can be described in a single paragraph.
Daniel and Mr. Miyagi return from Okinawa (the events of which are barely mentioned) and Daniel is about to go to college. Mr. Miyagi discovers that his previous job, handyman at the apartment/motel of KK1, has essentially ceased to exist, so Daniel uses his college money to buy Mr. Miyagi a bonsai tree shop. The All-Valley Karate Tournament is due to begin again and while initially determined to participate Daniel eventually opts out so that he can help Mr. Miyagi with his shop. Meanwhile John Kreese, the villainous sensei of the Cobra Kai dojo (of the first film) loses his business and opts to move on with his life before being dissuaded by his Vietnam War buddy, Terry Silver, who happens to be some sort of free enterprise mogul with a focus on dumping hazardous waste. The two plot revenge on Daniel (and by extension Mr. Miyagi) by making him enter the tournament and adminstering an excruciating public arsebeating there.
First off, despite what anyone else has said Thomas Ian Griffith really shines as main villain Terry Silver. Despite his malicious intent the man had charisma in spades and I got a real kick out of watching him wheel and deal, and in the end found myself rather liking the guy. Say what you want, he is a man that is loyal to his friends, kind to his employees, and makes things happen, and that says a lot about him. He is able to do a real good job screwing around with Daniel's mind (which isn't that hard, really) and I found myself half pulling for him since the character of Daniel, played by Ralph Macchio, has not really developed or matured, despite this being his 3rd movie. Daniel really deserves his own paragraph, so here goes.
Daniel still flies off the deep end anytime anything happens and I find it extremely annoying that despite his having achieved peace through his karate, not to mention having the coolest sensei this side of the Pacific Ocean, he never really seems to learn. He is impulsive, impudent, immature, and ultimately just a general purpose pain in the (censored). In the Star Wars universe this kid would have turned Sith long ago. You get the idea. He needed a hardcore beatdown in this movie to put his head back in place and I'm glad to see it given, despite it being at the hands of uber-bully Mike Barnes (played by Sean Kanan). It just astounds me that as much time as Daniel spends with Mr. Miyagi he just doesn't seem to absorb any of his wisdom. Not to mention I think Daniel may have been stealing a few Mallomars in this movie as he's substantially more "puffy" than for the previous two incarnations.
When Daniel decides not to participate in the tournament he is hounded (some would say stalked) by Barnes and his henchmen "Snake" (not "Snake Plissken", although that would have made for a much more interesting plot), and some other guy who gets his behind handed to him several times. These three ultimately get Daniel to sign into the tournament through coercion and thus Daniel is forced to find a new trainer when Mr. Miyagi won't train him. That new trainer happens to be Terry Silver, who works his magic by really twisting Daniel's gi in a bunch. His training regimen is pretty sadistic and involves Daniel inflicting some pretty impressive power with the end result being that Daniel becomes something of a bigger jerk than he started. When Daniel has an attack of conscience Silver springs both Barnes and the believed to be deceased John Kreese on him. All this subterfuge (getting a different trainer without Miyagi's knowledge)on Daniel's part hurts the relationship between he and Mr. Miyagi and this element, and the eventual repair of it, makes up much of the movie.
Each movie seems to have it's signature karate "move" and this one is a little different from the previous two. Daniel practices something called "kata" with Mr. Miyagi and this is supposed to bring his fighting actions into focus. While not as catchy as the Crane from KK1 or the mega-dodge technique of KK2, this serves it's purpose for the point of the movie. I was half hoping to see Daniel wail on Barnes in the last round with some outrageous Pele bicycle kick style assault, or what not, but that's not to be found here.
KK3 isn't a bad movie. It is fun to watch and doesn't require too much thinking and that makes it a perfect popcorn cruncher for a weeknight. Thomas Ian Griffith was great to watch and I think that if you can get past his Snidely Whiplash laughter you'll find the guy is actually, for lack of a better phrase, kind of cool. Not as bad as many would have you believe, but not anywhere near a 5-star movie like others say too.
Description of The Karate Kid Part III
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