Synopsis:

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.

The Freak's Rating: A- : Bad music abounds, but somehow The Karate Kid holds up for me. Apparently Hollywood agrees that the storyline will do the same for many as a remake is currently in the works. Ralph Macchio is annoying and Elizabeth Shue is overly chubby for being the incredibly desirable female interest, but the heart and soul of the picture is Pat Morita's Mr. Miyagi. I'd guess if you walk into a room of 30 somethings and say "wax on, wax off", nearly 90% of the room would know precisely what you're talking about.

Awful dialogue exists among all characters except Miyagi, with the evil dojo master symbolizing everything that was wrong about the 80s for stereotyping villains. Much is wrong, but much is still right with the film.

There is sentimentality in the positive rating for sure, but Morita is brilliant in his career-defining role and truly carries the picture into a must-own and must watch again and again. There has rarely been a picture that sums up what it is like to be pushed around and go for revenge like this. Mixing humor and martial arts, The Karate Kid remains a classic I plan to watch a number of times over my life.

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