The Next Karate Kid

Starring:Pat Morita, Hilary Swank, Michael Ironside, Constance Towers, Chris Conrad (II), Arsenio 'Sonny' Trinidad, Michael Cavalieri, Walton Goggins, Jim Ishida, Rodney Kageyama, Seth Sakai, Eugene Boles, Keena Keel, Tom O'Brien (IX), Thomas Downey (II), Brian McGrail, Wayne Chou, Daniel Inouye, Gustave Johnson, Brian Smiar
Director: Christopher Cain
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

A vast improvement over its immediate predecessor, The Karate Kid III, this appealingly understated 1994 drama features a compelling performance by Hilary Swank, who would later win a Best Actress Oscar ^® for her work in Boys Don't Cry. Swank plays 17-year-old Julie Pierce, the recently orphaned and troubled granddaughter of an old war buddy of Miyagi Yakuga (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, the lone holdover from the previous Karate Kid films). Harassed at school by adolescent boys under the sway of an evil coach (Michael Ironside), Julie reluctantly finds refuge in the calm teachings of Mr. Miyagi. While the film's violence is as contrived and silly as that of the other KK features, the script provides exotic compensations via a subplot set in a peaceful Buddhist monastery. Still, it's Morita's crafty professionalism and Swank's emotional authenticity that makes this film more watchable than anyone might have expected. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Missing Something.......2005-12-21

This movie was alright but it is seriously lacking something. I watched it when it came out on VHS and I kept on waiting for Daniel to show up or hell be mentioned but in this movie it was as though he never exsisted and isn't Daniel supposed to be living with his mentor in CA? So if this is the case and his mentor sent the grandmother to CA to his house shouldn't he have warned her about Daniel being there at least? They could have mentioned what happend to Daniel but in this movie they totally scratch him out and this movie is lacking because of it. Another thing is this movie doesn't touch the other three in any way shape or form. Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio had an on screen chemistry that you just couldn't denye was there and it made the movies all that much better but Pat and Hilary don't have that same chemisty that made Pat and Ralph such a great acting team and it shows in the movie. Also the other Karate Kid movies each have a theme to them especially the second one and this one leaves you with no theme what so ever except bullies always get what they deserve in the end which is a tad over done by this installment and the fight scene at the end is a little over done as I think they were aiming for the same affect they had in the Karate Kid II but they missed it by a long shot. Over all this movie is pretty good. Has some good moments but it should not have been a stand a lone movie all on its own in my opinion as it could have been much better then.

I Wish I had Courage Like You!.......2005-11-04

Can anyone who has seen The Next Karate Kid please explain to me the nature of the film's villains? The look like a professional security force, they act like a WWF tag-team, they tromp around school like they've got full diplomatic immunity...they even have a drill sergeant. In high school. I just don't get it.

Anyway, these guys don't like young Julie Pierce, so they terrorize her repeatedly - and they even come dangerously close to what we, nowadays, would call "rape." All Julie wants is to be left alone with her beloved crippled hawk (Kes?), godammit! Julie's well-intentioned grandmother is at the end of her granny-rope, so she enlists the aid of old family friend Mr. Miyagi. Given that this is now the fourth time we've met Mr. Miyagi, and we've never once seen him interact with a teenage girl, the viewer is left to wonder if this arrangement is such a grand idea. But wouldn't you know it? The brusque and bouncy Julie slowly warms up to the adorable Mr. Miyagi, and yadda yadda, etc.

To quote one of the wise sages who comment at the IMDb, The Next Karate Kid is "the pits." Hilary Swank must cringe whenever she sees the flick pop up on cable; indeed, she's the one thing that makes The Next Karate Kid worth seeing. Not because she gives a particularly excellent performance (although she's better than the material deserves), but because this is such a GOOFY movie. For no good reason the flick takes a 20-minute detour into a freakin' monastery, for cryin' out loud! Plus this is a film in which Mr. Miyagi goes shopping for a PROM DRESS! Gee, anyone think we're just blatantly pandering to the "other" demographic at this point? Then just wait till the Hi - larious scene in which Mr. Miyagi walks in on Julie while she's changing...and he almost sees her boobies! Never thought I'd say it but...where's Daniel-san these days? Surely he could still be in need of some wise advice.

Anyway, Julie gets a date, grows some confidence, and kicks the ass of head bully #1. Also there's Michael Ironside as an evil high school sergeant who is apparently invisible to cops. Miyagi helps kick his butt at the end.

I've got mixed feelings about this one.......2005-09-17

The Next Karate Kid (1994.) The fourth film in the Karate Kid series.

INTRODUCTION:
The Karate Kid was one of the greatest motion pictures of the eighties, no questions asked. The sequels to the film, while good, certainly lacked something in comparison to the original. There were three films in the series in the eighties. And then, in a rather odd and unexpected twist of fate, a fourth installment in the series came out of nowhere in the middle of then nineties. For the new installment, Ralph Macchio would not be returning. However, Pat Morita would be. How does this often forgotten film in the series go? To find out, keep reading.

OVERVIEW:
It's been several years since the classic Karate Kid films. Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) has taken a trip to Boston to meet with some Japanese-American war veterans, and while there stays with the widow of one of his deceased war buddies. He invites her to go and spend some time at his California house, and in the meantime stays in Boston with her granddaughter (Hilary Swank.) When this girl gets suspended from school, Miyagi begins teaching her karate, as a way of helping her deal with her problems. To make things worse, a new friend of hers at school is getting tormented by other guys from school led by a ruthless ex-military type (Michael Ironside.) The young heroine returns to school following her suspension, changed dramatically following Miyagi's teachings.

REVIEW:
I have very mixed feelings about this film. First of all, the good. The acting in this film is very good. Pat Morita's portrayal of Miyagi is excellent, as it always is. Hilary Swank does a good job in her role, and Michael Ironside is fantastic as Kreese's replacement in the series. Bill Conti once again does the orchestration for the film, and I shouldn't have to tell you he did it well again. But, of course, there are a ton of negatives too. This installment in the series wasn't necessary. By this time the series was getting a bit played out, and this really did nothing to revive or build on the series. And needless to say, without Ralph Macchio the series really loses something. Miyagi is the only character this film has that the old ones did. And as a whole, the plot seems rehashed. I personally think this movie would have been better without the Karate Kid name attached. The film also features considerably less action than its predecessors - It's obvious the creators were going for a more family-oriented movie this time around, and as such, it isn't as violent as other entries in this series. Final verdict? This is a good movie. Not great, not horrible - just an average movie. It's worth watching, but don't be expecting a masterpiece on the same level as the original film.

DVD:
The DVD release of this film is pretty lame. Filmographies, trailers, and some DVD-ROM stuff (which requires a computer) are the ONLY extras you get. Take my advice and get the Karate Kid Collection box set instead - it's a better value than buying the movies separately.

OVERALL:
Overall, I think I have made my feelings clear. They're mixed when it comes to this movie. For everywhere this movie succeeds, it fails somewhere else. What we have here is a totally average product. It's worth watching at least once, but if you're looking for classic Karate Kid action, you're not gonna find it here.

Who Says The Good Guy Has To Be A Guy?.......2005-08-28

My kids were very happy to find this one at Wal-Mart for $5.50 and so was I. I LOVED this one, mainly because of the girl factor. A young Hilary Swank makes a great karate kid!

well.......2005-06-23

just saw this movie two hours ago and it was not the best ive ever seen. john what were you thinking when you didn't direct this one. anyway the start was fun but the middle was a letdown.

The Karate Kid Part III & The Next Karate Kid

Average customer rating:

The Karate Kid Part III & The Next Karate Kid

Manufacturer: Columbia
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Martial Arts | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

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