All Time Best Martial Movie, son!

Ever since the dawn of time, man has struggled through the primordial evolutionary soup to achieve one ultimate goal. That goal? To produce the All Time Best Martial Arts movie, ever. Many men attempted the goal. Men like Kurosawa, the Shaw Brothers and Bruce Lee. Although these master's glimpsed some form of legend, true greatness was denied them.

Then in 1984, nearly two thousand years after the birth of that storied Jewish carpenter, greatness was finally achieved. At that time a young writer named Robert Mark Kamen, fresh off of writing the screenplay for Taps, a movie that launched the careers of Sean Penn, and a wacky little firecracker of a Scientologist named Tom Cruise, began to write another screenplay about his martial arts mentor Meitoku Yagi. That movie, influenced as it was by the cultural zeitgeist of teen movies of that era, was destined to become the greatest martial arts movie of all time: And that movie is....

...directed by John G. Avildsen.

All joking aside, the movie is truly enjoyable and I try to watch it at least once a year.

What makes the movie so great? Well let's start with the pretty strange, yet thoroughly engaging structure. The first act has all the makings of a primetime hour-long, teen-based soap opera. I will take the opportunity now to declare that I have somewhat of a weak spot for such stories. I don't know where it comes from. It's like part of my soul is possessed by an aging Hollywood gossip maven.

The movie begins by showing us the trials and tribulations of young Daniel LaRusso, played by Ralph Macchio. In a plot point that would someday be palagerized by Beverly Hills 90210, Daniel has recently moved from the smoggy comforts of New Yorks inner city to the wild and exotic land of California. His feet barely touches beach sand, he manages to use his rough "Hey youse, guys" charm to woo a cute, well-monied California girl played by Elizabeth Shue, in her first movie role. Unfortunately said girl is the former love of Johnny Lawrence, (William Zabka) a decidedly Aryan-looking surfer boy who also happens to be a tournament karate champion. So the first act is basically scene after scene of Daniel getting his little butt whupped on by Johnny and his gang of "Cobra Kai's".

John Hughes couldn't write a better plot of teen angst.

The movie begins to change as we get to know the character, Mr. Miyagi, played by comedian Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita in an Oscar nominated supporting role. At first Mr. Miyagi is introduced almost as an afterthought. He's merely seen as an immigrant superintendent, almost unimportant. But it turns out that Mr. Miyagi is a karate expert. At first he doesn't want to get involved with Daniel's problems, but after realizing how much guidance the boy really needs, he agrees to teach Daniel how to protect himself.

The second act of the movie is devoted to the developing mentor/student, father/son relationship between Daniel and Miyagi. The teen angsty bullying, the faltering relationship with the cute girl, the adjustment to life in a new city with his divorced mother, all this falls to the wayside. Instead we are treated to the philosophical teachings of a true martial artist in a simple and profound manner. Compared to the teachings of Reese, who runs the Cobra Kai, we soon see that Miyagi, who learned his art from his father, has chosen to walk the truer and purer path.

The movie is surprisingly very truthful in its depiction of early martial arts training. Even the best instructors will sometimes find that their students are completely bored by the repetition of technique, and will question the point of practicing. It is my opinion that the true sign of greatness of Miyagi as a teacher is how he manages to guide Daniel-san through the elementary stages of martial arts instruction, while getting the boy to do a hell of a lot of house chores. Hand's down, the man is a genius.

Eventually Daniel-san learns the wisdom behind Miyagi's strange teaching style, and the boy learns humility. I've come to learn that that simple lesson of trust, of learning to accept with humility, is the first really big test for every martial arts student. The movie is very right in its depiction of that key challenge.

The best scene in the movie to me is the "anniversary scene" where we discover that Miyagi has his own demons. I've watched that scene many times in my life, but for some reason, lately I've taken to crying during those moments. This is my second, somewhat wussy admission, I know... but that scene just wrecks me, son! Can't help it.

The third act deals with the tournament, and I will begin by issuing my third wussy admission. I am a complete sucker for "competition" movies. Movies like Rocky, Remember the Titans, Rize, hell even Bring It On, any movie where the underdog has to take part competition at the end, I will buy into the emotion of it, no matter how cheesy. In this movie, Daniel takes on all the members of the Cobra Kai, one by one, succeeding each time. Treachery hobbles him in the final test, and this is were we encounters Daniel's the second greatest test. With Miyagi's help, he limps onto the floor for the final battle, already a winner just by the fact that he never gives up. Even this somewhat cliched aspect of the movie works for me again and again. I must admit that I don't think I've seen a more deliberately flashy and possibly ineffective kick like the "Crane technique". And I'll tell ya a little secret, if you watch the final scene closely you can see Ralph Macchio indicate to actor William Zabka, what foot he's going to kick with in the penultimate fight. But I cheer every time Daniel limps out, against all odds to face Johnny on that tournament floor. Like I said, I just can't help it. The Karate Kid. Truly the greatest martial arts movie of all time!

(P.S. For those interested in discovering the real "Mr. Miyagi" follow this link!)