The Next Karate Kid

While I totally objected to this chapter ever being made, at least it had a young Hilary Swank (I seem to be her only male fan). While this film was kind of hokie and predictable, at least it accurately portrayed the horrors of men trying to shop for women. Pat Morita's performance in that scene alone was priceless. While this proved to be nothing more than a spin-off grasping at straws, at least no one completely embarrassed themselves. Also, where the heck was Ralph Macchio! Couldn't he have made a guest appearance. It's not like he had anything to do at the time.

Here is introduced a new kid , girl , with the subsequently two times Oscarized Hilary Swank . This is an entertaining and fun martial arts movie with the intimate Pat Morita (his final appearance as Keisake Miyagi) , and , as always , the show belongs to Noriyuki-Miyagi . The story deals with a troublesome teenager named Julie (a newcomer Hilary Swank) , thanks to Miyagi she learns that Karate is her salvation , as she battles an evil nemesis , facing off a violent young group trained by an expert fighter (Michael Ironside) . Along the way, the Japanese Miyagi (Noriyuki, Pat Morita) born in Okinawa teaches his martial arts and to combat at a Zen temple along with some sympathetic monks . Meanwhile , Julie falls in love with a friendly youngster (Chris Conrad) .

This enjoyable movie , a sort of female junior version of 'Rocky' , develops a sincere and deep friendship between two protagonists , the rookie young girl and the wise old man . Using more than her fists , Julie learns about herself and the sense of life . Agreeable and likable acting by main actors : Pat Morita and Hilary Swank . Furthermore , it appears as secondaries , the ordinary baddie : Michael Ironside , and the veteran Constance Towers who formerly worked in various films directed by John Ford . The picture contains adequate cinematography by Laszlo Kovacs and long-standing musical score , though with some disco-music , by composer Bill Conti , trilogy's usual , who composed Rocky saga as well. This feel-good message picture was professionally directed by Christopher Cain , though John G. Avildsen was originally slated to shhot his fourth Karate Kid film , but he dropped out in order to make 8 seconds (1994) . The three previous films , all of them produced by Jerry Weintraub and directed by John G Avildsen , are the following ones : original ¨Karate Kid I (1984¨) in which are presented the classic characters : Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita , ¨Karate Kid II (1986)¨ where the protagonists travel to Okinawa and ¨Karate Kid III (1989)¨ where Daniel again battling nasty enemies . Finally , this ¨The Next Karate Kid (1994)¨, rating : acceptable and passable sequel , worthwhile seeing . This heartwarming will appeal to Karate Kid trilogy fans .

When I first saw this movie was included in the Karate Kid DVD Set, I almost thought about just buying Karate Kid by itself. But after watching it, I really enjoyed it. It was really cheesy at parts, but other parts were enjoyable and funny.

Miyagi is great as usual, which is the main reason I even bothered to watch the movie in the first place. This movie is worth at least a one-time viewing if you really liked the Karate Kid movies.

Hillary Swank did a pretty good job too. The plot was pretty hoaky, and it was similar to the first Karate Kid, but there was a different dynamic since the hero was a girl this time.

"The Next Karate Kid" is not a very impressive film. However, it introduces a young actress named Hilary Swank to the mainstream audience. Amazingly, just five short years after this film Swank would be holding the Oscar for her gender-bending role in "Boys Don't Cry". In this film she takes Macchio's role and does an admirable job even though the material is just not there. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Strange, utterly needless sequel has Pat Morita returning one last time as Mr. Miyagi. Set several years after Part III, Daniel is off on his own, leaving Miyagi free to instruct another troubled teenager, this time a woman, played by Hillary Swank, who is the granddaughter of his old commanding officer, who is being terrorized in her school by(you guessed it!) bullying martial arts/military cadet students(led by the dependable Michael Ironside) Plot is utterly predictable and uninspired; Miyagi's story was tied to Daniel's so having him instruct this girl is incongruous; it just didn't involve the viewer. Though not as silly as Part III, this is still not credible either, and marks an unfitting end to a story best left alone.