Karate Kid II

The first two karate kid movies are masterpieces. This movie offers a view at cultural appreciation, bullying and morals. Stereotypes aside, this movie is timeless.

The Karate Kid part II should have been the end of the Karate Kid Story. It was an excellent film and the story was a perfect conclusion to the Daniel/Myagi friendship. The heroine Kumiko was perfect for Daniel and in my imagination he stays with her and Myagi stays with his love from childhood and then both of them bring their ladies to the states. KK III was awful and the Next Karate Kid was just idiotic. These lame sequels don't come close to this installment which should have been the last or at least, if a third installment was going to be done, it could of had the couples form the KKII and their new lives back in the states. I love Karate Kid stories and in my imagination the story ends with this wonderful sequel

The film starts where the first picture finished with the famous karate combat , proceeded by means of flashbacks . There John Kreese (Martin Kove) receives a strong lesson . Later on , teenage Daniel (Ralph Macchio) along with Miyagi (Noriyuki, Pat Morita) travel to Okinawa , but his father is dying . There Miyagi confronts an old enemy . Meanwhile , Daniel falls in love for Kamiko (film debut of Talyn Tomita who was actually born in Okinawa , this film's setting) and also gets enemies.

This enjoyable following displays action , a love story , Japanese dances , fights and results to be pretty entertaining . This shooting on Karate Kid II, (1986) started ten days after the release of The Karate Kid (1984) and actually earned more at the box office than The Karate Kid I . Although set in Okinawa , the film was actually shot in Oahu , Hawaii . The island was chosen because of its similar climate to Japan, its large Okinawan population and the convenience of filming on US soil . Again the movie develops a feeling and agreeable friendship between Daniel and professor Miyagi . Attractive and perceptible performances from Macchio , Morita and Tamlyn Tomita's film debut. Besides , it appears as very secondaries and uncredited , future TV stars , as B.D. Wong (Law and order) and Clarence Gilyard (Walker Texas Ranger).

Colorful cinematography by James Crabe and powerful musical score by Bill Conti , usual of trilogy . The motion picture was professionally directed by John G Avildsen (also editor) . Avildsen has blended more Karate Kid and Rocky movies with such feel-good message stories , such as 'Power on one' and 'Lean on me' . It's followed by other sequels, 'Karate kid III' (1989) where Daniel again fighting his usual contenders ; and 'The next Karate Kid' (1994) directed by Christopher Cain , introducing a new Karate kid , girl , the two times Oscarized Hilary Swank . Rating : Good, the tale will appeal to trilogy buffs and beloved characters fans.

This film is the sequel to the huge 1984 hit, "The Karate Kid". The film starts almost exactly where the first film abruptly ended, with Daniel(played by Ralph Macchio) winning the karate championship under the coaching of Mr. Miyagi(played by Pat Morita). Mr. Miyagi soon learns that his father is dying back in Japan and he goes there to see him one last time and Daniel decides to come along. Miyagi and Daniel run into an old nemesis of Miyagi and Daniel is repeatedly tormented by the nemesis' nephew. Daniel also finds a new love in the daughter of Mr. Miyagi's old lover.

This is a generally simple film with a fine backdrop of the streets of Okinawa. Those who enjoyed the original "Karate Kid" should generally enjoy this predictable, but entertaining sequel. Another plus in the film is the playing of Peter Cetera's song "Glory of Love" in a cute scene involving Daniel and his new love and also in the end credits of the film. It is worth watching.

Mr Miyagi and Daniel travel to Okinawa for a family visit.

This is a fairly enjoyable but inferior sequel with moments to both remember and forget.

The backstory and main plot thread involving Miyagi and Sato is pretty engaging, but the portrayal of Sato is somewhat one-note. In fact he comes across as a bit of a stereotypical ruthless Japanese businessman with penchant for bullying weaker locals like an A-Team baddie. Their situation concludes in a pretty contrived and cheesy way, but I can't help getting caught up in the plight of the characters. Pat Morita is on great form and makes the character equally as lovable as the original.

There is an increased focus on Miyagi and slightly less on Daniel, which was sensible writing as Daniel had nothing further to prove that wouldn't have felt repetitive. That being said he is targeted by a bully again and there is another girl caught in the middle of it. Ralph Macchio does consistently good work and with weak material in some of the love scenes. As in the first movie, his screen chemistry with Morita is excellent.

The production design is excellent, particularly the creation of an Okinawan village, plus the inclusion of the American military presence helps depict Okinawa as a place wedged between the presence of industrial, mainland Japan and a WWII occupation force.

A recent rewatch of this was my first viewing since the film was released and it seemed better when I was 7, possibly due to the simplistic story, exotic location and increase in stakes from the first film. My six year old daughter loved it.