The Karate Kid: Part II (1986)
It would have been easy for 1986’s The Karate Kid: Part II to simply rehash the Karate Kid formula with a new, bigger, flashier tournament, but luckily, John Avildsen and Robert Mark Kamen took a riskier approach and instead made “The Karate Man”. Instead of focusing on Daniel, they give Mr. Miyagi a chance to shine.
This film has a lot of heart thanks to strong performances by everyone and a pretty touching love story that dates back decades. I’ll admit, I was very touched when Mr. Miyagi sees Yukie after so many years apart, and their exchange really made me care about them. It’s a well directed film with a great score (and a killer theme song).
“I only hear what’s worth listening to.”
I watched this one with my 7-year-old and I’m really glad the messages were both inspiring and clear. You could probably write a book with the Miyogi wisdom drops but my favorite was “Never put passion before principle…even if you win, you lose.” The themes of empathy, honor and patience are incredibly relevant today.
Despite having a goofy ending to the final showdown, I liked The Karate Kid: Part II quite a bit. It’s a solid sequel to an 80’s classic that strays far enough from the first film’s formula to make it feel fresh while allowing us to spend time in Hawaii…er…Okinawa with characters we’d grown to love.
