Karate Kid

Theatrical Release Date: 1984 06 22 (USA)

UPC: 043396328204

Studio: Sony Pictures

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Mild Violence, Watch With Your Kids, Suitable for Teens]

Summary: Newly arrived in California from New Jersey, teenager Daniel (Ralph Macchio) almost immediately runs afoul of karate-trained high school bullies. He is rescued by Japanese janitor Miyagi (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita), who agrees to teach Daniel how to harness karate for good instead of brutality. The film culminates in a championship karate bout, pitting Daniel against his sworn enemy Johnny (William Zabka) -- the cruel and thuggish boyfriend of Ali (Elisabeth Shue), with whom Daniel has fallen in love (and vice versa). Real-life karate champ Chuck Norris was offered the role of Kreese, the sadistic coach who goads Johnny into fighting dirty, but Norris turned down the role, refusing to be shown utilizing his skills negatively onscreen. Vastly popular, The Karate Kid spawned three sequels of rapidly descending merit, as well as a Saturday-morning cartoon series. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Category: Drama

Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion – null Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Supporting Actor – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Features: Feature: "Blu-Pop"
Commentary with director John G. Avildsen, writer Robert Mark Kamen and actors Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita
"The Way of the Karate Kid" multi-part making-of featurette
"Beyond the Form" featurette
"East Meets West: A Composer's Notebook"
"Life of Bonsai" featurette

Karate Kid

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 05/11/2010

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DHMA null, DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo

Runtime: 127 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French,Portuguese,Spanish

Subtitles: English,French,Portuguese,Spanish

Michael Costello

The initial film of the enormously successful Karate Kid series, although essentially the familiar tale of an underdog striving for victory, has an innate appeal often lacking in the genre -- an entirely believable rapport between its two stars. The script centers on the travails of a teenage boy, played by Ralph Macchio, who learns to defend himself against the bullying of some uncomfortably Aryan-looking types from an elderly Asian gardener (Pat Morita) who happens to be a master of the martial arts. The film goes beyond the typical plot machinery, as the old man teaches the boy about more than just karate, and a relationship develops between the two. Macchio and Pat Morita are close to perfection in their roles, and Martin Kove is good as the guy you love to hate. Macchio went on to star in a couple of sequels to the hit film, and it seems possible that his strong identification with the role might have hampered the development of his career. ~ Michael Costello, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Juli Fields  Actor 
Todd Lookinland  Actor 
Dana Anderson  Actor 
Chad McQueen  Actor 
Scott Strader  Actor 
Helen Siff  Actor 
Pat E. Johnson  Actor 
William H. Bassett  Actor 
Israel Juarbe  Actor 
Tony O'Dell  Actor 
Bruce Malmuth  Actor 
Brian Davies  Actor 
Christopher Kriesa  Actor 
Larry B. Scott  Actor 
Frank Burt Avalon  Actor 
Sam Scarber  Actor 
David de Lange  Actor 
Tom Fridley  Actor 
Peter Jason  Actor 
Jeff Fishman  Actor 
Frances Bay  Actor 
Bernie Kuby  Actor 
Joan Lemmo  Actor 
Larry Drake  Actor 
Molly Basler  Actor 
John G. Avildsen  Director 
Bill Conti  Composer (Music Score) 
Robert Mark Kamen  Screenwriter 
R.J. Louis  Executive Producer 
Jerry Weintraub  Producer 
Ralph Macchio  Actor 
Noriyuki "Pat" Morita  Actor 
Elisabeth Shue  Actor 
Martin Kove  Actor 
Randee Heller  Actor 
William Zabka  Actor 
Ron Thomas  Actor 
Rob Garrison  Actor 

Country: USA