80sfilms

Never did I think that I would like a film about karate as much as I liked 1984’s The Karate Kid, starring Ralph Macchio as a fresh-faced cute (but scrawny, right?) kid transplanted into a new school and struggling to fit in and make friends, all while dodging bullies, learning how to kick and karate chop, and wooing a girl.

Elisabeth Shue plays said girl, and although she’s adorable in the film, she looks very much like a mature woman next to Macchio’s scrappy yet innocent face (ironically, Shue was 21 and Macchio 23 at the time!). Just goes to show that girls really do mature faster than boys.

Having endured a nomadic upbringing myself, I could totally relate to Macchio’s character, Daniel, and his struggle to find his place in the new city, new school and new cliques he was faced with after a move.

The late Pat Morita, who lived in Sacramento, Calif., where I was born and raised, does a nice job playing a father figure/mentor to Daniel in the film, and was even nominated for an Oscar for best actor in a supporting role and a Golden Globe for best performance by an actor in a supporting role for his performance in The Karate Kid.

And, of course, the underdog gets his day yet again in this film, but not without a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

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