The Karate Kid, Part III

The Karate Kid, Part III
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	John G. Avildsen
Produced by	Jerry Weintraub Karen Trudy Rosenfelt (co-producer) Sheldon Schrager (executive producer) Doug Seelig (associate producer)
Written by	Robert Mark Kamen
Starring	Ralph Macchio Pat Morita Thomas Ian Griffith Martin Kove Robyn Lively Sean Kanan
Music by	Bill Conti
Cinematography	Steve Yaconelli
Editing by	John G. Avildsen John Carter
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)	June 30, 1989 (1989-06-30) (United States) October 7, 1989 (1989-10-07) (Japan)
Running time	112 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$38,956,288[1]

The Karate Kid, Part III is a 1989 martial arts film, and the second sequel to the hit motion picture The Karate Kid (1984). The film stars Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, Thomas Ian Griffith, Robyn Lively, and Martin Kove. Like the first two films, it was directed by John G. Avildsen and written by Robert Mark Kamen. Also like the first two films, its stunts were choreographed by Pat E. Johnson, and its music was composed by Bill Conti.

Plot

The story picks up almost a year after the first film, and following the events of the sequel. Having lost the Cobra Kai dojo and all of his students, Sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) visits his Vietnam War comrade Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith), who is also a karate expert and fellow Cobra Kai; indeed, he is later indicated to be the majority owner of the Cobra Kai dojo. Silver and Kreese scheme to take revenge on Daniel and his teacher, Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita), and make Cobra Kai successful once again. Terry sends Kreese to Tahiti to get rested up and get his life back in order.

Upon returning home to Los Angeles, Daniel and Miyagi find out that the apartment building Daniel lives in has been demolished, which puts Miyagi out of business; Daniel's mother is in New Jersey caring for her uncle Louie who has Emphysema. Daniel wants to use his college funds to realize Miyagi's dream of opening a bonsai tree store, but Miyagi insists that he use the money to go to college; going on Miyagi's wishes, Daniel uses the money to purchase a building. When Daniel visits a pottery store across the street, he meets Jessica Andrews (Robyn Lively), and they instantly become friends.

Silver recruits "Karate's Bad Boy" Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan) and promises him 25% of potential Cobra Kai profits if he succeeds in claiming Daniel's title at the upcoming All-Valley Karate Tournament, but Barnes demands 50% and Silver gives it to him. After breaking into Miyagi's home, Silver overhears Daniel tell Miyagi that he will not be participating in the tournament, as Miyagi felt that defense of the title would merely be fighting for personal reward.

That evening at the bonsai store, Daniel and Jessica are confronted by Mike and Snake (Jonathan Avildsen), one of Silver's goons. They threaten to harm Daniel if he does not enter the tournament. Daniel declines, and Mike departs in a heated rage. At a later date, Daniel and Jessica are once again confronted by Mike and Snake, who are now joined by Mike's personal trainer Dennis (Christopher Paul Ford). When Daniel again refuses to enter the tournament, a small skirmish breaks out before Miyagi shows up to fend off the three men. Later, Miyagi and Daniel arrive home to find their stock of bonsai has been stolen, with a tournament application hanging in their place.

After reporting the harassment and theft to the local police, Daniel and Jessica decide to dig up a bonsai tree which Miyagi had planted halfway down the cliffs surrounding the Devil's Cauldron. Daniel thinks they can use the tree, which is the one true bonsai Miyagi brought from Okinawa, as a new source of capital, although Jessica doubts Miyagi will condone this sale of a valuable family heirloom. After Jessica slips off a cliff, Daniel accidentally drops the tree at the bottom. Whilst Daniel and Jessica are at the bottom of the Cauldron, Silver's goons arrive and retract their climbing ropes, leaving Daniel no choice but to finally sign up for the tournament. After pulling both Daniel and Jessica to safety, Barnes maliciously breaks the valuable tree. Daniel returns to the shop with Miyagi’s damaged bonsai, which Miyagi immediately attempts to mend. Miyagi, who has sold his truck in order to buy a new stock of trees, and refuses to train Daniel for the tournament.

Silver, who has befriended Daniel numerous times under the fraudulent guise of a humble friend of Kreese, sent to apologize on behalf of their Korean master for Kreese's previous actions and tells him that Kreese died from a heart attack, offers to "train" Daniel at the Cobra Kai dojo. Daniel accepts, and during the training sessions, Silver instructs Daniel in many cheap and corrupt ways of fighting, consistently discouraging Daniel from using his kata. Silver repeatedly invites Daniel to attack a wooden dummy, making his knuckles bleed; revenge for the similar injury Kreese sustained when attacking Miyagi. Miyagi tends to Daniel's wounds with a special balm, but after subsequently asking Daniel about his erratic behavior, Daniel reproaches Miyagi angrily, saying that he is merely attempting to resolve his own problems, and that Miyagi should not concern himself with his problems if he will not help him.

After several sessions, Daniel eventually destroys the entire dummy, at which point Silver proclaims that he is ready to win the tournament. That night, Silver bribes a man into provoking a fight with Daniel while on a date with Jessica. In response, Daniel punches the man, breaking his nose. Shocked by his own aggressive behavior, he apologizes for his recent actions and makes amends with Miyagi and Jessica.

Daniel visits Silver at the dojo to inform him that he no longer wishes to train with him, and that he will not be competing in the tournament. Silver reveals his true agenda to Daniel, and both Mike and Kreese enter the room. After Mike pummels and chases Daniel out of the dojo, Miyagi arrives and quickly fends off all three opponents. Afterwards, Miyagi finally decides to train Daniel for the upcoming tournament. They train by Devil's Cauldron, where they replant the now-healed bonsai.

At the tournament, Mike makes his way up to the final round to face Daniel. Silver orders Mike to alternately score points and then intentionally lose them by incurring penalties with illegal moves designed to hurt Daniel and break his spirit. Mike is to continue this for the duration of the three-minute regulation period, and then score a quick point in sudden death. By the end of the match, Daniel is nearly beaten, but Miyagi tells him to focus, and remember his training that it is okay to lose, but not to fear. In the sudden death round, Daniel finds his resolve, and again begins the kata that Miyagi taught him. A hesitant and confused Mike finally comes in to attack, and Daniel quickly counters by throwing him to the ground and scoring a point with a punch to Mike's ribs. A disgusted Silver and Kreese walk away as the crowd throws back the Cobra Kai shirts that were given to them. An excited Daniel hugs Mr. Miyagi.

Cast

• Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
• Pat Morita as Mr. Kesuke Miyagi (as Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita)
• Maximillian Theseira as Secondary Mr. Kesuke Miyagi (as Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita)
• Robyn Lively as Jessica Andrews
• Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver
• Martin Kove as John Kreese
• Sean Kanan as Mike Barnes
• Jonathan Avildsen as Snake
• Randee Heller as Lucille
• William Christopher Ford as Dennis (as Christopher Paul Ford)
• Pat E. Johnson as Referee
• Rick Hurst as Announcer
• Frances Bay as Mrs. Milo
• Joseph V. Perry as Uncle Louie
• Jan Tříska as Milos
• Diana Webster as Margaret
• Patrick R. Posada as Man #1
• C. Darnell Rose as Delivery Man
• Glenn Medeiros as Himself
• Gabriel Jarret as Rudy (as Gabe Jarret)

Reception

The film received some negative reviews from critics. It did significantly less business than the first two films, grossing $39 million at the box-office.^[2] It was dismissed by critics, including Roger Ebert.^[3][4][5][6] Criticism often mentioned the rehashing of elements in the former two movies: a tournament against Cobra Kai, a romance side-story, etc.^[7]

At the 1989 Golden Raspberry Awards, this entry received five nominations but "won" none of them. They are for Worst Picture (Jerry Weintraub; lost to Star Trek V: The Final Frontier), Worst Screenplay (Robert Mark Kamen; lost to Harlem Nights by Eddie Murphy), Worst Director (John G. Avildsen; lost to William Shatner for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier), Worst Actor (Ralph Macchio; lost to William Shatner in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier), and Worst Supporting Actor (Pat Morita; lost to Christopher Atkins in Listen to Me).

Disgusted with the way he had been forced to treat Daniel LaRusso (Macchio's character) in his script, Kanan refused to involve himself in The Next Karate Kid, the only film in the original franchise in which Macchio did not appear.^{[citation needed]}

Despite its initial poor reception, the film has built a loyal cult following over the years among fans who believe that Terry Silver, with his personal wealth, elevated style and philanthropic activities, was intended to serve as the film's real protagonist.

See also

• The Karate Kid
• The Karate Kid, Part II
• The Next Karate Kid
• The Karate Kid (2010 film)

References

1. ^ The Karate Kid, Part III at Box Office Mojo
2. ^ The Karate Kid, Part III (1989) - Box office / business
3. ^ James, Caryn (1989-06-30). "The Karate Kid Part III (1989)". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/30/movies/review-film-karate-kid-enters-round-3.html. Retrieved 2010-05-21. 
4. ^ Weinberg, Scott. The Karate Kid Movie Collection JoBlo.com; Accessed July 7, 2009
5. ^ Haflidason, Almar. The Karate Kid Part III review at BBC
6. ^ Ebert, Roger. The Karate Kid Part III at Chicago Sun-Times; June 30, 1989
7. ^ Thomas, Kevin (1989-06-30). "Movie Review : An Anemic Outing for 'Karate Kid Part III'". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1989-06-30/entertainment/ca-2956_1_mr-miyagi-karate-studio-karate-champion. Retrieved 2010-11-25. 

External links

Film portal

• The Karate Kid, Part III at the Internet Movie Database
• The Karate Kid, Part III at AllRovi