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I have no doubts when I say that The Karate Kid is one of the best franchises ever released. This movie had a big challenge when it came out: to be as good as its predecessor.

Like the first movie, this one has many iconic scenes that stay in our minds. Another thing I really liked was how well the atmosphere of that time was recreated, and in a completely new place - now Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi go to the birthplace of Karate: Japan. Experiencing another culture is amazing, and it's interesting to see how both of them are thrown into a new adventure, and how Karate can be used to deal with all of it.

As with every Karate Kid movie, this one features a great and memorable villain - Chozen - who I think was even more brutal than Johnny Lawrence, especially because of his facial expressions. Speaking of the cast, we have to mention Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita, who are fantastic together. And among the great cast, with many notable names, we can't forget Tamlyn Tomita, who plays Daniel's new love interest - and they're really cute together.

I can say that this movie is great, even if it doesn't quite reach the level of the first one. Still, it's very enjoyable, and seeing how Daniel LaRusso learns new lessons and uses them to overcome new challenges is inspiring - just like every Karate Kid movie.

There's no doubt that The Karate Kid is one of the best franchises I've seen, and this movie, when it was released, had an important job: to create a new story after so many years without a new film. They did it well, but there's one point that might bother some people: the fact that it's not about Karate, as the title suggests, but about Kung Fu.

Every Karate Kid needs a great master, and Jackie Chan as Mr. Han nailed it. I think he was excellent, although I prefer his character in the 2025 movie, which is more open and friendly. He plays a janitor who carries a deep pain in his heart, but Dre, his apprentice, seems to fill that hole.

Speaking of Jaden Smith, he was fantastic in this movie - truly iconic! His performance was great, and he deserves all the praise. His scenes with Jackie Chan were incredible, and as I said, the friendship between their characters is really touching.

Another actor who deserves to be highlighted is Wang Zhenwei, who plays the villain and manages to annoy every viewer.

The fight scenes are great, and watching the development of a new Karate Kid is very satisfying. As I said, I think the only real issue is the title, along with a few minor problems that could have been improved.

Still, it's a good movie to watch, and it showed us that this universe can explore other martial arts beyond Karate - and do it well.

Without a doubt, The Karate Kid became one of the most iconic franchises of all time. It brings joy to both longtime fans and new audiences alike. And everything started with this movie, when a mother and her son moved to a new town, where he would meet a man who would change his life and mindset forever.

Talking about the movie, something I really love in films from that era is the atmosphere of the time-it was such a great period. The cars, the school, and especially the costume party were amazing. These are just a few of the many elements that helped make this film a true classic.

As for the storyline, the friendship between Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi is one of the things I enjoyed the most. Watching LaRusso's development in karate is funny at first, especially when the master gives him strange tasks like washing cars or painting the house. But those tasks turn into valuable lessons for learning karate, which we see as the story progresses-and it's truly inspiring.

Something I really admire is Miyagi's teachings and mindset, both in life and in karate. That becomes crucial when Daniel has to face cruel enemies, led by Kreese and with Johnny as their main fighter. But Daniel faces them without behaving like a Cobra Kai member-he stays true to one of the best things about karate of Mr. Miyagi: its philosophy.

Talking about the cast, Ralph Macchio showed how great he is and will always be remembered as the original-and greatest-Karate Kid. Pat Morita is brilliant as the mentor, and his legacy remains strong to this day. Elisabeth Shue, as Ali Mills, is also great in her role as Daniel's girlfriend-her character is very likeable. Regarding the villains, Martin Kove can easily irritate the audience as the ruthless mentor, especially with how badly he treats his own students. Finally, William Zabka is another iconic name. His last scene is inspiring, when he acknowledges Daniel as the true winner-and what a great final fight it is.

To finish this review: The Karate Kid is a franchise-like Cobra Kai-that never dies. It's a cultural treasure. Thank you to everyone who worked on it!