toddv@azure.UUCP (Todd Vierheller) (06/29/84)
I saw the Karate Kid the other night.
1) The kid learned Kung Fu, not Karate. (Experience speaking.)
2) It takes 3-5 years to become anywhere near proficient in Kung Fu.
(Karate: 6 mos to 1 year) Kid must have super powers.
3) One character changes his thinking in a unbelievable way.
4) Kid didn't look like he knew or understood what he was doing.
5) "Contest" was exceptionally poorly run.
Those were the bad points. Now for the good.
1) Very funny. Pat M (the Japanese guy) is hilarious.
Go see it just for this. The humor is excellent.
2) Karate and Kung-Fu (there are both) are pretty good--except for Kid.
3) If you have trained in Kung Fu from a Chinese (born and taught out of US)
you will immediately recognize and enjoy the training methods.
(Orientals who were raised in the East make interesting teachers by
American standards.)
4) Ending is suspenseful. Does he make it? Does he come close and achieve
honor in his effort? Does he get blown out of the tub early on? This
movie resembles at least one of the Rocky movies in some ways or at least
parts of one.
For all of you who think the martial arts are barbaric, go see this
film anyway. IT'S NOT ABOUT MARTIAL ARTS. It's about a boy trying to deal
with a situation that is apparently out of his control.