The Karate Kid II Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

The Karate Kid II Blu-ray Movie Review

It's not the original, but this sequel proves a halfway decent entry into the series.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 29, 2010

Not matter who's stronger, matter who's smarter.

Death, taxes, and sequels to popular movies. Like clockwork, almost any movie with a pulse earns itself at least a second outing, and 1984's The Karate Kid was no exception. Two years after crane kicks, "wax on, wax off," and catching flies with chopsticks became all the rage, Writer Robert Mark Kamen, Director John G. Avildsen, and Actors Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita once again teamed up for -- what else -- The Karate Kid, Part II, a sequel that builds on the friendship between mentor and pupil but ultimately fails to capture the same spirit, cultural relevance, and thematic importance of the first movie. Gone are the many trademark lines, memorable scenes, truly despicable villains, emotional undercurrents, and life lessons that made the first picture such a wonderful experience and lent to it a lasting appeal that's held fast for more than two decades and counting. The Karate Kid, Part II is a decent movie for what it is; it captures some of the same superficial elements and in several ways is little more than a "remake-lite" of the first, but fans expecting the same depth of characters and script will walk away somewhat disappointed with this serviceable but not particularly memorable sequel.

HONK!

Beginning just moments after The Karate Kid ended, Daniel (Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Morita) wrap up some unfinished business with Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) after Daniel's stunning victory in the All-Valley Karate Tournament. Flash forward six months, and Daniel's life is in shambles. His relationship with Ali is on the rocks, and his mother is about to move the family again, this time to Fresno. Mr. Miyagi, as always, has a solution: he's building for Daniel a guest house on his property, but before they can even drive in more than a few nails, Miyagi recieves word that his father in Okinawa is dying. The two fly across the pacific to be him, where Miyagi must face an old rival, Sato (Danny Kamekona), who was once Miyagi's best friend but is now a wealthy business magnate who unfairly treats that those that live in the old village, a village that he now owns and from which he collects rent from the locals. Complicating the Miyagi-Sato relationship is Miyagi's old sweetheart, Yukie (Nobu McCarthy), who was arranged to mary Sato but never did. Sato challenges Miyagi in a fight to the death for the restoration of honor. Meanwhile, Daniel develops a romantic relationship with a local girl named Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita) but must constantly fend off violent advances from the hateful and violent Chozen (Yuji Okumoto).

Though a comparison is inevitable, it's not completely fair to go into The Karate Kid, Part II expecting anything on the same level of excellence as the first; few sequels manage to live up to, or top, their predecessors, but there's a rushed feel to this production that, while not playing as sloppy or poorly conceived, certainly fails to capture the same magic, drama, and most importantly, heart, of the first. It's of a much lesser purpose and spirit, and while the emphasis shifts to Miyagi from Daniel and brings with that shift some new and contrasting elements into the fray -- East meets West, an old rivalry coupled with the seeds of a new one, an ancient village in jeopardy at the hands of the modern world, and a burgeoning romance and the rekindling of another -- there are no life-changing or, at the very least, influential themes to be found anywhere in the movie, other than, perhaps, a message that says that old wounds can be healed with patience and the extended arm of friendship rather than the closed fist of hatred. Certainly the picture is one of dichotomies; for every major action -- or here plot line -- there's another that in some way counters or mirrors it. The movie is well constructed in that regard, but most if it seems rather hollow; the absence of much in the way of a deeper spiritual or emotional base hurts the movie a great deal, particularly when juxtaposed against the many positives of the first.

With the emphasis on and the plot developments revolving around the Mr. Miyagi character, The Karate Kid, Part II only benefits from more Pat Morita. While's he same same old sage with a tranquil spirit, a good heart, and the ability to physically defend himself and others should the need arise, he's here not quite the same fountain of wisdom as he was in the first. No matter; the character is still just as endearing, and Morita is still excellent in the role, giving a touching and even heartfelt performance. When Miyagi's father dies, the pain in Morita's eyes is readily apparent, and he as an actor adds a tremendous amount of depth and soul to a character that's already been granted more than many others through Robert Mark Kamen's ability to so finely script him. As for Daniel, his story mirrors that of the first film and is the one element that suffers most from something of a remake feel. His character proves to be a little more confident from the outset and he still learns a new karate move or two through the course of the movie, but the crux of this side of the picture is basically the same as it was in The Karate Kid. Daniel finds a new love interest and is bullied by some bad guys who, just like those in The Karate Kid, are of bad character and with absolutely no morals, no sense of honor, and who come across as one-dimmensional enemies who serve only as a counterpoint to Daniel rather than as a counterpoint to the Miyagi philosophy of karate, as was the case with Kreese and Johnny in the first. The Karate Kid, Part II is definitely Miyagi's movie, and while his story isn't quite as engaging as it was in the first, it's the retread Daniel portion that drags the movie down considerably.

The Karate Kid II Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Karate Kid, Part II's 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer is pretty much the same as that found on its predecessors's Blu-ray release. It's a stable, crisp, image with a moderate-to-heavy grain structure and solid but not exceptional detailing. Indeed, viewers will note the nuances of the paint scheme as seen on the walls of the Miyagi family dojo, the textures of rocks and cliff faces in a seaside scene in chapter nine, and the lines and fabric textures on clothing throughout the movie, particularly evident on some of the higher-end suits and shirts worn by Sato and Chozen. Colors are stable, though reds again appear more intense and globular than do other shades. However, the bright blue Okinawan sky and vibrant green foliage look great in every daytime scene. The image doesn't sport much in terms of obvious depth, but it's never paper-flat, either. Blacks are consistently dark but they do overpower the screen a few times, and flesh tones remain natural throughout. Like the first film's Blu-ray release, print damage in the form of speckles and splotches and the like are minimal to non-existent. Likewise, it's similar in that it looks fantastic for what it is. It's not going to sparkle like some crisp, smooth, colorful, and intricately-detailed Pixar movie, but there's little room for complaint with what is another competent and high-quality catalogue release from Sony.

The Karate Kid II Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ditto for the soundtrack. The Karate Kid, Part II's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack serves up a quality all-around presentation. It's not going to test the limits of any sound system, but it's capable, enjoyable, and somewhat engrossing. Most importantly, it's crisp and stable without any demonstrable hiccups, though some elements aren't quite as robust and natural as one might hope for, for instance a rumbling bulldozer as heard in chapter 12 that moves across the soundstage well enough but lacks more than a cursory hint of power, lacking that big, hulking, rumbling sensation that might have been afforded the effect in a track of a significantly newer vintage. Likewise, a major storm in chapter 14 blows through the listening area with a good deal of sheer force but with little immersive clarity and attention to detail. Fortunately, the remainder of the track is just fine. Light ambience around the Okinawan village -- rustling leaves, chirping birds, and even the sounds of military aircraft and ground vehicles moving about in the distance -- create a fair atmosphere that's not completely engulfing but otherwise prove solid enough to make for a mostly convincing listen. This track serves the picture's music well; whether a sampling of "Rock Around the Clock" at a retro dance hall in chapter 10 or the rendition of the Oscar-nomiated Peter Cetera song "Glory of Love," songs play as wonderfully crisp and natural, powerful and better than ever. With consistently accurate dialogue reproduction, The Karate Kid, Part II enjoys a boost with this above-average lossless presentation.

The Karate Kid II Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unfortunately, The Karate Kid, Part II lacks the impressive array of bonuses that grace the originals' Blu-ray release. Sony's Blu-Pop feature here is completely text-based; no video interview clips are included. Viewers can skip to each text bubble by hitting the "Chapter skip" button on the remote. The Sequel (480p, 6:18) is a brief behind-the-scenes piece that features cast and crew speaking on making the picture and the storyline, intercut with plenty of footage from the film. BD-Live functionality and 1080p trailers for Hachi: A Dog's Tale, Extraordinary Measures, Facing the Giants, and The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep round out this all-too-brief allotment of supplements.

The Karate Kid II Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Karate Kid, Part II definitely has its problems, most of which stem from the fact that it's not as deep and relevant as the first in the series. This entry takes on something of a generic tone; it retains its primary characters, yes, but gone is the spirit and passion of the first movie, replaced here with what is but a decent story from the Miyagi perspective and a carbon copy of Daniel's story from The Karate Kid. Technically, the film is well-crafted and the juxtaposition of elements is intriguing, but the movie doesn't really do anything with them. This is a standard, by-the-book sequel; it's a fun movie taken at face value and with the understanding that it's but a supplement to the first film and not its equal. Sony's Blu-ray release of The Karate Kid, Part II is, technically, on par with the first, offering very little difference in quality between the two films. Unfortunately, Part II doesn't come with the same plethora of bonus features that graced The Karate Kid. Recommended if purchased alongside the original film in the aggressively-priced two-pack.