The Karate Kid (1984)

Some Movies are made to stick in memory and serve as life lessons, for instance "The Shawshank Redemption" or "Dead Poets Society", "The karate Kid" is one of such movies, and just the thought of the last scene still sends shivers of excitment to my spine.

Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) moves from Newark to a town in the San Fernando Valley, ner Los Angeles, looking for a new beginning, Daniel is rapidly attracted to the beautiful Ali (Elizabeth Shue) thus earning the animosity of her ex boyfriend Johnny, a Karate student in the Cobra Kai Dojo run by Sensei Kreese (Martin Kove) an ex special forces who served in vietnam, and who teaches a pragmatic and unethical form of Karate.

Johnny and his friends bully Daniel everytime they see him, one day Mr Miyagi (pat morita) a humble handyman from Japanese origins is witness to the bullying, and manages easily to sweep the the attakers, the impressed Daniel asks him to be his karate teacher.

Reluctant at the beginning Mr Myagi accept to be his karate trainer, and through the training we learn tragic and inspiring aspects of mr Myagi's life, who slowly becomes a father figure to Daniel, through unorthodox training techniques, he slowly becomes elligible to fight in the town highest Karate contest, and to learn important life lessons, about peace harmony, and the true essence of martial arts.

This movie was important due to it's approach to martial arts, and to it's emphasis on the beauty of eastern culture, it also was important in changing the public image of Italina Americans victim to decades of mafioso sterotypes, the Oscar worthy portryal of Miyagi sensei was one of the most influencial parts in eighties cinema, with a big load of life lessons to overcome tragedy and reach out for redemption.

This movie is as relevant today as it was back then, or even more, it teaches simple and powerful lessons about self worth, master disciple relationships, and just the inner beauty of martial arts, eclipsed by all the Tony Jaa's and Jet Li's jumping in all direction

The "crane kick" at the end is an everlasting image which deserves to be seen by any teenager, wether he is or is not interested in martial arts, because this movie is one of the rarest to capture the beauty and fragility of this important period in anyone's life, and that's what makes this movie, more then just what you expect from a movie theater experience, it is actually a life lesson !