Review of The Karate Kid Part III (1989) by Anssi V — 10 Oct 2011

I actually had to check: This movie has the same director and writer than the first two films. So the only thing I can ask is: What the hell happened!? I mean, this was awful. The movie is full of inconsistencies, the characters feel weird - only Mr.

Miyagi stays pretty constant and even he has some WTF-moments - and the whole movie is full twists that only happen because the plot says so. For example, Daniel is harassed by Cobra Kai - who are possibly the silliest villains ever, there's just no way for me to take them seriously - and when he tries to get police involved we're told that he was laughed at.

.. I mean come one, movie. I know you cannot allow the police to take these people into custody, because in that case the movie would end aprubtly, but you have to give us a better excuse than that the police just refuses to help.

Furthermore, Daniel feels weird in this film. I know he has had some pouts of stupidity and youngish anger before, but this is really strecthing it. In this he feels more annoying than sympathetic, more stupid than just naive, more of a scumbag than a hero and in the final tournament he isn't even trying before the final second.

He literally just lets his opponent beat him without even attempting to hit the guy. Why, you may ask? Well because the fucking plot says that's good ass-kissery! On the other hand the movie has some really nice scenes.

Mr Miyagi is still pretty good, though he is downplayed in this film - bad decision, guys - but he still manages to be likable. The mandatory love interest isn't so bad either, though I would have loved to see Kumiko from the second film.

All in all, this film has its moments, but truth be told I'm actually quite sad that this movie exists. It makes the overall story weaker.