This coming-of-age story combined with sports elements feels deeply heartfelt and significant. A young man named Daniel (played by Ralph Macchio) relocates to Los Angeles with his mom from New Jersey, but he isn’t easily accepted by the Cobra Kai group at school; Johnny (William Zabka) is their leader and a bit of a bully. He does connect with a potential girlfriend (Elisabeth Shue), and develops a special bond with a Japanese American man who offers to instruct him in karate (Pat Morita). The narrative builds toward Daniel’s confrontation with Johnny in a tournament setting. Martin Kove appears as the instructor, portraying a truly villainous character. “The Karate Kid,” released in 1984, is very much reflective of its era and doesn't shy away from it. A lengthy scene featuring Bananarama’s "Cruel Summer" really captures that feeling; I thought that school scene was particularly well done. There’s just something about this film that consistently affects me; it has a genuine emotional core. It explores the affection between a teenager and his mother, a boy and a girl, and the paternal connection between a newcomer and an older, wiser man in the neighborhood. The story is also about confronting significant obstacles and discovering how to prevail against them. There’s a sense of respectfulness throughout, and everything feels authentic, with the possible exception of the over-the-top masculinity of the instructor—though that aspect can be enjoyable. Elisabeth Shue delivers a noteworthy performance as the female lead, and the film benefits from strong supporting roles, including Randee Heller's portrayal of Daniel’s kindhearted mother. The movie has a runtime of 2 hours and 6 minutes and was filmed in the Los Angeles region. GRADE: A-

Source on TMDB