THE KARATE KID PART II

US, 1986, 108 minutes, Colour.
Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Tamlyn Tomita.
Directed by John G.Avildsen.

Karate Kid Part II begins with the ending of the first film. It has the same principal characters, repeats the style of the first film although tile location is Okinawa and there are race themes also involved. Ralph Macchio is agreeable as Daniel. The film is, as before, stolen by Pat Morita as Mr. Myagi. There is a Bill Conti score, popular songs, some martial arts sequences. The film was once again directed by John G. Avildsen, Oscar-winning director of the first Rocky film.

1. A popular film? Its appeal?

2. The continuity with the original film? Reprising the finale? Taking the characters some minutes further? The repetition of the plot of the first film? Musical score, songs, themes?

3. The California background? The use of Hawaiian locations for Okinawa? Japanese style, culture, comparisons with the United States?

4. The opening and the clash with Kleeve, Mr. Myagi and his menacing Kleeve, defeating him in tactics, tweaking his nose - and Daniel doing the same with the villain at the end? The emphasis on more peaceful and intelligent solutions to conflicts?

5. Daniel: nice young man, American style, winning the contest, disappointment with his mother's moving, his girlfriend leaving him? The bond with Mr. Myagi? The gift for his medal? The training with the concentration, breathing, hammering the nails?

6. Myagi and his personality, pleasant, wise sayings, grandfatherly attitude towards Daniel? War experience? His background from Okinawa, his love for a girl, the rivalry with his friend Sato? His father's influence? The set-up of the fight, the expectation of fight to the death, his leaving Okinawa? The illness of his father, the return? The enjoyment of the flight? Meeting Sato, their clash? The woman who had never married? His father and his illness, his death? The effect on him? The new love between Myagi and the woman? The hostility, his staying? His honour and decisions? Daniel's involvement, his supporting him?

7. Daniel and his decision to go to Okinawa, the flight, his studying up the history, arrival, the old village and the US base? The, clash with the nephew of Sato? The woman and her friendship, her niece? Sharing, the dancing, the possibilities? The violence, the clash, the fights? The rights to the village? The build-up to the celebration? The fight with the nephew? The tactics of the fight, Daniel's being beaten, the support of Myagi and the others with their rattles?

8. Life on Okinawa, the American base, noise, Japanese manners and style, celebration, dance?

9. The storm and its havoc, Sato and his injury, being saved, the little girl being saved, the nephew losing face and being cut off by Sato, his revenge with the fight? His pulling a knife on the niece? His being defeated?

10. The dance and the crisis, the fight, the rattle and the significance, the support, Daniel winning - and tweaking his opponent's nose?

11. Themes of the bridging of the gap between the generations, between the races? Japanese honour? American honour? Fights and non-violence? A humane and genial story, characters?