The Next Karate Kid

get those 40 year old men OUT of high school

not ralph

I mean I can’t hate miyagi at all so we will allow this one lol.

Some people may like only the Ralph Macchio movies, BUT Hilary Swank did not disappoint.

The Next Karate Kid attempts to breathe new life into the beloved Karate Kid franchise by introducing a new protégé for Mr. Miyagi: troubled teenager Julie Pierce (Hilary Swank, in her first starring theatrical role). Pat Morita reprises his iconic role, as he journeys to Boston to attend a military reunion and encounters his former commander's granddaughter, who desperately needs his unique blend of karate and wisdom. My overall impression is that despite the best efforts of Morita and a promising lead in Swank, the film feels like a rehash of familiar tropes, lacking the charm, heart, and genuine conflict that made the original films (even Part II) so endearing. It's a rather disappointing final chapter for Morita's Miyagi in the original continuity.

Rating:
3.6/10 ⭐️ (★★ - Disappointing)
A disappointing rating for a film that attempts to re-energize a beloved franchise with a new protagonist, but ultimately falls short due to a weak, predictable plot and underdeveloped antagonists.

The Good:
* Characters (Strengths): The undisputed strength of the film is, once again, Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi. He remains the calm, wise, and endearing mentor that audiences loved, and his presence is the sole connecting tissue to the original trilogy. His quiet lessons and philosophical outlook still resonate, even within a weaker script. Hilary Swank, in an early career role, shows flashes of the talent that would make her a two-time Oscar winner. She brings a raw, rebellious energy to Julie Pierce, making her a sympathetic, albeit angsty, protagonist, demonstrating her ability to carry a leading role.
* Narrative & Story (Strengths): The premise of Miyagi mentoring a troubled young woman rather than a bullied boy offers a slight variation on the established formula. The core idea of Miyagi helping Julie deal with her grief and anger through karate and Buddhist philosophy is a sound one, playing to the strengths of his character.
* Technical Aspects (Strengths): Bill Conti's score, while not reaching the iconic heights of the first film, still provides familiar musical cues that evoke a sense of the Karate Kid universe.

The Not So Good:
* Narrative & Story (Weaknesses): The plot is overwhelmingly predictable and formulaic, heavily recycling elements from the original film without adding any fresh insights. The "new school, new bullies" dynamic feels stale, and the conflict with the "Alpha Elite" and Colonel Dugan is simplistic and lacks genuine menace. The portrayal of Julie's angst often feels forced rather than organically developed, and the resolution of her emotional issues feels rushed. The film's attempt to be a "girl power" version of The Karate Kid often feels superficial.
* Characters (Weaknesses): Beyond Miyagi and Julie, the supporting characters are largely one-dimensional. The antagonists, particularly the Alpha Elite and Colonel Dugan (Michael Ironside, whose talents are underutilized), are cartoonishly evil and lack any real depth or motivation beyond simply being bad. The romantic interest, Eric McGowen (Chris Conrad), is bland and forgettable. The film struggles to create the same compelling character dynamics that defined the original trilogy.
* Directing & Filmmaking (Weaknesses): Christopher Cain's direction feels pedestrian and uninspired, lacking the emotional nuance or compelling visual style of John G. Avildsen's earlier work. The film often feels like a made-for-TV movie rather than a theatrical release. The action sequences, while present, lack the impact or creative spark of the original film's fights. The pacing is often sluggish, especially in the early sections, struggling to generate genuine excitement.
* Enjoyment & Engagement (Negatives): For fans of the franchise, the film's repetitive nature, weak villains, and a somewhat watered-down feel can make it a disappointing and ultimately disengaging watch. It struggles to capture the magic and heart that made the first two films beloved, often feeling like a tired retread rather than a fresh continuation.

The Verdict:
The Next Karate Kid attempts to revitalize the Karate Kid franchise with a new lead in Hilary Swank, but it ultimately falls far short of its predecessors. While Pat Morita's enduring charm as Mr. Miyagi is the film's sole redeeming quality, a predictable and uninspired script, coupled with one-dimensional antagonists and a lack of genuine emotional depth, makes this a largely regrettable and disappointing installment. It serves as a rather underwhelming final bow for Pat Morita in the original film series. Recommended only for completionists of the Karate Kid franchise or die-hard fans of Pat Morita.

Optional Additional Categories:
* Genre & Tone: The film attempts to maintain the martial arts drama/coming-of-age tone of its predecessors but often veers into generic teen movie territory, losing some of the philosophical depth.
* Target Audience: It clearly aims at a younger audience, particularly girls, but its weak execution likely limited its appeal even within that demographic.
* Originality & Innovation: The film's main attempt at originality is introducing a female protagonist, but it fails to truly innovate the well-worn narrative formula.
* Themes & Messages (Further Discussion): It attempts to explore themes of anger management, grief, and female empowerment through martial arts, but these are often superficially handled compared to the deeper lessons of the earlier films.
* Comparison to Other Films: It stands as the weakest entry in the original Karate Kid film series, often drawing unfavorable comparisons to its predecessors due to its generic plot and lack of the original's charm and impact.

really bad