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The Karate Kid, Part II More at IMDbPro »

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90 reviews in total

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25 out of 29 people found the following review useful:
Wonderful childhood memories, 16 June 2003
Author: J.M. (mjessic2) from Liverpool, New York

I can't tell you how good it made me feel to recapture the joy I first experienced in the theater. I was 12 years old when this came out. The story and plot are simple, and the lessons are very clear. They definitely don't make films like this nowadays. Memories of me sitting in the theater alongside my grandmother, eating loads of buttery popcorn, and telling her about all the good scenes (she couldn't see well)

I have seen this movie over 200 times, and never get tired of it. I recommend viewing both The Karate Kid, and the sequel to at least get the full effect.

Awesome 80's flick, and one I'm proud to own. Five stars.

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30 out of 41 people found the following review useful:
I love this one, 25 October 2004
Author: englisher101

I lived in Japan for 5 years and thought that this movie was great. The movie is set in the beautiful backdrop of Okinawa, and the scenery made me very nostalgic. A lot of people say that it's the worst of the three, but I think it's one of the best (though the first one was definitely great for introducing Mr. Miyagi).

The second movie is a lot more cultural, and it explores the roots of Japanese and Okinawan culture and where Karate fits into it all. Moreover, it is an exploration into Mr. Miyagi's character and history.

Part 1 centers on introducing Mr. Miyagi, part 2 is more about history and honor, and part 3 is interesting because it focuses heavily on the relationship between Daniel-San and Mr. Miyagi.

I think part 2 is especially interesting because, aside from the first-hand look into Mr. Miyagi's past life, we get to see Daniel-San in his first true fight for life. Part 3 reverts back to competition. The first and third movies are more about gaining self-respect, but part 2 introduces a moment where Daniel-San must fight not simply to protect his honor, but to protect the people whom he cares about.

I love the Karate Kid movies. They're some of my favorite childhood movies (aside from the first Neverending Story movie and Willow). I think it's a shame how so many people give such poor ratings for these movies.

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16 out of 17 people found the following review useful:
Kumiko and Daniel, 22 August 2007

Author: cwbellor from Oregon

As a huge fan of the Karate Kid trilogy, you'll have to excuse me while I give my first sentimental statement ever on IMDb. I believe in my heart that in that parallel universe where our favorite characters from film still live, that Kumiko and Daniel would be together today. Either Daniel would have gone to Okinawa to be with Kumiko or Kumiko would have come to the States to be with Daniel. Of course, we learn in Karate Kid Part III that Kumiko decided not to go with Daniel back to California. But in my mind, this is insignificant and has no negative implication for their future. Sure, they both would have had relationships with other people. But having been through what they experienced together, they would not soon forget the bond between them. You wouldn't forget someone that saved your life? Compared to Ali from Part I and Jessica from Part III, it is more than apparent that Kumiko was the love of Daniel's life. Whether it be two years or ten years after the end of Part III, Kumiko and Daniel would have eventually reconnected and continued to live their lives together. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go crush a beer can on my forehead to reconnect with my masculine side.

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20 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
The story continues…, 6 February 2003
Author: Old Joe from Hamilton, Australia

Two years after the success of the smash hit ‘Karate Kid', it was inevitable that the forces behind this most entertaining movie were going to go on and continue the story. In ‘KK2' we get to learn a lot more about the life of Mr. Miyagi and the development of his student, ‘Daniel-san'. We once again get to see that fighting is only the last resort to your problems. There's plenty of adventure and conflict as our triumphant duo discovers more about the price of honour, the way one must fight when only the winner survives and the true power of friendship.

After their triumphant victory at the ‘All-Valley karate championships', Daniel and Miyagi continue their training, focusing on the honour and discipline of karate and the deeper powers of meditation. However, when Miyagi receives news that his father is near death, he and Daniel take off to the island of Okinawa where Miyagi's family lives. Upon Miyagi's return to his homeland, he is reunited with his long-lost childhood love, Yukie. Despite their youthful love for one another, Yukie was forced to marry Miyagi's rival, Sato, in an arranged marriage, causing Miyagi to flee Okinawa forever. Now his old rival is a powerful karate expert and a rich, embittered landowner who demands a final grudge match with the wise and elderly Miyagi. As Sato threatens Miyagi and his family, his nephew, Chozen, is out to fight Daniel in a battle of young wills. Both teacher and student are forced to stand up to their rivals in a matter of honour or shame and life or death.

What I like about KK2, is how the story allows us to learn more about characters that we grew to love in the 1984 movie. Sure the movie continues where the last finished off, not like your normal sequel does. Yet it does show us a different side to what we saw in the original movie. I feel that is what a sequel is meant to do, be a little bit different and allows us to learn new things about characters that we already know. The story was once again written by Robert Mark Kamen, who I thought wrote the part about Miyagi's problems back home beautifully, as is the way that we see Daniel assimilate to the customs and traditions of the Okinawa people, and the way that Miyagi's problems in the end are Daniel's as well. I feel it always helps to have the same director back for any sequel, with John G. Avildson back to bring his touches into the story as well.

The great part of KK2 has to be the return of Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki ‘Pat‘ Morita). The start of film has a most powerful scene between Miyagi and sensei Kreese (Martin Kove), where Miyagi teaches Kreese a karate lesson without even raising a sweat. The popular pairs return gives the story strength to continue on as it did. They also share quite a remarkable chemistry onscreen. It also good for the story to have Daniel ‘fatherless', as he helps his teacher come to terms with the loss of his father, in one of the more emotional scenes in the movie. I must admit I like how Miyagi has faith in Daniel, even when he does not, (there is one scene where this reigns so true in KK2, and is probably the highlight of the entire film).

However, Ralph shares a very special role with Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita), as their characters fall very much in love with each other. Kumiko wants to be a dancer, and Daniel feels that she would be a successful dancer in America. Then there is the evil side to KK2. Sato, (Danny Kamekona), is still bitter about what Miyagi did to his honour before he fled Okinawa and wants a fight so he can reclaim what he believes is rightfully his. Sato's nephew Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) also has feels his honour has been shamed by Daniel, with most of the movie showing Daniel on the receiving on end of Chozen's fist. Yuji has appeared in movies such as ‘The Truman show', ‘The Game' and the 2001 blockbuster ‘Pearl Harbour'.

Karate Kid II also shows off some impressive Japanese locations. The Okinawa village used as Miyagi's was striking, as were the style of the homes, as a person from western society would not be accustomed to such a different lifestyle. There is also the wonderful music that accompanies KK2. Bill Conti's melodic musical score gives the movie great tension, and you have the music from the dancing hall which was live and upbeat. Yet the standout part of the soundtrack for mine has to be the Oscar winning hit, ‘Glory of Love', sung by Peter Cetera. That is one song I like a lot.

This movie is a great extension of the ‘Karate Kid' story, which shows an uplifting story about overcoming the odds and staying true to yourself. Miyagi's strong ‘anti-violence' theme continues in KK2, showing Daniel that the secrets of karate are that it is only to be used it when there is no other way. This movie is also very much about forgiveness, as Miyagi says at the start of the film ‘A person with no forgiveness in heart, living worse punishment than death'. I could not agree more with that statement. Miyagi is the standout character in KK2, as he is always calm and rational, in situations in which most of us would not be, with his character going through a range of emotions that give us a much greater insight into him. If you are a Karate Kid fan than you have to watch what is a most satisfying of sequels.

CMRS gives ‘Karate Kid II': 4 (Very Good Film)

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19 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
As good as the first, 3 October 2004
Author: Mark Mitchell (Darkmonarch2003@yahoo.com) from Planet MAD TV Dot Com

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Rarely does a sequel live up to the original. This movie is one of my personal favorites. It has taught me many lessons that I still hold dear. They don't make them like this anymore.

I enjoyed the fight scenes. They were handled well. It was an interesting plot to see Mr. Myagi go back to face his old friend. A story of love and friendship that turned to bitter hate over that love. And of how true friendship and true love never really die, as Mr. Myagi saves Sato, even as Sato is cursing him with every filthy insult he can think of ( it's a PG movie, though, so instead of the profane and filth, you hear things like " lower than a snake's belly " and " no honor " instead of the more colorful words we hear in movies these days. )

I loved Mr. Myagi's response to what Daniel asked in the airport. Daniel sees a poster of a karate guy breaking a board and asks if Mr. Myagi can do that. Myagi's response? " Don't know. Never been attacked by tree. "

Live or die, man??? DIE! Wrong!! ( Honk!!! )

Priceless and timeless...

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10 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Surprisingly well-made sequel, 2 January 2003

Author: Mike (rkoegel@earthlink.net) from Selbyside - St. Paul, MN USA

Daniel Larusso is back this time in Okinawa, Japan to visit Mr. Miyagi's home village, but upon arrival they discover it's being overrun by his old nemesis and his construction company. The climatic fight scene in the vintage karate ring was about as good as a sequel can get and wasn't relying on the first film for material. If you liked the first "KARATE KID", this one is almost as good, but please; do not see the 3rd sequel, it is Macchio's worst film ever.

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7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
A pretty good sequel, 21 May 2009

Author: RoseNylan from United States

This film is the sequel to the huge 1984 hit, "The Karate Kid". The film starts almost exactly where the first film abruptly ended, with Daniel(played by Ralph Macchio) winning the karate championship under the coaching of Mr. Miyagi(played by Pat Morita). Mr. Miyagi soon learns that his father is dying back in Japan and he goes there to see him one last time and Daniel decides to come along. Miyagi and Daniel run into an old nemesis of Miyagi and Daniel is repeatedly tormented by the nemesis' nephew. Daniel also finds a new love in the daughter of Mr. Miyagi's old lover.

This is a generally simple film with a fine backdrop of the streets of Okinawa. Those who enjoyed the original "Karate Kid" should generally enjoy this predictable, but entertaining sequel. Another plus in the film is the playing of Peter Cetera's song "Glory of Love" in a cute scene involving Daniel and his new love and also in the end credits of the film. It is worth watching.

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9 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
They should have ended the Kid chronicles with this one, 7 June 2001

Author: Thornfield2 from West Valley

The Karate Kid part II should have been the end of the Karate Kid Story. It was an excellent film and the story was a perfect conclusion to the Daniel/Myagi friendship. The heroine Kumiko was perfect for Daniel and in my imagination he stays with her and Myagi stays with his love from childhood and then both of them bring their ladies to the states. KK III was awful and the Next Karate Kid was just idiotic. These lame sequels don't come close to this installment which should have been the last or at least, if a third installment was going to be done, it could of had the couples form the KKII and their new lives back in the states. I love Karate Kid stories and in my imagination the story ends with this wonderful sequel

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5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Lessons in life not a brainless kick-ass movie, 13 September 2008

Author: redpenphantom from United Kingdom

I am sorry to disagree with the comments of "drlawyer" since it only reflects the urge to see fight scenes. Karate kid 2 is a perfect sequel and shows the spiritual side of martial arts. Why measure a sequel with the 1st movie at all? Both, (Karate kid1 and Karate kid2) are unique and have complete story lines. Even for those who only saw the second movie, there is no gap due to the main flashbacks presented in the beginning of it. The acting is excellent and has no need for quick chopped up editing like now-a-days movies do. The grief and emotions connect with the viewer. I saw both movies about 20 times and could see them 20 times again.

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13 out of 22 people found the following review useful:
You'd be surprised ..., 12 July 1999

Author: Spleen from Canberra, Australia

One would have thought that no movie with a title like "The Karate Kid Part II" could possibly be any good. One would have good reason to think this. One would be wrong.

This is a loser-gets-the-girl 1980s teen movie. It is the best of its kind. Even the original, I think, wasn't bad, although it's starting to show its age; the third movie was pure drivel; but this one bears repeated watching very well indeed, and I would recommend it even to people who despise, or think that they despise, the genre it belongs to. Why is it so good? I have no idea. Pure luck, I suppose. Changing the setting to Japan certainly helped. Most teen movies are earthbound by their attempts to be hip and modern and can be dated to within a year. This one was allowed to be timeless.

I admit that "The Karate Kid Part II" will never be *regarded* as a classic, partly because so many people think that a movie with that kind of title cannot possibly be any good. And they have good reason to think this. But they're wrong.

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