Where to watch The Karate Kid Part III
1 1/2 Stars
John Kreese, his life in tatters after his karate school was defeated by Daniel and Miyagi, visits Terry Silver, a Vietnam War comrade. Terry is a ruthless businessman and martial arts expert, and he vows to help Kreese gain revenge on Daniel and Miyagi and reestablish Cobra Kai. Upon returning from Okinawa, Daniel and Miyagi discover that their apartment building has been demolished, which brings Miyagi out of work. Going against Miyagi’s wishes, Daniel uses his college funds to realize Miyagi’s dream of opening a bonsai tree shop, and becomes a partner in the bonsai business.
Ghostbusters II, Star Trek V, and Karate Kid III all arrived in cinemas during the summer of 1989. Each film opened well then quickly sank on the charts, and was dismissed as a low point in its respective franchise. Karate Kid Part II was a fantastic follow-up that furthered the story and the relationship between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi. Part III is nearly a total retcon of the previous film and serves as a direct sequel to the first movie. The quality writing of Robert Mark Kamen that shined in the earlier two entries is totally absent from the dismal Part III.
Ralph Macchio, with a bloated face, gives one of the most irritating performances of the 1980s. Pat Morita, four years removed from an Oscar nomination for Part I, is still magnetic and delivers the heart of the film. Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver is allowed to wildly over-act, and Martin Kove is off-screen far too much. Karate Kid 3 is the kind of weak follow-up one would expect when the concept has been drained of all its originality. The original team of creatives that delivered the exceptional Karate Kid and Part II are back in front of and behind the camera, but there is no magic left in the formula.
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
Written by: Robert Mark Kamen
Starring: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Robyn Lively