Sunday, 20 February 2011

The Next Karate Kid (3½ Stars)


Most of the reviews of this film compare it with the three previous Karate Kid films. This is effectively "Karate Kid 4". I have the advantage of never having seen the first three films and can judge it in its own right.

Hilary Swank plays a rebellious teenage girl who is still traumatised by the death of her parents. While doing badly at school she obviously has a good heart, as shown by her looking after an injured hawk that she's rescued. A retired Japanese American soldier who had been a friend of her grandfather's looks after her by taking her to a Buddhist monastery for a time of reflection.

This is more of a coming of age film than anything else. The fight scenes are few and far between. Pat Morita is past his best years and isn't convincing as a martial arts master. His relationship with the young girl is touching and emotional.

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