Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #766 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-10-31
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 452 minutes

Amazon.com
A sizeable hit with both teen audiences and sports-themed movie enthusiasts, 1984's The Karate Kid had the right combination of heart and action to spawn three sequels of varying quality between 1986 and 1994. All four features have been packaged together in this three-disc set. Though plot elements varied from film to film, the core story (and the series' greatest strength) remained the same--the relationship between a wise Japanese martial arts teacher (skillfully underplayed by comedian Pat Morita) and his young American student (Ralph Macchio in the first three films, and future Oscar winner Hilary Swank in the final entry, The Next Karate Kid). The first of the Morita/Macchio matchups remains the best of the four features, with excellent performances from both leads and director John G. Avildsen (who also handled Rocky and the first two Kid sequels) expertly balancing the emotional moments with the pure excitement of the martial arts tournament that serves as its finale. The subsequent sequels with Macchio seemed pulpier (especially The Karate Kid, Part 2, with its rekindled wartime romance subplot), and the inevitable come-from-behind competitions lacking the impact of the original; 1994's The Next Karate Kid (directed by Christopher Cain) put a slight spin on the formula by replacing Macchio with belligerent teen Swank, but it too seems like a retread of the first film. Still, the messages inherent to each film--finding one's inner strength, trusting your heart--should ring true to new generations of younger viewers. Fans may find the Collection light on supplemental features. While all four films are presented in anamorphic widescreen format, only the original (which was previously released in pan-and-scan only) offers commentary by Avildsen, Macchio and Morita and several making-of featurettes. The three sequels, packed into two discs, offer no extras. --Paul Gaita

Synopsis
In 'The Karate Kid' a young teenager who is plagued by attacks and cruel jokes by a gang of vengeful kids, takes karate lessons in the hope that it will make him strong. In the end he learns the more important lesson, that fighting is the last answer to a problem, not the first. 'The Karate Kid is the Sequel which continues the story of a young man growing up under the guidance of his Japanese mentor. Daniel and Miyagi travel to Okinawa where they find they are no longer part of a game played by the rules. Plus 'The Karate Kid 3' and 'The Next Karate Kid'.

Customer Reviews

Sandafloor Danyosun!
The film series that forever labelled Ralph Macchio as 'the Kid'. Part 1 was a massive success and spawned 3 way inferior sequals. Its the story of a bullied youngster who is taught the secrets of Karate by wise old Pat Morita (Mr Miyagi). Its simple but effective stuff from the director of Rocky.

Macchio rises above the poor script to deliver a believable and heart felt performance, look out for Elisabeth Shue in an early role, but its Morita that steals the show, Creating a character that has been endlessly copied and parodied but never betered. The music and story are truely inspiring, trust me your children will want to paint your fence and wax your car by the end!

Part 2 and 3 arent worth mentioning this is a film that should never have been continued, there is some character development in part 2 and part 3 is a poor rehash of part 1, with Macchio still playing the kid at 30 years old.

The next Karate Kid features oscar winner Hilary Swank in an early role, its better than the other sequals but mostly its just cringe worthy.

Parts 2,3 and 4 are all 2 star movies, but part 1 is such a modern classic it gets 5.

The Karate Kids
This boxset contains all 4 Karate Kid movies if you liked the movies on TV this boxset will allow to rewatch the movies anytime you wish.

The fourth and final film isn't that great but still watchable there are a number of extras that will please people who like DVD's for their extra and not the feature.

This is a good gift for any fan of The Karate Kid movies the perfect parnter that Amazon.co.uk suggest is also a great set of movies and a perfect gift for Eddie Murphy fans. Eddie has one of his best roles in that set of films buy both and enjoy a great set of films.

Salmon
Unbelievable stuff - in Karate Kid 3, Terry Silver explodes out of the screen using his unorthodox bribery techniques including poached salmon. WOW!! His villainy is beyond comparison - I've never seen such lust for pain and suffering as Terry illustrates. He should be knighted. His contempt for 'The Kid' and Miyagi filled me with applause. I left the cinema a better man.
AWESOME!!!!