Highly Overrated But Still Good

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Yes, yes, yes, I agree, the story is weak and Larusso is even weaker in this third installment of the Karate Kid where, after winning in a UFC-style match in Karate Kid 2, he somehow becomes afraid like a little kid in the finals against Mike Barnes. As a friend noted, it's like as if Larusso didn't learn anything from Mr Miyagi. However, what I loved about Karate Kid 3 is the Terry Silver character who, despite being twisted and devious, nevertheless shows that karate training could help a person succeed financially in life. In contrast, note how Mr Miyagi, John Kreese and Johnny Lawrence, in the new Youtube series Cobra Kai, were all struggling financially. What good is martial arts if the self-discipline and self-mastery learned do not transfer to real life??? Since Silver was the teacher of Mike Barnes and we know that Barnes is set to return in Season 2 of Cobra Kai, it will be interesting to see if Barnes has indeed become successful in life.

This third film is definitely my least favorite. Its main problem is that it suffers from superfluousness.Ralph Macchio is still great as Daniel and Pat Morita is still great as Mr. Miyagi. Thomas Ian Griffith is also a fantastic villain.However, the story is pretty lacking. For the most part, it feels like a rehash of the first movie without nearly as much spark or charm. It adds nothing new to the Karate Kid saga, and the whole thing comes off as unnecessary and tired.Daniel's new love interest is nothing special, and the fight at the end, once again, really isn't anything we haven't seen before.I still feel that Part II would have been the right way to end the series. This film isn't awful, but it is a mediocre and routine third installment all the way. Recommended only to Karate Kid fans.RATING: C

I know places and people, some that might pass for the world in The Karate Kid Part III. I have seen people drink themselves evil. I have seen young people fall apart because of those around them. But, I guess there is always the chance of coming out, and surviving, if you keep up the fight. Dysfunctional families live in decaying shacks, without money or food. Violent dogs are barking everywhere. Disagreements are settled by fistfights. The cinematography is stark and bare, with only the soundtrack adding some effect. The acting is very effective. This is the kind of film that proves that a small story can be much more meaningful than a larger one.

When you look at the acting in this movie, it makes you realize that the first two movies were probably much better acted. Everyone in this movie, including Pat Morita, just ham it up. The worst offender has to be Thomas Ian Griffith, who plays Terry Silver. It looks like he and the actors playing the bad guys took acting lessons from Eric Freeman's performance in SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT PART II. Eric won that role on account of his good looks, not his acting talent. I think it must have been the same situation regarding Ian Griffith.Next time you take karate lessons, use copies of the DVD to do your hand-breaking exercises.