On this episode of movie Boarding with my friend Lori (recorded over Zoom) to revisit the 80s classic The Karate Kid — and it may not be the way you remember it.
👊 Was Johnny being groomed by Kreese?
🌸Is Mr. Miyagi actually the main character?
💔We unpack Miyagi’s heartbreaking backstory, the racism he endured, and how the film handled it.
🎯And what's the deal with Ali? Did she have her own hidden agenda?
This isn’t your average nostalgia trip — we’re digging deeper into the characters, the culture, and the undercurrents that made The Karate Kid more than just a feel-good underdog story. The Karate Kid stars:
Main Cast
• Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
• Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi
• William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
• Elisabeth Shue as Ali Mills
• Martin Kove as John Kreese (Cobra Kai sensei)
• Chad McQueen as Dutch (Fun fact: Chad is the son of legendary actor Steve McQueen).• Ron Thomas as Bobby Brown
Director: John G. Avildsen (Also directed Rocky)
Composer: Bill Conti (Famous for the Rocky theme Gonna Fly Now)
🎧 Available now on all podcast platforms!
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Show notes:
1. John Woo and Jackie Chan only did one Movie together Cop Story
2. Pat Morita was not the first Asian American tobe nominated for an Academy Award, but he was the first Asian American to be nominated to Best Supporting Actor
3. The song I keep whistling from Kill Bill Vol. I isThe Lonely Shepherd by Gheorghe Zamfir. The song from The Karate Kid is The Karate Kid Mian Theme.
4. The woman who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus we were referring to was Claudette Colvin. She was not the first, but she did do it nine months before Rosa Parks.