The Karate Kid Series Episode 6

The Karate Kid franchise has had nothing but victories lately. The 2010 remake was a box-office success, and fans flocked to YouTube and Netflix for Cobra Kai. Now, Sony wants to high-kick this franchise back into theaters and combine the universes, having both Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan as teachers to young Li Fong (Ben Wang). But with those senseis relegated to glorified cameos, and the karate coming late into the film, will audiences be disappointed in this film that focuses as much on boxing as martial arts? And can it live up to the nostalgic joy of Cobra Kai? Join Arnie, Jason, and Brock now to find out!

The Karate Kid Series Episode 5

More than 25 years after Daniel LaRusso swept the leg and crane-kicked his way into pop culture, The Karate Kid arrives as a new-generation reboot. This time, the story moves to China, trades karate for kung fu, and stars Jaden Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness) alongside Jackie Chan (Rush Hour) in the mentor role made famous by Pat Morita in the 1984 original. Filmed on location in Beijing and aiming for a broader international scale, the remake keeps the underdog framework but shifts the cultural backdrop and fighting style. Does this retelling capture the heart and emotional punch that made the original a classic, or is it another remake that understands the moves but not the meaning? The hosts step onto the mat to decide.

The Karate Kid Series Episode 4

In 1994, The Karate Kid tried to be the comeback kid in this soft reboot of the series. Gone is Ralph Macchio’s aging protagonist, replaced by future Academy Award-winning actress Hillary Swank (Boys Don’t Cry) in her first starring role. And back is Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) with his wisdom and unlikely training methods. This film failed to catch on in theaters, but with a new reboot of The Karate Kid coming out next week, was The Next Karate Kid an unappreciated classic? Listen in and find out!

The Karate Kid Series Episode 3

Three years after the release of The Karate Kid Part II, Daniel LaRusso (My Cousin Vinny’s Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) were back in California, and in theaters with the aptly named The Karate Kid Part III. Now, Daniel must defend his Karate title against “Karate’s Bad Boy” Mike Barnes, and when Mr. Miyagi refuses to help him train, Daniel turns to toxic waste dumper Terry Silver for help. With a subplot involving Mr. Miyagi’s Little Trees, this film has been generally panned by critics. But is this movie as bad as everyone remembers? Listen in and find out!

The Karate Kid Series Episode 2

In 1984, The Karate Kid crane-kicked the box office, and it didn’t take Mr. Miyagi to realize a sequel would be fast-tracked. Released in the summer of 1986, The Karate Kid Part II took Daniel LaRusso (Outsiders’ Ralph Macchio) from California to Okinawa. Mr. Miyagi (Happy Days’ Pat Morita) faces his former rival Sat,o and Peter Cetera delivers a theme song that still monopolizes light-rock radio the world over. The sequel grossed even more than the original, but does that make The Karate Kid Part II the better film? Listen in and find out!

The Karate Kid Series Episode 1

Did you want to take Karate lessons in 1984? If so, you weren’t alone! When The Karate Kid first came out, it was a smash hit, earning an Oscar nomination for Pat Morita and entering “Wax on, Wax off” into the cultural lexicon of movie phrases. Now, with this classic story being reinterpreted for modern audiences with this summer’s remake starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, we at Now Playing Podcast will “wax on” with our Karate Kid retrospective series. Is this first installment worth the legacy? Listen in and find out!