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The Karate Kid Part II poster

The Karate Kid Part II

year 1986decade 80sdirector John G. Avildsengenre Martial arts drama

113 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Ralph Macchio Daniel LaRusso
Pat Morita Mr. Miyagi
Tamlyn Tomita Kumiko
Yuji Okumoto Chozen Toguchi
Charlie Tanimoto Miyagi Chōjun
Martin Kove John Kreese

The Karate Kid Part II | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Kyle Brandt
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Producer credits not yet identified.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Was Sato in the right?

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:23:20Read transcript
  • The speakers argue that the arranged marriage and best-friend betrayal give Sato an understandable grievance, questioning Miyagi’s claims of honor.
  • They wish Miyagi and Sato exchanged blows rather than repeatedly avoiding a fight.
  • The woman’s unmarried life and Miyagi leaving again are criticized as an unhappy consequence.

Top Ten List

A1986 box-office top ten is recited, initially introduced as nine.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:26:40Read transcript
  • The order is Top Gun, Crocodile Dundee, Platoon, Karate Kid2, Star Trek4, Back to School, Aliens, The Golden Child, Ruthless People and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Only the first five are said to exceed100 million.

Roger Ebert's review

Rating not yet verified

Ebert reportedly gave a mild television thumbs-up; no written review or star rating is supplied.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:27:24Read transcript
  • The speakers report a mild TV thumbs-up praising Miyagi’s deeper story and Okinawa, and say there was no written review.
  • They wish he had written one and wonder whether Siskel covered it.

Casting What-Ifs

Shue’s absence and the RockyIV music tradeoff.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:59Read transcript
  • Shue reportedly disliked being written out while studying at Harvard and would have returned; the speakers think she did fine afterward.
  • Conti reportedly chose this score over RockyIV, and Cetera’s song was reportedly rejected there for Hearts on Fire.
  • The musical choices are judged appropriate: a romance song fits here better than a revenge/workout film.

Recasting Couch

Give Elizabeth Shue a breakup scene.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:06Read transcript
  • A prom scene with the quarterback, Daniel storming out and Johnny Lawrence is proposed; Zabka’s tiny existing part is regretted.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Oahu filming, B.D. Wong, Kove’s injury claim and recurring music.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:30Read transcript
  • The Windward side of Oahu and B.D. Wong’s dance appearance are reported.
  • Martin Cove’s claim that his blood and lasting scars were real is explicitly doubted.
  • The game’s swinging axe and the repeated Fascination song from the first film are noted.

Picking Nits

Tournament fame, breakup timing, travel choices, English and dubbing are questioned.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:42Read transcript
  • Children asking for Daniel’s autograph seems implausible to one speaker; another loves the exaggerated importance of karate.
  • Ali breaking the news at prom rather than before or after is questioned.
  • Sato and the woman could have traveled to America rather than wait decades; more training or fighting is wanted.
  • Japanese characters speaking broken English to one another should instead use subtitled Japanese.
  • The final nose-honk sound appears dubbed without moving lips and looks sloppy.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Is Daniel good at karate, and would you choose him as a fighting ally?

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:31Read transcript
  • The failed crane kick illustrates the limits of repeating a surprise move, compared with football plays.
  • Asked to choose a non-sensei ally, the speakers doubt Daniel would be a first-round pick and prefer Johnny Lawrence or Dutch.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Chozen is also preferred; the woman’s life and future remain unknown.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:37Read transcript
  • Chozen and Mike Barnes are preferred to Daniel despite their losses; Sato is imagined as formidable, and the absent Miyagi fight is regretted.
  • Was Suki a virgin, and did the nice Sato end up with her? The speakers do not know; Karate Kid3 says nothing about Miyagi’s love life.

Best Double Feature

Karate Kid3 is the serious choice after a documentary joke.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:30:36Read transcript
  • Between PartsI andIII, PartIII is selected; the Peter North documentary is floated jokingly and withdrawn.