On paper, The Karate Kid Part II should have worked. It features the same cast members as the original and is written and directed by the same people, Robert Mark Kamen and John G. Avildson respectively. The cinematography for both films was shot by 70s and 80s stalwart, James Crabe. Even the score was composed by the same person, Bill Conti. So what makes it such a poor film in comparison to the original?
In
both films, new kid in town Daniel LaRusso provokes the ire of the
local bully. Under the tutelage of mentor Mr Miyagi, he
learns a secret karate move that will defeat his enemies, bestow on
him the adulation of a small community, and win the girl of his
dreams. Like most sequels in the 80s, The Karate Kid Part II follows
a generic sequel blueprint, rehashing the exact same story as the
original with slightly elevated stakes. This certainly reduces its
value as a film in its own right, but shouldn't necessarily make it
'bad'. It's when we start comparing the two films that the sequel's
failings truly become clear. The film-makers actively force us to do
this in the opening minutes of Part II, in which we are treated to a
flashback summary of the first film. By the time Daniel's flying
crane kick makes its appearance, we are reminded of the excitement we
felt at the climax of the last film and are primed and ready for the
next instalment. The sequel, inevitably, fails to reach these same
heights.
Using
story elements originally written for the end of The Karate Kid, the
sequel begins at the conclusion of the All Valley Karate Tournament.
Straight away, things don't seem right, and I'm not referring to the
fact that Mr Miyagi is awkwardly loitering by a shower room filled
with naked teenage boys.
