Wednesday, February 28, 2007

my karate kid




so, michael and watched karate kid (part 1) the other night and renewed our love for the classic film. i hadn't watched it in quite a while, so i was fully prepared to be WOW-ed again. there are so many reasons to love and appreciate this film....many great lines and such great music but i believe the message of the film is what holds strong to my heart. ....if you cant fight your own battles, learn karate from an old, wise, japanese man.


one of my favorite characters is john kreese, the cobra kai sensei. he is so "meat". he has quite a dignified way of communicating and such respect for his fellow human beings.


i never had a "crush" on daniel laruso, but i longed for the days when we could practice the "crane" technique together.



here are some of my favorite lines or scenes, which i have memorized by my multiple viewings of this memorable film...

tommy: hey johnny, take a ride, check it out. (as the cobra kai's ride up on their dirt bikes to see daniel and ali (with an i) playing soccer together on the beach.
..................................................
kreese: We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak. Here, in the streets, in competition. A man confronts you he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy. What is the problem Mr. Lawrence?
kreese (to miyagi): i heard you jumped some of my students last night....
..................................................
Kreese: this is a karate dojo, not a knitting class. you don't come in my dojo, drop a challenge, then leave, old man.
..................................................
tommy: must be take a worm for a walk week.----(oh, so fantasticly terrible!)
.................................................
bobby: put him in a body bag!
...................................................
kreese: sweep the leg, do you have a problem w/that?
johnny: no sensei
kreese: no mercy
...................................................
Kreese:What do we study here?
Karate Class: THE WAY OF THE FIST SIR.
Kreese: And what is that way?
Karate Class: STRIKE FIRST. STRIKE HARD. NO MERCY SIR.
Kreese: I can't hear you.
Karate Class: STRIKE FIRST. STRIKE HARD. NO MERCY SIR.

the karate tournament, the climax of the movie, always brings a tear to my eye. i really feel the depth of the characters at this point, as most of the cobra kai start to change their attitudes toward daniel and sympathize with his plight.
they realize that his 80 pound body can bring a world of pain...
ahhh, the timeless classic of a young teenage boy and his friendship with a reclusive Japanese man.

9 comments:

D-dawg said...

Janelle you are funny. I had no idea you loved that movie. It really makes me want to see it again. Dave also loves it. Maybe I'll rent it this weekend and surprise him. Do you really have those lines memorized?? It cracks my up just reading them. The thing I remember most about it from when I was a kid is when he throws his bike away, I was so sad. And how pretty his girlfriend/the girl he wants was. Oh and of course the halloween costume that was a shower right? GREAT MOVIE to bring back old memories.

janellelee said...

denae, ya! i am glad you and dave are fans! it is just one of those movies that is so cheesey, but really moved you as a kid. the bike scene totally made me want to give daniel a hug this time watching it! michael helped me w/some of the lines!

Ryan said...

excellent review of the movie. i'll see the karate kid in a different light evermore.

angie said...

I always had a huge crush on Ralph Macheo (sp) I pretty much still do!

Amy said...

I enjoyed your review of the film. Everyone in that movie is a little too intense and probably need to step it down a notch. DOn't forget Karate kid 2 with the line,"you keep for your collection, I know you like it." That was said by Danny's Chinese nemesis.

Lesley said...

I love that movie! I need to rent it and see it again!

Jonny said...

you got one of the lines wrong. its: "hey johnny, take a right, check it out!" not "take a ride, check it out." i just watched that movie too!

Dave said...

Janelle.... that movie almost makes me cry too... mostly because I can relate to being publicly humiliated, and yearning for revenge... then meeting a small asian mentor to help me whoop some fools!!!!

OK, so that was mostly a lie... but I have been thinking of this trilogy lately (the only real trilogy)... I know there was a 4th, and maybe even a 5th..... but 3 with Daniel San...

That's all I got...

"I am a man who will fight for your honor...."

Julie said...

Janelle - just this last weekend Chad and I rented the trilogy and I totally share your love for Karate Kid! I watched it so much as a child...it brought back so many memories. We used to always say "Live or Die?...Wrong Answer...honk!" (from Karate Kid 2) I like your blog by the way.