Main Cast: Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, Nobu McCarthy, Danny Kamekona, Yuji Okumoto
Release Year: 1986
Country: US
Run Time: 113 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
This sequel to the 1984 surprise hit The Karate Kid reunites Ralph Macchio as high-schooler Danny and Noriyuki "Pat" Morita as Danny's martial-arts mentor Miyagi. Picking up where the first film left off, The Karate Kid Part II finds Danny and Miyagi making an emergency trip to Okinawa, where Miyagi's father is dying. Here they revisit Miyagi's childhood sweetheart Nobu McCarthy who, Miyagi believes, had been wheedled into an arranged marriage with loose-cannon karate expert Sato (Danny Kamekona). Little does Miyagi realize that the woman is still single; Sato is still around as well, however, and intent on resuming the fight with his old nemesis. Morita agrees; meanwhile, Danny is challenged by Kamekona's pugnacious nephew Yuji Okumoto. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The Karate Kid Part II is basically more of the same from director John G. Avildsen, a sequel that studies the high points of the original so closely that it could be considered a remake set in a different location. Instead of being cheered and applauded by an American tournament crowd won over by his underdog status, this time Daniel is urged onward by the swell of handheld percussive instruments scattered through a Japanese crowd won over by his underdog status. However hastily it was rushed into production, The Karate Kid Part II does manage to duplicate the original's winning vibe, including prompting pleased moviegoers to karate chop the air on their way out of the theater, in turn expelling their adrenaline. The fact that it cleared over $115 million domestically, compared to the $90 million taken in by the original, indicates the appetite for escapism that prompted two more similar sequels. This also probably corresponded with a hike in enrollment at karate studios around the country. Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita exude considerable comfort with the traits expected of them, with Macchio hauling back out his blue-collar New Jersey pride and Morita getting more laughs from wise eccentricity. The series began a serious slide after this installment, though it did feature future Oscar-winner Hilary Swank in part four (The Next Karate Kid). ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Tamlyn Tomita - Kumiko; The Cobras; Clarence Gilyard, Jr. - G.I. #1; Marc Hayashi - Taro; Garth Johnson - Autograph Fan; Sarah Kendall - Stewardess; Martin Kove - Kreese; Robyn Lively; Chad McQueen - Dutch; Joey Miyashima - Toshio; Tony O'Dell - Jimmy; George O'Hanlon Jr. - Soldier; Jeffrey Rogers - G.I. #4; Aaron Seville - G.I. #5; Ron Thomas - Bobby; Arsenio "Sonny" Trinidad - Ichiro; B.D. Wong - Boy on Street; William Zabka - Johnny; Bruce Malmuth - Announcer; Lee Arnone - Stewardess; Wes Chong - Sato's Houseman; Jack Eiseman - G.I. #3; Rob Garrison - Tommy; Natile N. Hashimoto - Kumiko's Friend; Will Hunt - Postman; Raymond Ma - Cab Driver in Okinawa; Evan Malmuth - Cab Driver; Diana Mar - Video Store Girl; Tsuruko Ohye - Village Woman; Sara Raymond - Ma Cab Driver; Eddie Smith - Bystander; Charlie Tanimoto - Miyagi's father; Traci Toguchi - Girl Bell Ringer; Michael P. Morgan - G.I.; Pat E. Johnson - Referee; Robert Fernandez - Watchman
Credit
William Matthews - Art Director, William J. Cassidy - Associate Producer, Karen Trudy Rosenfelt - Associate Producer, Susan Ekins - Associate Producer, Caro Jones - Casting, Paul de Rolf - Choreography, Jose de Vega - Choreography, Zenko Heshiki - Consultant/advisor, Mary Malin - Costume Designer, John G. Avildsen - Director, John G. Avildsen - Editor, David Garfield - Editor, Jane Kurson - Editor, John Carter - Editor, Pat E. Johnson - Fights Choreographer, Peter Cetera - Composer (Music Score), Bill Conti - Composer (Music Score), David Foster - Composer (Music Score), Jacob Brackman - Songwriter, Peter Cetera - Songwriter, Bill Conti - Songwriter, Jimmy de Knight - Songwriter, Dennis de Young - Songwriter, David Foster - Songwriter, Max Friedman - Songwriter, Diane Nini - Songwriter, Michael Omartian - Songwriter, Roland Orzabal - Songwriter, Wayne Perkins - Songwriter, Carly Simon - Songwriter, Ian Stanley - Songwriter, Dootsie Williams - Songwriter, Richard Wolf - Songwriter, Curtis Williams - Songwriter, James Kail - Makeup, John M. Elliott, Jr. - Makeup, William J. Cassidy - Production Designer, James A. Crabe - Cinematographer, R.J. Louis - Producer, Jerry Weintraub - Producer, Lee Poll - Set Designer, Jim Teegarden - Set Designer, Dennis Dion - Special Effects, Robert Mark Kamen - Screenwriter, Stephen A. Hope - Music Editor, Masakazu Yoshizawa - Musical Performer, Christine Larson - Second Assistant Director
