The Karate Kid, Part II [WS/P&S]

Director: John G. Avildsen John G. Avildsen

Overview

"The Karate Kid Part II lacks any exciting bonus features, but it does offer a few supplements. A six-minute featurette contains basic information about the film from interviews with director John Avildsen, producer Jerry Weintraub, and Pat Morita. Created at the time of its original release, this feature comes in an unimpressive full-frame format. The other major section is a series of trailers for this film and a few other Columbia Tristar releases. The previews for The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part II come in poor, full-frame transfers with very limited sound. There are also selected filmographies for Ralph Macchio, Morita, and Avildsen. The 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer features impressive moments of shining colors and excellent clarity. Much of this transfer works nicely, but there are some moments where the contrast suffers and the picture becomes dark and grainy. This could stem from the age of the print, but it's still disappointing in the overall sense. Even given its uneven nature, this transfer still does a decent job in presenting the story. This disc also contains a 1.33:1 full-screen transfer for people more accustomed to television viewing. Bill Conti's rousing score and Peter Cetera's cheesy title track both spring nicely from the speakers on this well-done audio transfer. Although it is only a 2.0-channel Dolby Surround track, the force of the sound renders the limitations less important than usual. The dialogue is clear and understandable throughout the running time, and the sounds have a full texture with plenty of depth."

Product Details

Release Date:	07/10/2001
UPC:	0043396059917
Original Release:	1986
Rating:	PG
Source:	SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMT
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Full Frame, Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:53:00
Sales rank:	6,333

Special Features

Original Featurette; Bonus Trailers; Filmographies; Interactive Menus; Scene Selections

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ralph Macchio	Danial LaRusso,Danial LaRusso
Nobu McCarthy	Yukie,Yukie
Danny Kamekona	Sato,Sato
Tamlyn Tomita	Kumiko,Kumiko
Joey Miyashima	Toshio,Toshio
Marc Hayashi	Taro,Taro
Yuki Okumuto	Chozen,Chozen
Charlie Tanimoto	Miyagi's Father,Miyagi's Father
Martin Kove	Kreese,Kreese
Pat E. Johnson	Referee,Referee,Autograph Fan,Autograph Fan,Autograph Fan,Autograph Fan
Bruce Malmuth	Announcer,Announcer,Cab Driver,Cab Driver
Eddie Smith	Bystander,Bystander
William Zabka	Johnny,Johnny
Chad McQueen	Dutch,Dutch
Tony O'Dell	Jimmy,Jimmy
Ron Thomas	Bobby,Bobby
Rob Garrison	Tommy,Tommy
Will Hunt	Postman,Postman
Raymond Ma	Cab Driver in Okinawa,Cab Driver in Okinawa
George O'Hanlon Jr.	Soldier,Soldier
Tsuruko Ohye	Village Woman,Village Woman
Arsenio Trinidad	Ichiro,Ichiro,Ichiro,Ichiro
Robert Fernandez	Watchman,Watchman
Natalie N. Hashimoto	Kumiko's Street Friend,Kumiko's Street Friend
Diana Mar	Girl in Video Store,Girl in Video Store
Bradd Wong	Boy on Street,Boy on Street
Clarence Gilyard Jr.	GI',GI'
Michael P. Morgan	GI',GI'
Jack Eiseman	GI',GI'
Jeffrey Rogers	GI',GI'
Aaron Seville	GI',GI'
Wes Chong	Sato's Houseman,Sato's Houseman
Traci Toguchi	Bell Ringer,Bell Ringer
Yuji Okumoto	Chozen,Chozen
Lee Arnone	Stewardess #1,Stewardess #1
Pat Morita	Mr. Kesuke Miyagi,Mr. Kesuke Miyagi
Sarah Kendall	Stewardess #2,Stewardess #2
The Cobras	Actor,Actor
Sara Raymond	Ma Cab Driver,Ma Cab Driver
Evan James	Cab Driver,Cab Driver
Robyn Lively	Actor,Actor
Thomas Ian Griffith	Actor,Actor
Sean Kanan	Actor,Actor
Lee Arnone-Briggs	Actor,Actor
Bill Conti	Composer,Composer

Technical Credits

John G. Avildsen

Robert Mark Kamen

John G. Avildsen	Director,Director,Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Robert Mark Kamen	Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Dennis Dion	Special Effects,Special Effects
R.J. Louis	Executive Producer,Executive Producer,Producer,Producer
Jerry Weintraub	Producer,Producer
William J. Cassidy	Producer,Producer
Susan Ekins	Producer,Producer
Syd Dutton	Special Effects,Special Effects
Jim Bullock	Sound Effects,Sound Effects
Don Digirolamo	Sound Effects,Sound Effects
Robert Glass	Sound Effects,Sound Effects
Linda Arvidson	Stunts,Stunts
Caro Jones	Casting,Casting

Editorial Reviews

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).