By Yulissa Barrios, Staff Writer
One of the best movies that starred in the 1980s is Karate Kid, which follows Daniel LaRusso finding guidance in his high school life through his mentor, Mr. Miyagi. The movie was popular to the point which it ranks number 4 in most beloved drama movies, according to YouGov USA.
Karate Kid conquered so much popularity that the movie’s franchise decided to release a television series from the same universe, Cobra Kai, which was released in 2018 and follows the main characters of the original film, Daniel Larusso and Jonny Lawrence, decades later.
Zariah Nicholas, a senior majoring in social work, stated, “I liked how the show was able to take an existing movie trilogy and transform it into something original with a new storyline.”
The TV series added new characters, which helped to create more drama in the story and introduced the franchise to a whole new generation. This February, the series released its final few batches of episodes, meaning higher stakes and more action.
“I am excited for this season of the show because of the higher stakes in the plot. I heard the characters compete in Spain and I am excited to watch that,” stated Nicholas.
In the final season of the show, the main characters must travel to Barcelona to compete in an international karate competition, The Sekai Taikai, in which they must use what they have learned to win the competition.
Without any spoilers, the series showcased the purpose of karate, which is knowing how to fight to avoid conflict and preserving its traditions, such as the importance of balance and using the martial art only as a form of self-defense.
Although all characters eventually move on with their lives by going to places outside Fernando Valley, it doesn’t mean the end for the Karate Kid legacy.
On Nov. 21, 2023, Sony Pictures dropped a video featuring Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chang announcing a new karate kid movie. For those unaware, in 2010, Sony Pictures released a Karate Kid remake featuring Jackie Chan as the mentor and Jaden Smith as the mentee.
Later in Dec. of 2024, Sony released the first official trailer of the upcoming movie starring Ben Wang, Ralph Macchio, and Jackie Chang.
Nicholas stated, “I am excited for this film because it brings all the iconic Karate Kid figures in the film all in one place while introducing someone new to the mix.”
For those who are big fans of Cobra Kai, this is a great way to continue with the series while also bringing something new to the table, welcoming a familiar face, Daniel Larusso, and new characters, such as Li Fong.
Hopefully, this film will bring fun and action-packed scenes to the table and entertain the audience with an amazing story.
1 Comment
I love Ralph macchio was my first crush still love him