The Karate Kid, Part III

That was NOT a good movie. I feel like going into a full deconstruction into why it didn't work would be giving the movie more than it was due. Let's just say I know in my head that the Cobra Kai bad guys have always been cartoonishly evil supervillains. I guess it really only bothers me so much this time because they have so much more screentime than before. That's probably the only reason I tolerated Kreese at all in the first two films. These guys shouldn't be fighting Daniel Larusso. They should be fighting Captain Planet. That's how bad it was.

I also found Miyagi's reversal of position regarding training Daniel beyond disingenuous. Because in reality, nothing had changed. Either Miyagi is wrong now, or Daniel was always right. There is no real turning point to be had there. The situation has always been this.

Before I end this review with my mediocre grade of two stars were there any things I liked? Pat Morita gave a solid performance. Miyagi is a stereotype, and on some level an ugly one. But when he sees the broken Bonsai tree my heart breaks along with his, and him singing the happy song in the car was similarly infectious.

But man, there is very little to recommend the third time out. Will Cobra Kai the series be a half apology for this one? I'm guessing so. It was pretty bad. **.