Critic Reviews
-
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Too calculated and manipulative, this is a disappointing sequel to the 1984 picture.
-
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Excessive violence mars so-so sequel.
-
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
About on the same level as its watchable yet uneven predecessor...
-
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
There's a TV-movie quality to The Karate Kid Part II, which too often plays like "a very special episode"...[Blu-ray]
-
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com
It's a touch on the artificial side, but the sentiment still warms wonderfully, making Part II a lovely continuation, skillfully burning off the happy fumes left behind in 1984.
-
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
The first chinks in the armour start appearing once you can't even honour your own lore.
-
Dan Fienberg, Zap2it.com
Somehow the magic of the first movie is just gone. Is it the absence of Elisabeth Shue? Yes. Probably.
-
Dan Lybarger, Kansas City Star
Good sequel to the first Karate Kid.
-
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Typically dismal sequel, made strictly for the money
Read all 9 critic reviews
Featured Audience Ratings
-
Sequel to The Karate Kid is a mediocre follow-up and quite frankly unnecessary sequel to a great film. This entry is boring and it is more tedious, lazy in its concept, plot and direction, as if the filmmakers didn't care how this one turned out. As far as they were concerned,… More
Sequel to The Karate Kid is a mediocre follow-up and quite frankly unnecessary sequel to a great film. This entry is boring and it is more tedious, lazy in its concept, plot and direction, as if the filmmakers didn't care how this one turned out. As far as they were concerned, they already made a great film, so why even try? They tried to differ with a new idea, but it just didn't work. Not even director John G. Avildsen was able to direct a good follow-up to his first Karate Kid movie. This is a pointless entry and it shows. There just isn't any compelling material at work on-screen to really make it stand out as an inspiring film. I was really disappointed in this film, and I did expect a lot more out of it a swell. If only they would have rewritten the script a few more times, maybe the film would have a better chance of being actually a good, entertaining family film. Stick with the first film, as this one misses the mark, and it could have been much better than what it turned out to be. I think it's a shame because the first film was so good, fun, memorable, inspiring and this one just ends up being a tiresome affair that doesn't offer anything really interesting for the viewer. I think it had so much potential, but ultimately, it failed at being the film it should have been. The Karate Kid Part 2 is a prime example of a sequel that fails to deliver what the first one did so well. Simply put a poorly constructed work that really leaves a lot to be desired.
-
There is more going on in this movie than the last one, actually I didn't write everything in that summary, but it's easy enough to follow when you watch it. The stakes in this film are higher than the last, making it exciting as well as more complicated. The characters… More
There is more going on in this movie than the last one, actually I didn't write everything in that summary, but it's easy enough to follow when you watch it. The stakes in this film are higher than the last, making it exciting as well as more complicated. The characters don't change, thankfully, so it's a good, natural continuation to the story. The only part I didn't like was the ending. Although the film is long enough, it leaves you feeling that there could be more that happens next. I hope by seeing the third I will see what happens next, though. It's a very beautiful movie too, set in Japan, with good cinematography. Overall, I really liked it.
-
THE KARATE KID: PART II wasn't a good film, but since this happens with every sequel-spawning sports flick, I have to give it a good grade for its predictable suffering.
-
-
Stupid, Lame, Boring, and predictable. Now the first film was somewhat lame but it was okay, but this wasn't
-
The people of Okinawa really take their Karate seriously.
-
Very diffrent from the first movie. A great cast. Asian stud...asian girl...Soto....they're all here
-
This follow up is great for the continuity but not quite as cracking. The look is still gorgeous being in Japan and with an oriental style but the film loses the impact cos its a sequel. The soundtrack isn't as hot and the action kinda loses it appeal as its more street fighting… More
This follow up is great for the continuity but not quite as cracking. The look is still gorgeous being in Japan and with an oriental style but the film loses the impact cos its a sequel. The soundtrack isn't as hot and the action kinda loses it appeal as its more street fighting instead of bullies at school. Its still a great kids film with an adult swing to it and the plot is very good showing us more to Morita's Mr Myagi and his native background. All the main cast returned too which really helps, never gonna be as good as the first but still awesome.
-
Call me crazy, but I actually really like Part II. I think moving the setting to Okinawa was a great decision and a nice change of pace. You really got to see the bond between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi grow and the challenge of being a Karate Kid. Even though some of the plot from the… More
Call me crazy, but I actually really like Part II. I think moving the setting to Okinawa was a great decision and a nice change of pace. You really got to see the bond between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi grow and the challenge of being a Karate Kid. Even though some of the plot from the first is recycled, it's irrelevant when it's so much fun. Who cares if fighting movies are formulaic, I love them anyway. It's an essential part of the series and shows the roots of Miyagi and his wisdom.
-
Daniel: Don't those lies bother you?
Miyagi: Why should they?
Daniel: Because people might not know they're lies.
Miyagi: Lies only become truth if other person chooses to believe them.
Daniel: Is that another old Okinawan saying?
Miyagi: No. New Okinawan saying.
Daniel: How… More
Daniel: Don't those lies bother you?
Miyagi: Why should they?
Daniel: Because people might not know they're lies.
Miyagi: Lies only become truth if other person chooses to believe them.
Daniel: Is that another old Okinawan saying?
Miyagi: No. New Okinawan saying.
Daniel: How new?
Miyagi: Let's see...
[pauses, pretending to think]
Miyagi: About ten seconds.
A worthy sequel that may not have the memorable charm of the original (beneath a sea of 80s chic) but certainly does not pale in comparison. This film strengthens the Miyagi character, which is nice, it also provides a decent follow up journey for Daniel, but manages to find even more annoying characters to antagonize the leads for the majority of the story.
Taking place six months after an opening scene that ties up the ending of the first, Mr. Miyagi receives word from his village in Japan that his father is very sick. Despite having been away from his home for many decades, Miyagi decides it is time to return and see off his father. Daniel joins Miyagi on the trip.
Upon arriving, Miyagi and Danial are confronted by an old rival of Miyagi's, who is determined to fight him. Miyagi has no desire to participate in this, but is certainly pushed to his limits by this man. Meanwhile, Daniel takes in the local flavor of Okinawa, but is soon also tasked with both a new love interest as well as a new dick rival.
Much of the formula of the first has been transplanted over to this one. While the story is altered enough, this does seem to follow a lot of sequel rules of having things become bigger and seemingly more epic (as far as epic goes for an 80s coming-of-age/karate story). This basically means that the fights matter more and the villains are even more evil. Now while the villains certainly are more evil, its because they are much bigger dicks. Because of this, the enjoyment of cheese/on my nerves factor was playing a big role in me appreciating the movie.
Beyond this aspect though, despite being way longer than it needed to be, the film is still very watchable and does its job for the most part. Pretty solid all around.
Daniel: You think you could break a log like that?
Miyagi: Don't know. Never been attacked by a tree.
-
They go to Japan and the honor of the Miagi name must be restored. Compared to the original, this movie kind of drags but it's a decent sequel.
-
Just an stupendous movie which I never grow out of. It's right there wth my favorite movies of alltime!. Literally picking up about five minutes after the conclusion of the 1984 The Karate Kid, this 1986 sequel, also directed by John G. Avildsen, sends Ralph Macchio's and… More
Just an stupendous movie which I never grow out of. It's right there wth my favorite movies of alltime!. Literally picking up about five minutes after the conclusion of the 1984 The Karate Kid, this 1986 sequel, also directed by John G. Avildsen, sends Ralph Macchio's and Pat Morita's characters to the latter's home turf in Japan, where the older man is confronted by an old rival, and Macchio's newly confident fighter gets a tougher challenge than the punks back home. Sillier than its predecessor, this follow-up at least has some distracting soap opera elements in Morita's coming to terms with an old flame, while Macchio woos a lovely local girl. Ironically, it's the action that evokes laughter, particularly a climactic fight that gets over the top quickly
-
Similar to the first, more of the same really.
-
I'm tired of hiding my feelings towards this movie and watching it all over again just brought it all back for me. Sure, it's borderline racist, but so are all of my friends. Nobody does a theme song like Peter Cetera...NOBODY! And you have to be souless not to cry when… More
I'm tired of hiding my feelings towards this movie and watching it all over again just brought it all back for me. Sure, it's borderline racist, but so are all of my friends. Nobody does a theme song like Peter Cetera...NOBODY! And you have to be souless not to cry when Miagi cries over his dead father. Macchio always knew the right thing to say.
-
Great sequel to the first one!!!!!!
-
Where's the theme song of the first one'??!!!
-
These first 3 are wonderful growing-up movies -- I didn't see the 4th with the girl --
-
A typically unnecessary sequel that shifts the action to Okinawa, which means there are some nice locations to look at, but inevitably, it's just rehashing the same old schtick.
-
Poor sequel to an enjoyable first movie.
-
i really like it, almost as good as the first
Read all 20 featured audience ratings
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Subscription Services