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The Karate Kid
Movie (1984)
New Jersey teen Daniel LaRusso moves to Los Angeles with his mother, and soon strikes up a relationship with Ali. He quickly finds himself the target of bullying by a group of thugs, led by Ali's ex-boyfriend Johnny, who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo under ruthless sensei John Kreese. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi, an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate for self-defense and, later, preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.
Movie (1984)
New Jersey teen Daniel LaRusso moves to Los Angeles with his mother, and soon strikes up a relationship with Ali. He quickly finds himself the target of bullying by a group of thugs, led by Ali's ex-boyfriend Johnny, who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo under ruthless sensei John Kreese. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi, an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate for self-defense and, later, preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.
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Content at a glance
More filled segments mean stronger content.
Sex & Nudity
Teenagers kiss and make out. One boy forces an unwanted kiss; the girl pushes him away and hits him.
Violence & Gore
Bullying and martial-arts fights cause bruises, bleeding and painful injuries. An instructor encourages deliberately injuring an opponent.
Profanity
Frequent swearing includes “shit” and “bullshit”, alongside insults.
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking
A teenager rolls a marijuana joint. Mr. Miyagi becomes drunk while grieving.
Frightening Scenes
Repeated intimidation and attacks on a teenager may upset children sensitive to bullying.
Positives & learning
More filled segments mean stronger positive content or learning value.
Positive messages
The story values perseverance, self-control and mentorship rather than revenge.
Role models
Clear heroes and villains are presented, with Daniel showing inspiring bravery and tenacity, and Mr. Miyagi serving as a calm, wise mentor.
Representation
Mr. Miyagi is a substantial Japanese American character whose history includes wartime service and family loss in an internment camp.
Learning
Families can discuss character strengths like self-control, perseverance, and courage, and explore how class and financial status affect the characters.
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