Wax on, wax OFFended: My thoughts on The Karate Kid

Okay, so I finally watched The Karate Kid (the original '84 one, obvi). I know, I know, late to the party. But you guys know I'm all about character work, and I gotta say, Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso? Pretty darn good. My initial impression was that he was a bit whiny, especially early on, but he sells that transition from scared kid to someone who actually stands up for himself. The scene where he's getting absolutely destroyed by the Cobra Kai at the beach? Brutal. You REALLY feel for him. Of course, the real star is Mr. Miyagi. Pat Morita is just...iconic. The calm, the wisdom, and the understated power...chef's kiss. I loved the dynamic between him and Daniel. It's not just about learning karate; it's about mentorship and finding a father figure. While I did think the romance with Ali felt a bit forced (dated, even?), it did give Daniel something to fight for, you know? Made the bullying even more impactful. Honestly, I thought the Cobra Kai were a little over-the-top cartoonish at times (Johnny Lawrence is terrifying, don't get me wrong, but also kind of a one-dimensional jerk), but hey, it's the 80s. Gotta love the cheese factor! And the finale tournament? So satisfying when Daniel wins (even if that crane kick seems a little, um, illegal?) Overall, super enjoyable. Not sure it's the best movie ever, but definitely a classic for a reason. I'm curious how the Netflix series expands on these characters. Gonna check it out!