Karate Kid III: Okay, but Let's Be Real...

Alright, let's talk Karate Kid Part III. I just rewatched it and...look, it's no Karate Kid 1 or even 2. I feel like they really leaned into the cheese this time around. Silver as the villain? Super cartoonish. Like, I get he's supposed to be evil, but he's practically twirling his mustache. And Daniel being so easily manipulated? Come on, Daniel-san, Miyagi taught you better than that! The whole 'break the board' thing just felt so forced and unnecessary. Don't get me wrong, there are moments I still enjoy. Miyagi always brings the zen, even when he's dealing with Daniel's teenage angst. The scene where he's fixing up Daniel's car is genuinely heartwarming. And I will admit, the crane kick at the end, even though we saw it coming a mile away, still gives me a little thrill. But overall, it felt like a rehash of the first movie, but with a less compelling story and way over-the-top villains. I also think the romance between Daniel and Jessica was really half-baked. It didn't feel organic or believable, especially compared to his relationship with Ali in the first movie. It just felt like a plot device to create more tension. The stakes never felt that high to me. I still watch it because, well, it's Karate Kid! But it's definitely the weakest of the original trilogy. Maybe I'm being too harsh? What do you guys think? One quick thing... I can't watch this film without thinking about how bad Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan) treated Ralph Macchio on set. I've read that he was abusive to him! Sad. I think that influenced my opinion, too!