The Next Karate Kid

• The Next Karate Kid Cast

1. The Next Karate Kid - Gas Station Fight: Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita) and Julie (Hilary Swank) run into a group of thugs at a gas station.
2. Parents need to know that The Next Karate Kid is a 1994 sequel in which a young Hilary Swank learns the ways of Mr. Miyagi's memorable teachings. The 'Cobra Kai' of this movie is a violent group of alpha males who dominate their high school through bullying and beatdowns encouraged by an aggressively militant coach.

Parents need to know that The Next Karate Kid is a 1994 sequel in which a young Hilary Swank learns the ways of Mr. Miyagi's memorable teachings. The 'Cobra Kai' of this movie is a violent group of alpha males who dominate their high school through bullying and beatdowns encouraged by an aggressively militant coach.

Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita and Acacemy Award winner Hilary Swank co-star in this story of a rebellious teen, Julie, who blossoms with a little help from her friends - in this case, the wise Mr. Miyagi and a trio of buddhist monks!

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Ratings and Reviews

Critics Consensus:The Next Karate Kid is noteworthy for giving audiences the chance to see a pre-Oscars Hilary Swank, but other than a typically solid performance from Pat Morita, this unnecessary fourth installment in the franchise has very little to offer.

Violent '90s sequel doesn't measure up to original.

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The franchise is still kicking — but not very high — in “The Next Karate Kid,” in which a troubled teenage girl is transformed from bratty rebel into confident martial artist. Leisurely and overly familiar pic should appeal to young teen girls, but won’t be breaking any B.O. bricks with its bare hands. Pic opened in France, as well as Quebec, in advance of its U.S. 3d studio max 2014 crack. opening, pushed back a few weeks to Sept. 9.

Boston-dweller Louisa (Constance Towers) has her hands full with granddaughter Julie (Hilary Swank), whose parents were killed in a car crash. An indifferent student, Julie is permanently angry.

Having witnessed Julie’s swift reflexes in averting a near-accident, wise Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki (Pat) Morita) embarks

on a low-key mission to rescue the floundering 17-year-old via karate. Wholesome apprenticeship tale has its scattered moments of humor and insight, but lacks sustained verve.

Miyagi discovers that not only is “girl different than boy,” but Julie is a much more fully formed — and negative — personality than Ralph Macchio’s Daniel was when he came under Miyagi’s tutelage in the original installment.

Pic’s laudable values — always try to avoid a fight, respect all living things, respect yourself — are hammered home through solid if unscintillating examples that adapt serene Asian wisdom to modern Western dilemmas.

Thesps all hold their often stereotypic ground, but Morita excells as one cool, compassionatedude, who always finds a way to recycle conflict and adversity into spiritual growth.

Athletic Swank is gratingly cranky at the outset and a tad too enthusiastic once she shapes up. Chris Conrad is appealing as the kindly hunk who admires Julie’s independent spirit. There’s not much karate action compared to previous three pix. , final showdown on prom night gives Julie the opportunity to artfully deck the jerk who’s been baiting her at school. ]

The Next Karate Kid Cast

Nominally set in Boston, locations have a generic this-could-be-anywhere feel. Tech credits are fine.