Product Details

• Actors: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Robyn Lively, Thomas Ian Griffith, Martin Kove
• Directors: John G. Avildsen
• Writers: Robert Mark Kamen
• Producers: Doug Seelig, Jerry Weintraub, Karen Trudy Rosenfelt, Sheldon Schrager
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: August 22, 2000
• Run Time: 112 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301570723
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #131,882 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Great movie, great acting by the actors, a real must-see movie.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not *that* bad, but not as good as some say, November 21, 2008

By 

Ethan D Van Vorst (Salisbury, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Karate Kid Part III (DVD)

Karate Kid III has gotten a lot of play time on cable TV, which is where I first saw it. Not nearly as beloved as the previous two installments for a variety of reasons it's generally panned as being cartoonishly acted and using the same basic formula as it's predecessors. Ralph Macchio returns as the getting older but seldom wiser Daniel while Pat Morita resumes the role of the sagely guiding force of Mr. Miyagi.

First off, despite my 3 star rating, I actually *did* enjoy this movie. There are parts in the movie that really shine and then others that are slogged down by what can only be described as the result of over the top acting and in may ways a really weak script. It's a pretty simple plot that can be described in a single paragraph.

Daniel and Mr. Miyagi return from Okinawa (the events of which are barely mentioned) and Daniel is about to go to college. Mr. Miyagi discovers that his previous job, handyman at the apartment/motel of KK1, has essentially ceased to exist, so Daniel uses his college money to buy Mr. Miyagi a bonsai tree shop. The All-Valley Karate Tournament is due to begin again and while initially determined to participate Daniel eventually opts out so that he can help Mr. Miyagi with his shop. Meanwhile John Kreese, the villainous sensei of the Cobra Kai dojo (of the first film) loses his business and opts to move on with his life before being dissuaded by his Vietnam War buddy, Terry Silver, who happens to be some sort of free enterprise mogul with a focus on dumping hazardous waste. The two plot revenge on Daniel (and by extension Mr. Miyagi) by making him enter the tournament and adminstering an excruciating public arsebeating there.

First off, despite what anyone else has said Thomas Ian Griffith really shines as main villain Terry Silver. Despite his malicious intent the man had charisma in spades and I got a real kick out of watching him wheel and deal, and in the end found myself rather liking the guy. Say what you want, he is a man that is loyal to his friends, kind to his employees, and makes things happen, and that says a lot about him. He is able to do a real good job screwing around with Daniel's mind (which isn't that hard, really) and I found myself half pulling for him since the character of Daniel, played by Ralph Macchio, has not really developed or matured, despite this being his 3rd movie. Daniel really deserves his own paragraph, so here goes.

Daniel still flies off the deep end anytime anything happens and I find it extremely annoying that despite his having achieved peace through his karate, not to mention having the coolest sensei this side of the Pacific Ocean, he never really seems to learn. He is impulsive, impudent, immature, and ultimately just a general purpose pain in the (censored). In the Star Wars universe this kid would have turned Sith long ago. You get the idea. He needed a hardcore beatdown in this movie to put his head back in place and I'm glad to see it given, despite it being at the hands of uber-bully Mike Barnes (played by Sean Kanan). It just astounds me that as much time as Daniel spends with Mr. Miyagi he just doesn't seem to absorb any of his wisdom. Not to mention I think Daniel may have been stealing a few Mallomars in this movie as he's substantially more "puffy" than for the previous two incarnations.

When Daniel decides not to participate in the tournament he is hounded (some would say stalked) by Barnes and his henchmen "Snake" (not "Snake Plissken", although that would have made for a much more interesting plot), and some other guy who gets his behind handed to him several times. These three ultimately get Daniel to sign into the tournament through coercion and thus Daniel is forced to find a new trainer when Mr. Miyagi won't train him. That new trainer happens to be Terry Silver, who works his magic by really twisting Daniel's gi in a bunch. His training regimen is pretty sadistic and involves Daniel inflicting some pretty impressive power with the end result being that Daniel becomes something of a bigger jerk than he started. When Daniel has an attack of conscience Silver springs both Barnes and the believed to be deceased John Kreese on him. All this subterfuge (getting a different trainer without Miyagi's knowledge)on Daniel's part hurts the relationship between he and Mr. Miyagi and this element, and the eventual repair of it, makes up much of the movie.

Each movie seems to have it's signature karate "move" and this one is a little different from the previous two. Daniel practices something called "kata" with Mr. Miyagi and this is supposed to bring his fighting actions into focus. While not as catchy as the Crane from KK1 or the mega-dodge technique of KK2, this serves it's purpose for the point of the movie. I was half hoping to see Daniel wail on Barnes in the last round with some outrageous Pele bicycle kick style assault, or what not, but that's not to be found here.

KK3 isn't a bad movie. It is fun to watch and doesn't require too much thinking and that makes it a perfect popcorn cruncher for a weeknight. Thomas Ian Griffith was great to watch and I think that if you can get past his Snidely Whiplash laughter you'll find the guy is actually, for lack of a better phrase, kind of cool. Not as bad as many would have you believe, but not anywhere near a 5-star movie like others say too.

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Brilliant Film....... Genius!, November 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Karate Kid Part III [VHS] (VHS Tape)

KKIII is a modern-day Greek tragedy. The universal themes of love, betrayal and quicksilver are thoroughly explored in this stunning classic. I have not seen writing like this since Aristophanes.

In Terry Silver, billionaire toxic waste peddler, we have the perfect foil. This morality play begins to unfold when Danny-boy is forced to sign the entry form to defend his All-Valley championship. "I think a champion should defend his title," observes Silver in one of the most gripping and compelling scenes imaginable.

Mike Barnes and Snake (and, to a lesser extent, Dennis) provide the fuel for Danny-boy's moral fire. The scene in the bonsai shop that ends in the mustang convertable being nearly smashed by a speeding locomotive is reminiscent of early Kafka.

Constantly challenging and never boring, KKIII forces each of us to look in the mirror. For indeed, who can really know when our real, actual John Kreise will jump from behind the cardboard imitation?

In closing, keep in mind Myagi's admonition: "Karate fought for plastic metal trophy no mean nothing." Indeed. I couldn't sum it up any better than that.

A definite 5-star classic.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The end of Daniel san's story, September 21, 2003

By 

Nemo Daison "eRic. august" (Tupelo, MS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Karate Kid Part III (DVD)

Right up there with the most inspirational films of our time, Karate Kid III is a testament to the human spirit. In this installment our favorite karate instructor, Sensei Kreese is torn by his demise at the hands of Daniel and Miyagi in the first film. Afterall, Daniel defeated Johnny at the All Valley Tournament. Where is there left to go for Kreese. You would think his life is over, but no. He turns to his rich friend Terry Silver for the answer. Mr. Silver is strangely obsessed over getting back at Miyagi and Daniel. I think he wanted it more than Kreese even for some reason. So he makes himself appear as a nobody, he even drives a little truck with no roof on it. Then he finds karate's bad boy, Mike Barnes...a performance that outshines perhaps any yet in the Karate Kid series. Barnes, and his two new friends, Snake and Dennis, eventually bully poor Daniel into signing up for the tourney. Silver finds a way to become friends with Daniel and basically makes him his puppet. He wills Daniel to fight without mercy and to go against all Daniel stands for by trying to convince him to fight dirty. Daniel doesn't really like it but he keeps studying under Silver for a while until he realizes the error of his way. At one point he asks Miyagi to teach him to sweep, in which Miyagi comes back with a broom and begins sweeping the steps. Brilliant. It all comes to an end at the tournament where Daniel must face his fear, and take on Mike Barnes. Daniel pulls no punches and unleashes his fury upon Barnes. Perhaps one of the greatest martial arts displays ever on film.