This time on the Cult Film Club, Jaime, Paxton and Shawn tackle their first sequel, the incomparable and sometimes incoherent Karate Kid 3. Daniel Larusso, having already won the All Valley Karate Tournament against a high school bully, a death match against the chosen Chozen, and lost two ultimate loves of his life can do only one thing, turn to the dark side, Return of the Jedi-style. Falling prey to a trap set up by the down-on-his-luck Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese and his overlord/employer ex-Nam buddy Terry Silver, Daniel strays away from the teachings of Mr. Miyagi and follows the path of pain, suffering and the front leg sweep. Can a priceless bonsai tree growing in the pit of the Devil’s Cauldron save his soul? Seriously, this is the recap of the film, not an episode of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero…
Join us as we talk about the film, our favorite scenes, the insanity that is Terry Silver, the unfortunate soundtrack, and our desire to write the ultimate Karate Kid 3 fan fiction bringing back the entire Cobra Kai roster from the first film.
Listen now!
(Or right-click and save this file to download -> Cult Film Club, Episode #8: Karate Kid 3)
If you like what you hear you can subscribe to the Cult Film Club on iTunes.
You can also join our not-so-exclusive but totally rad club so you can know which movie(s) we’ll be discussing next and watch along with us.
We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments and questions on the topic of Cult Films, and how you came to be a fan, so send us an e-mail!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
I love the picture of Silver you used. “What, you think you can rely on that Crane crap?!” Classic, Silver.
I also love the Mike Barnes picture. He looks like he’s disciplining Daniel for peeing on the tournament mat. “What did you do? WHAT did you DO?”
True, that is a great pic as well. However, I would have been happy with pretty much ANY picture of Karate’s Bad Boy Mike Barnes.
I smell T-Shirt…
That’s a new Miyagi taught move, “Wipea the Pee Off the Floor!” The only thing that defends the front leg sweep!
I had to use that pic, Daniel is in the rogue CK gi… 😉
Oof that picture with Mike Barnes, what a scolding!
“I will kick your two-timing girlfriend in the stomach again if you’d don;t get back on that mat!”
“I will break ALL of your baby trees if you don’t GET BACK ON THAT MAT!!!”
“I’m sorry, 25% of Daniel Larusso is not enough, I want 100% of you back on that mat!”
…waitaminute. There’s a third one?! I feel like cheated by my childhood! I remember the first one, naturally, and Part II with the trip to Japan, but this one is new to me. Can’t wait to see it!
My goodness sir! You are in for an experience in Fear & Pain, and when you’re done with that, More Fear and more Pain! Seriously, this is a fun one, much different from the first two in tone and execution. I’d almost say, listen to our podcast first… 😉
Yeah, to fully appreciate it you really need to know what to expect going into Karate Kid III.
I’m almost envious that you get to experience this masterpiece for the first time.
Absolutely!
Is anyone else as excited as I am that Daniel was wearing a Cobra Kai gi in part 3?
Yeah, that is a nice touch.
I loved the discussion of this movie you guys did. You touched on all the great and awful things of this film. It’s sure as hell not the best Karate Kid film, but there are so many little things that make it fun for me. Of course I was looking forward to your thoughts on the soundtrack. I would agree the “pop music” stuff is pretty much forgettable, especially in comparison to the original film and part 2 had some gems (Moody Blues – “Rock ‘N’ Roll Over You”) like the Ice Breaking scene.
I think even Part III’s score isn’t as classic from Conti… with the exception of a few cues. The Terry Silver related tracks are great! Sinister and big, just like him. I also really love the final fight’s music when Daniel is scared to fight and finally stands up to Mike. The cue is called “The Final Blow”. I’m sure you guys can find it on youtube or something. Anywho! Love the Cult Film Club, you guys rule!
Thanks man! With the fatal exception of not discussing Silver’s stunning ascot in the final match sequence, I felt like we took a pretty good look at the film. I did like the sinister edge that Conti added to some of the familiar cues from the past films for sure.
One thing is for sure. If I ever get laid off from my day job, I’m looking into independent dumping of toxic waste as a potential career shift. Seems to pay pretty well…
Ha ha… Shawn beware.. dumping toxic waste is an 80s career. I don’t see many higher education degrees in Toxic Waste Disposal like we saw back in the big money 80s. I just don’t want you to make a bad career move. 😉
Hmmm, maybe junk bonds then…
Nice one
I love it when you see Terry Silver saying “I love it when he pounds him” but you don’t see him actually saying it! LOL…looked like I was watching a poorly dubbed kung fu film for a split second LOL
Didn’t you know Terry Silver can throw his voice, LIKE A FIST! 😉
I have seen all the movies of Karate Kid. I like the first and second though. Great to hear from you again.