Directed by: John G. Avildsen
Starring: Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, Thomas Ian Griffith, Sean Kanan, Robyn Lively, Jonathan Avildsen, Christopher Paul Ford, Martin Kove
Not only is this third chapter in the Karate Kid series unnecessary, it is unintentionally hilarious. It is astonishing that the same writer and director of the first two films, both of which were thoughtful and engaging, would even think this one was worthy of filming. They filmed it alright, and it is telling that John G. Avildsen did not direct 1994's The Next Karate Kid (which starred future Oscar winner Hilary Swank). I can't see why he didn't. The Next Karate Kid is no worse than The Karate Kid Part III.
Part III takes place back in Southern California after a journey to Okinawa in the previous film. Aside from a brief throwaway explanation of why Daniel's love interest from that movie isn't in this one, the events of the second film are forgotten. In the months since Daniel's unexpected win at the All-Valley Karate Tournament, Cobra Kai teacher Kreese (Kove) is broke and about to close up shop when he receives financial aid from "old Army buddy" Terry Silver (Griffith), who is about twenty years younger than Kreese and wears a slicked back ponytail. Terry is a piece of work. He conducts business from his bathtub, including ordering dumping of toxic waste into the ocean and dictating a memo to his elderly secretary who sits next to the bubble bath. This is a #MeToo moment waiting to happen. Kreese and Terry supposedly fought in Vietnam together, but since Terry appears to be in his late twenties, he would've been about twelve when he joined the Army.
Terry is a cruel guy. He sends Kreese away to Tahiti for some R and R, and hatches a plan to destroy Daniel and Mr. Miyagi by hiring a goon named Mike (Kanan) to challenge Daniel for the All-Valley tournament title. Terry also pretends to be Daniel's friend to drive a wedge between he and Miyagi. Terry is so obviously a creep it is amazing he can execute his plot as long as he does. Thomas Ian Griffith is a perfectly suitable actor and he relishes being the villain. The rest of the movie doesn't have his energy. It feels defeated and mozies along to the inevitable ending in which Daniel faces the goon in the finals of the All-Valley tournament. Thanks to a contrived plot development, Daniel only has to fight the final match of the tournament, and based on how his opponent torments him throughout the movie and in the match, he should be thankful. Kanan is so intense his eyes look like they will pop out of his skull. That or he will have a stroke. Chill out, dude.
The brief wedge between Daniel and Miyagi is not convincing and inevitably will mend itself long enough for Miyagi to thrash the bad guys in a three-on-one fight and for Daniel to be victorious in the tournament. However, there is nothing that would suggest Mike couldn't just beat the hell out of Daniel in the parking lot or continue to torture him as long as he desires. Daniel wins with a feckless hip toss and rib punch, but that is nothing compared to the sadistic beating he absorbed at Mike's hands and feet. Forget the crane technique, Daniel might need a gun to keep Mike from pounding on him.
Daniel has a love interest in this film too, a college student who works in a shop across the street from Miyagi's new bonsai tree store. For some inexplicable reason, she declares to Daniel she has a boyfriend and wants to remain just friends, so why the young woman is even in the film is a mystery, especially since it is clear Daniel would like to more than just friends. Largely like the movie itself, her character is not needed.
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