

This movie is a great extension of the Karate Kid' story, which shows an uplifting story about overcoming the odds and staying true to yourself. Yet the standout part of the soundtrack for mine has to be the Oscar winning hit, Glory of Love', sung by Peter Cetera. Bill Conti's melodic musical score gives the movie great tension, and you have the music from the dancing hall which was live and upbeat. There is also the wonderful music that accompanies KK2.

The Okinawa village used as Miyagi's was striking, as were the style of the homes, as a person from western society would not be accustomed to such a different lifestyle. Karate Kid II also shows off some impressive Japanese locations. Yuji has appeared in movies such as The Truman show', The Game' and the 2001 blockbuster Pearl Harbour'. Sato's nephew Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) also has feels his honour has been shamed by Daniel, with most of the movie showing Daniel on the receiving on end of Chozen's fist.

Sato, (Danny Kamekona), is still bitter about what Miyagi did to his honour before he fled Okinawa and wants a fight so he can reclaim what he believes is rightfully his. Kumiko wants to be a dancer, and Daniel feels that she would be a successful dancer in America. However, Ralph shares a very special role with Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita), as their characters fall very much in love with each other. I must admit I like how Miyagi has faith in Daniel, even when he does not, (there is one scene where this reigns so true in KK2, and is probably the highlight of the entire film). It also good for the story to have Daniel fatherless', as he helps his teacher come to terms with the loss of his father, in one of the more emotional scenes in the movie. They also share quite a remarkable chemistry onscreen. The popular pairs return gives the story strength to continue on as it did. The start of film has a most powerful scene between Miyagi and sensei Kreese (Martin Kove), where Miyagi teaches Kreese a karate lesson without even raising a sweat. The great part of KK2 has to be the return of Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Avildson back to bring his touches into the story as well. I feel it always helps to have the same director back for any sequel, with John G. The story was once again written by Robert Mark Kamen, who I thought wrote the part about Miyagi's problems back home beautifully, as is the way that we see Daniel assimilate to the customs and traditions of the Okinawa people, and the way that Miyagi's problems in the end are Daniel's as well. I feel that is what a sequel is meant to do, be a little bit different and allows us to learn new things about characters that we already know. Yet it does show us a different side to what we saw in the original movie. Sure the movie continues where the last finished off, not like your normal sequel does. What I like about KK2, is how the story allows us to learn more about characters that we grew to love in the 1984 movie. Both teacher and student are forced to stand up to their rivals in a matter of honour or shame and life or death. As Sato threatens Miyagi and his family, his nephew, Chozen, is out to fight Daniel in a battle of young wills. Now his old rival is a powerful karate expert and a rich, embittered landowner who demands a final grudge match with the wise and elderly Miyagi. Despite their youthful love for one another, Yukie was forced to marry Miyagi's rival, Sato, in an arranged marriage, causing Miyagi to flee Okinawa forever. Upon Miyagi's return to his homeland, he is reunited with his long-lost childhood love, Yukie. However, when Miyagi receives news that his father is near death, he and Daniel take off to the island of Okinawa where Miyagi's family lives. After their triumphant victory at the √ll-Valley karate championships', Daniel and Miyagi continue their training, focusing on the honour and discipline of karate and the deeper powers of meditation. There's plenty of adventure and conflict as our triumphant duo discovers more about the price of honour, the way one must fight when only the winner survives and the true power of friendship. We once again get to see that fighting is only the last resort to your problems. Miyagi and the development of his student, ∝aniel-san'. In KK2' we get to learn a lot more about the life of Mr. Two years after the success of the smash hit Karate Kid', it was inevitable that the forces behind this most entertaining movie were going to go on and continue the story.
