I loved the first Karate Kid. Despite it's predictable script, it told an original sports story with great characters, an excellent cast, some emotional moments, great music, and not to mention some great karate fighting scenes.

Now, when the director of Rocky made a sequel two years later, I became shocked and rented a DVD copy of the film (just like the first) and watched it to see if it can catch my very interest. Then, after watching the whole thing, I was saying to myself, "Wow. That was one heck of a great sequel!".

Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita did a great job once again as the karate student and the Sensei master and the chemistry between them are as fresh as the first film. The rest of the cast did a great job as well with Chozen, who was by far the greatest villain in the franchise because he threatens to kill Daniel by any means necessary. The story in this sequel is also great, but it's even darker and sentimental (there's a scene where we learn that Daniel explains about his father's death which makes us feel sorry for him, thus adding a decent emotional core to the script despite it's schmaltzy moments, but I'll get to that in a moment) than the first with great music and fantastic karate fighting scenes.

The pacing was great in the first film. In this sequel, however, it showed the ending from the first and started out well, but it gets a bit slower. Also, the script has some schmaltzy moments, but at least the romance between Daniel and Kumiko were enjoyable though.

Overall, this sequel is as good as the first despite it's own problems and I'm shocked at the rating it received on this website because it's even worth watching as the first film. Go watch it! It's that good!

The film starts where the first picture finished with the famous karate combat , proceeded by means of flashbacks . There John Kreese (Martin Kove) receives a strong lesson . Later on , teenage Daniel (Ralph Macchio) along with Miyagi (Noriyuki, Pat Morita) travel to Okinawa , but his father is dying . There Miyagi confronts an old enemy . Meanwhile , Daniel falls in love for Kamiko (film debut of Talyn Tomita who was actually born in Okinawa , this film's setting) and also gets enemies.

This enjoyable following displays action , a love story , Japanese dances , fights and results to be pretty entertaining . This shooting on Karate Kid II, (1986) started ten days after the release of The Karate Kid (1984) and actually earned more at the box office than The Karate Kid I . Although set in Okinawa , the film was actually shot in Oahu , Hawaii . The island was chosen because of its similar climate to Japan, its large Okinawan population and the convenience of filming on US soil . Again the movie develops a feeling and agreeable friendship between Daniel and professor Miyagi . Attractive and perceptible performances from Macchio , Morita and Tamlyn Tomita's film debut. Besides , it appears as very secondaries and uncredited , future TV stars , as B.D. Wong (Law and order) and Clarence Gilyard (Walker Texas Ranger).

Colorful cinematography by James Crabe and powerful musical score by Bill Conti , usual of trilogy . The motion picture was professionally directed by John G Avildsen (also editor) . Avildsen has blended more Karate Kid and Rocky movies with such feel-good message stories , such as 'Power on one' and 'Lean on me' . It's followed by other sequels, 'Karate kid III' (1989) where Daniel again fighting his usual contenders ; and 'The next Karate Kid' (1994) directed by Christopher Cain , introducing a new Karate kid , girl , the two times Oscarized Hilary Swank . Rating : Good, the tale will appeal to trilogy buffs and beloved characters fans.

This KARATE KID sequel followed after the success of the first film and it feels more like the ROCKY franchise than ever. Things are mixed up a bit, as there's no tournament this time around, just Daniel heading towards adulthood and getting involved with a girl for the first time. I did like the change of setting to Japan, although the movie was shot in Hawaii and doesn't always look too convincing. Pat Morita is warm and quirky as before, but Ralph Macchio matches him to craft a more likeable lead than in the first film. Less training here and more bad guy stuff from stock villains, building to a suitably powerful climax that reminded me of Van Damme's KICKBOXER, of all things.