The Karate Kid
(Columbia, 1984)
John Avildsen's second four-star effort, eight years after Rocky, featuring the unlikeliest pairing imaginable between then 52-year old (and looking even older) Noriyuki "Pat" Morita with 22-year old Ralph Macchio (passing for 16). It also introduced Elisabeth Shue in her first big role on the way to a notable career. It's an effortlessly well-crafted coming-of-age film, was one of the biggest box office hits of the entire year, spawning no end of sequels to date, and still holds up just as well now as the day it opened. Morita went from bit player and small-screen regular to movie star on the strength of this performance, which netted him both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor.
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