So much average

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

This is a stunning, fun, cute movie that is full of heart. Pat Morita is perfect as always as Mr Miyagi and Hilary Swank brilliant as a teen who has recently suffered the tragic loss of her parents. All of Hilary's star potential is budding here. A very enjoyable journey that reminds us of the truth that those we love never truly leave us and remain in our hearts and in the gifts they shared with us. Love Christopher Cain's direction that gave us just enough familiar fun themes without it being a carbon copy of previous movies in the series.

If this was my only encounter with Hillary Swank, I would have thought that they picked some young actress to fill this role. I didn't realize she would develop into one of our best actresses. I won't go into detail. It's another rehash of the training that a martial arts person needs to face. This young woman is a bit of a challenge to Pat Morita (what else is new). There are some new rules for her to become what she needs to become and that is the gist of this. The story is quite predictable, although the setting is interesting. If this film had not been made for more than a paycheck it would have been fine. It would be fun for a young woman, I guess.

I really like this movie and find it to be underrated. I like that this movie had new dynamic in some ways.Hilary Swank was really good as Julie. She portrayed a troubled adolescent really well and has an interesting relationship with Mr. Miyagi. Pat Morita is his usual amazing self.Eric made for a pretty cool supporting character and a nice love interest for Julie. I also loved getting to know Miyagi's friends.The training scenes and fight at the end were pretty well done. "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree is a fantastic song, too.The movie was not without it's silly moments and questionable elements of the plot, but overall I enjoyed it. Like I said, I found it refreshing that they tried something new with this.I wouldn't say it's anywhere near as good as the original Karate Kid or Part II, but I enjoyed it more than part III.RATING: B

It had been five years since the third film in the original trilogy, but for some reason they felt like another film with a brand new "kid" would breathe life into the series, Ralph Macchio being grown up of course, I decided to watch it. Basically Kesuke Miyagi (Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita), once an Army Sergeant attends a commemoration for Japanese soldiers who fought in World War II for the US Army in Boston, and there he meets his commanding officer's widow Louisa Pierce (Constance Towers). She then introduces him to her bad tempered and bratty teenage granddaughter Julie Pierce (young Hilary Swank), who lives with the memory of her parents being killed in a car accident. This has caused friction between her and her grandmother, but also with her fellow school students, but she also passes time caring for an injured hawk she has named Angel, kept in the school roof pigeon coop. At school Julie meets and befriends young and kindhearted security guard Eric McGowen (Chris Conrad) who works in the fraternity known as the Alpha Elite, and she also gains an enemy in aggressive student Ned (Michael Cavalieri), both are taught by vicious mentor Colonel Dugan (Michael Ironside). She finds herself being horribly bullied by the nasty members of the Alpha Elite, and after revealing that she used to be taught karate to her new friend Mr. Miyagi, he agrees to teach her more moves to defend herself. She learns balance, be co-ordinated, awareness of incoming threat, and to have respect for all life, and she becomes friends with the monks that Mr. Miyagi has helping her. When she returns to school she knows that Angel, who was initially taken by Ned but returned, is able to fly, and they release her into the wild, and is then given a new prom dress from Mr. Miyagi. For some reason there the Alpha Elite are order by Colonel Dugan to bungee jump and enter, and when Julie leaves she and Eric share a kiss, but they also get caught up in a proposed fight on the docks. In the end, Mr. Miyagi is standing back to let Julie use her newfound karate skills to defend herself in the fight with Ned who is encouraged by Colonel Dugan, of course she wins. Also starring Arsenio 'Sonny' Trinidad as Abbot and Walton Goggins as Charlie. It is nice to still have Morita returning for his most famous and once Oscar nominated character, and young double future Oscar winner Swank does alright as the new female karate kid, but the film is let down by the same old same old plot, nothing new to be seen really, not a original or highly interesting martial arts adventure. Okay!