Karate Kid: Legends (2025) Review

After the fantastic Cobra Kai, The Karate Kid Franchise has a new lease on life and we get a new film to add to the lineage in Karate Kid: Legends. I managed to find the time to watch the film and here is my review for Karate Kid: Legends. The premise of the film sees a young martial artist move to New York, he needs mentorship by two Sensei's to aid him succeed. 

Main Character

Newcomer Ben Wang plays Li Fong and he is an okay main character. He is pretty charming and a likeable enough character that you do want to root for him. But we just don't spend enough quality time with his character to really get enough development. It isn't like the characters from Cobra Kai where we get loads of time with them and Li needed more care put into his character. 

Supporting Characters

Jackie Chan reprises his role as Mr. Han from The Karate Kid Reboot and he is fun to watch here and you can tell that he is having a great time in this film. I wish we got more of him here and more character development but it doesn't take away my joy of seeing Jackie Chan in action. 

Joshua Jackson plays Victor Lipani and he is fun here and actually out of all of the adults I liked his dynamic with Li more then the others. Jackson is really likeable and you want to see him succeed, but the film just forgets about him about half way through which is a shame. 

I love Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso in the original films and Cobra Kai but he phones in his performance here and he really doesn't need to be here. He is nothing but a glorified cameo and it just feels like he is here so they can justify calling it a Karate Kid film. 

The rest of the cast is just forgotten about and not given time to shine. Ming-Na Wen plays Li's mother and she is just unlikeable and given no time to develop. Both Li's enemy and love interest are generic and they just couldn't be bothered to really right them. 

Story

The story has some interesting ideas in it and I liked how Li trains Victor for his fight, also some of the interactions between Chan & Macchio are fun. But this films plot is all over the place, the first act feels like a film that doesn't need The Karate Kid licence, then a rushed training montage leading to an incredibly rushed tournament that doesn't really have any stakes. The story is incredibly predictable and if the rest of the film was good then that would be fine but it just encapsulates the problems that are going on here. 

Script

The script has some chuckle worthy moments and some okay drama/emotional moments. But overall, it just falls really flat. It feels like the screenwriters wrote way too many subplots and had no idea how to put them together and that led to this messy script.

Style

There are some decent action scenes and in terms of action I thought the final fight did a pretty decent job of upping the intensity. But the film doesn't have enough fights here and the pacing is a disaster. This film has way too much going on in it and it barely has a 90 minute runtime meaning everything is just rushed and half baked. 

Overall

Overall, Karate Kid: Legends is the definition of average. It exists and will be forgotten incredibly quickly, it feels like an elongated episode of Cobra Kai that wasn't written or directed to the same level. It has some moments but you will have seen them all before so it is probably not worth the time. 

Rating - 5/10

Cobra Kai Season 6 (2024/2025) Review

Ever since Netflix purchased the rights to Cobra Kai and put the series on Netflix. I have been a huge fan of the show and after 6 seasons and 65 episodes today saw the end of the show and I have watched all the episodes of the final season. I watched the first part when it was released in 2024 but the last two parts over the last week together and combining all of these parts, here is my review for the final season of the show. The premise of the season sees both Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai preparing to take part in the World Karate Championships which sees all their friendships and relationships put into question. 

Main Character

William Zabka plays Johnny Lawrence and I really feel like this season focuses on him more and gives him the material to really help progress his character and give him the depth that this show has been truly building over the last few years. Zabka delivers his best work here and I really rooted for him. 

Ralph Macchio plays Daniel LaRusso and he is also great in the role. He also has his own journey and I really like how it links to Johnny. Over the seasons we have seen their uneasy relationship develop and this continues here but there is more depth added and Macchio does a good job at it. 

Supporting Characters

Martin Kove is back as Kreese and I really love watching him in this show. We get even more depth added to him by learning more of his backstory and Kove is clearly having a wonderful time playing the role and it makes him such a cool character to watch. 

Lewis Tan is cast as Professor Wolfe and is a sensei of The Iron Dragons who is a new dojo threatening the other dojos and I really liked him in his role. He owns this bad guy role and though it isn't a role with the largest screen time but when he is introduced he adds a new dynamic. 

The younger cast all return and again do great jobs, Xolo Mariduena as Miguel is great, Tanner Bucahanan as Robbie is great and Mary Mousser as Sam is great. But the star really is Peyton List as Tori. She really has great character development and shows how tough life can be, especially for someone from a poorer income. 

Overall, everybody is fantastic and they deserve great credit for their performances over the six seasons of the show. 

Story

The story is really effective, it gives its characters real development and the last few episodes really up the stakes and puts our characters through a lot. I felt real emotion for what was going on and realised that this was about more then just a Karate tournament with a very satisfying family. However, there are elements of the story that didn't quite hit towards the end of the film and felt either rushed or not given the importance that I thought it deserved. 

Script

The script is fantastic, yes it is really cheesy and you have to understand that when you get into watching this show but I have grown to love the cheesy humour and romance stuff. But the drama really delivers here and there are some really emotional scenes that is great.

Style

The style is great, this is such an easy show to watch. The episodes being only 30/40 mins means you can breeze through them pretty quickly and enjoy the time you watch it. The fight scenes are fantastic and just so well choreographed and feels fitting for the culmination of this show. 

Overall

Overall, Cobra Kai Season 6 is a fantastic final season of the show. It truly delivers and nails the feeling of Cobra Kai and the time we have spent with these people and this story. I am a huge fan of this franchise and I think people need to give it a watch and the love that this show deserves.

Rating - 9/10

Cobra Kai Season 5 (2022) Review 

Over the last few years, Cobra Kai has been one of my favourite shows and the newest season has come to Netflix and I have watched all 10 episodes in basically one day and here is my review for it. The premise of the season sees Daniel & Chozen attempt to take down Cobra Kai, while Johnny travels to Mexico to find Miguel. 

Main Character

Ralph Macchio & William Zabka are back as Daniel & Johnny and by now I believe they could play these roles in their sleep. They are both fantastic, the characters are also really well handled this season with clear progression. The two of them have clear passion for this project and it conveys on screen with two fantastic characters. 

Supporting Characters

This show has a huge supporting cast so I will only talk about a select through but know that pretty much everybody on this show is fantastic. Thomas Ian Griffiths is back as Terry Silver and he has full control of Cobra Kai now and he is just such a great bad guy. He has tonnes of charisma and the character is fascinating to me, he has been a great addition to the show. But the show stealer for me was Yuji Okumoto as Chozen. He is awesome, he is a great sensei and has real comedic chops. This is the first time he is given the spotlight and it really works, he is just an brilliant addition and I am so glad the show gives him the attention he deserves. The younger actors get the time to shine, Mary Mouser as Sam & Peyton List as Tori are given way more to do this season and their characters progress very well and very naturally which is something the show hasn't always done well. 

Story 

The storytelling of showing the two dojos conflict is brilliant. These two philosophies really clash and apart from certain moments I think the show does a good job of showing some value in both of them. The majority of the characters are developed really well and I liked how they were handled. But this show gets off to a shaky start this season, the characters are split up and one story in particular is pointless and doesn't work like I think they wanted it too. 

Script 

The script is great, it has the right balance of seriousness and humour. It is cheesy at times, but I like it for its charm and its willingness to become personal when necessary. Plus when characters are written as well as this it deserves real credit. 

Style 

The show flows really well, the episodes feel like a breeze and I just have a real enjoyment watching it. The action scenes are excellently filmed and when they want to become quite brutal, they do it very well indeed. Also something they do really well, is their use of flashbacks, I have never seen Karate Kid 2 or 3 but these flashbacks make it really easy to follow Chozen & Silver's stories and the connection they have to Daniel. 

Overall

Overall, Season 5 of Cobra Kai is fantastic. It isn't my favourite season of the show but it is a great watch and as a huge fan of the show it is a must watch and one of my favourite shows out there. 

Cobra Kai Season 4 (2021) Review

Over the last few years, Cobra Kai has been one of my favourite shows and season 4 has just come to Netflix on New Years Eve and I have now watched it all and here is my review for it. The premise of the season sees Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso being forced to team up to attempt to take down the rising power of Cobra Kai. 

Main Character 

William Zabka and Ralph Macchio have been great returning as these two characters over the last few seasons and that continues here. It is fun watching them to co-exist with their very different teaching styles and I like how both of these characters do stick to their core beliefs and don't give into each other easily. They are both great again and it always amazes me that this show has managed to turn these two into interesting characters. 

Supporting Characters

Tanner Buchanan as Robbie and Peyton List as Tory have been some of the less interesting characters for me but I thought they both really shined this season. They both go through interesting character arcs and you see how especially Tory isn't just a pure villain and has a real depth to her. Martin Kove is back as John Kreese and he is just really fun to watch, that maniacal calculating manipulator comes through really well and even he is given more time and care to make you more interested in John Kreese. Thomas Ian Griffiths reprise his role of Terry Silver from Karate Kid 3 and he owns the screen, he is the perfect addition to this show and I really think he was a shot in the arm and different dynamic that aided the show overall. The whole cast is great and it is so large to go through everybody but everybody has a role they fill well. 

Story 

The story is interesting, seeing Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang attempt to co-exist is a fun watch and shows the real issue in rivalry. When the show leads to The All Valley Tournament it is at its very best and keeps you guessing as you have no idea what is going to happen. But this show does have some issues with its storytelling, there is a story involving the LaRusso Son and I really didn't like it and felt it took way too much story time away from other characters who are way more interesting. Also after 4 seasons it does feel a little bit tiresome watching Johnny and Daniel arguing so much as it feels like maybe it is a bit too much. But by the end of the season I was very satisfied with way the season finished. 

Script 

The script is really good, it is cheesy but I guess I think this show has cheesiness that manages to work because of the overall absurdity of the show's premise. The drama really does hit this season and I felt like especially in the last two episodes that there was so much heart involving these characters. 

Style 

The action scenes have never been better then they are in this season. The Karate is filmed so well and the athletic prowess is really well realised here with some really memorable moments. There is a good balance between humour and drama as well and it does feel in sync. But there are some pacing issues here and I think that is probably due to the amount of characters that there is on the show and that the spotlight is put on so many of them and that does make it a bit all over the place at times. 

Overall

Overall, Cobra Kai Season 4 is a great season of the show. For me it is the weakest season of the show but that doesn't stop it from being really entertaining and a great watch. 

Rating - 8/10

Cobra Kai Season 3 (2021) Review

After a few days of catching up on Cobra Kai, I have now finished the third season of the show and here is my review for it. The premise of the season sees after the school fight at the end of season 2, Johnny has lost Cobra Kai to Kreese and Daniel has shut down Miyagi-Do. Both of them try and find a way to help the children recover from the ordeal. 

Main Character

William Zabka is back as Johnny and I really felt sorry for him this season, he is in a really tough place at the beginning of the season and it is nice to see him grow in confidence as the season progresses and he finally starts to get a grip. You see the character from the beginning of the show to the point he ends up here and there is real progression but the essence of the character is still there and Zabka did a fantastic job of showing that. Ralph Macchio is back as Daniel and I thought he had a good role here, his character has a different path to Johnny but you can see they have similar issues but have different philosophies. There is a few episodes in particular where he gets the spotlight and it highlights the journey he is on really well. 

Supporting Characters

Martin Kove as Kreese is maybe the most surprising part of the season as he is developed into a really interesting character, he has always been a villain in the films and this show but for me his character was really fleshed out this season through flashbacks. I mean he still clearly a really bad guy but this show at least gives you a reason as to why he acts that the way that he does. Xolo Mariduena is back as Miguel and the poster spoils his fate from the end of the previous season but I won't go into depth with it but he is really good this season and his relationship with Johnny is really heart-warming to see. Mary Mouser as Sam gets an interesting arc this season, after the events of the previous season it affects her differently to the others and it is actually an element of this show that hasn't been explored much on the show before. Jacob Bertrand as Hawk has been a fun character on the show but this season is really where he gets more to do and I actually thought he became a really well written character that has plenty of depth to him too. 

Story 

The story is interesting, it really stems from these three big personalities in Johnny, Daniel and Kreese and how they influence the younger members of the show and how it shapes them as people. The characters are really well represented and you do care about what is happening to them as characters. But I must admit the story didn't exactly grip me for the first few episodes and there were certain elements of the plot that just conveniently ended when the show wanted to move on from it and it felt like what was the point. But the season ending is fantastic and sets up a really interesting plot for the fourth season. 

Script

The script for Cobra Kai has always been one I like, I laugh a lot while watching it and the drama really works and the characters relationships are really well developed and it makes you care about them and when they are put into peril. 

Style

The style for the show is still great, the action scenes are brutal and there are actually some quite unsettling scenes this season that really pushes the envelope in terms of teenage violence. Some of the episodes are slightly longer but they never drag and keep the intrigue throughout and the excitement. 

Overall

Overall, I enjoyed the second season more then this one but I thought the third season of Cobra Kai was fantastic and keeps the standard of this show really high and I cannot wait till the 4th season.

Rating - 9/10

Cobra Kai Season 2 (2019) Review

After the fantastic first season of Cobra Kai I couldn't wait and got right onto the second season and here is my review for it. The premise of the season sees Johnny attempt to change Cobra Kai's philosophy while Daniel reopens Miyagi dojo to take them on. 

Main Character

William Zabka is back as Johnny and he is even better here, his character progresses really well and I really cared about him. You see how the events in the season 1 finale affects him and changes some of his mindset but doesn't completely change the character and the way he portrays him and he does a great job. Ralph Macchio is also back as Daniel and he is also really good here, he has his own personal struggles and it is mostly interesting. What I think this season does really well with these characters is that they are not exactly like their former masters and they are both flawed in their own ways despite there age and experience and these guys do a great job together. 

Supporting Characters

Martin Kove makes his big return as John Kreese and he is such a great addition to the show. The way his character impacts the story and the two main characters is fascinating and credit to Kove for playing this truly horrible man that makes you really root against him. The younger cast are given more of the spotlight and are much better this season. The characters of Robbie, Miguel, Sam and Hawk in particular are great and credit has to go to these young actors as they have to really deliver on an emotional level and they really knock it out of the park. 

Story

The story is so much better this season, you see these two different dojo's and philosophies going head to head and the addition of Kreese to the story adds this big wildcard and it adds a unique element to it. Yes there is still this teenage drama but I thought it was handled much better this season and the lack of school really helped with that and allowed these characters to have these interesting altercations in other environments. Also it helps that this one of the best season finale's to a show I have ever seen, it raises the stakes to such high levels and hits the drama to a level I wasn't sure this show could and credit really has to go to everybody involved for that. 

Script

The script is really good, that cheesy humour is still there and it genuinely made me laugh a lot and made these characters a fun watch. But this season really ramped up the drama and really hit every emotional beat that is better then most you will see on TV. 

Style

This show has awesome action scenes, there are quicker and more brutal this season which is fantastic and some of the best action you will see around. The pacing of the show is great and the length feels right, long enough but not too long and it makes you love this show and the way it flows with its storytelling. 

Overall

Overall, this is one of the best seasons of television I have seen for a long time and I was hooked from minute 1. If you are a fan of this franchise this is the best thing I have seen from it and even if you aren't get watching Cobra Kai I can't stress just how good it is. 

Rating - 10/10

Cobra Kai Season 1 (2018) Review 

I clearly missed the boat with Cobra Kai and with the 3rd season of the show recently coming to Netflix, I decided it was time to watch this show and I watched the first season today and here is my review for it. The premise of the show is set decades after the events of The Karate Kid and sees Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso become martial arts opponents in there middle age. 

Main Character 

William Zabka as Lawrence is the antagonist of The Karate Kid but he is really our main character here and he does a superb job. He is so entertaining and cool and the biggest compliment to give to this show is that it made me really care about him. The show does a fantastic job of showing his side of the story and create a really compelling character that adds so much to his character in the original film. Ralph Macchio is back as LaRusso and again I thought he was a very compelling character and it takes directions that you wouldn't expect seeing the original film. You see just how much that one Karate Tournament affected these two people and how it made their lives turn out this way. 

Supporting Characters

The supporting cast is mostly young actors and actresses and they all give decent performances and fit very well into this universe. Xolo Mariduena plays Miguel, the first Cobra Kai member and I thought this kid was a real highlight of the show, you just see his connection with Zabka and how it affects him in every day life and just how committed he becomes to him and his cause. The same can be said for Tanner Buchanan who plays Robbie, he has a great relationship with LaRusso and the two partnerships are really well represented and you see how the tow different ideologies add to the rivalry. The rest of the cast are good too and add plenty to this show. 

Story 

The story between the main two characters is fantastic, you really get more layers added to their characters and I really appreciated the risks that were taken with them to make them more interesting and surprising. I also loved seeing more of their Karate philosophy, you don't see too much of Cobra Kai in the film but you see lots of it here and the show gives it a really interesting outlook leading to a phenomenal ending for the season. But I have one criticism and that is some of the teen drama didn't work for me, I know it is faithful to the original film but I felt like some of it could have been left out and that time could have been used on the Karate elements of the show. 

Script 

The script is fantastic, yes there are some cheesy moments but it fits very well with the whole show and leads to some really funny moments and one liners that hit the mark expertly. Also there is some great drama and heartfelt moments that pile on the emotion and yeah that also really works and credit to the writers for really understanding what this show is. 

Style

The style is also really great, the action feels like it should for a Karate Kid show but it is modernised to make it more athletic and even more brutal which adds so much weight to the fights that we see here. Also the show flows incredibly well with ten thirty minute episodes it is a really easy watch and one to really sink your teeth into. 

Overall

Overall, I wasn't sure what to expect with the first season of Cobra Kai but I thought it was fantastic and a show I couldn't stop watching. If you haven't started this show then do it as soon as possible as it is a great show that I think will only get better. 

Rating - 9/10

The Karate Kid (1984) Review

So I have not yet started Cobra Kai and I have heard it is great and the new season has just hit Netflix. Before I can start that show though I decided that I had to re-watch The Karate Kid trilogy in order to remember the exact story and that starts here with The Karate Kid and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a teenager get help from a Karate Master to teach him to stand up for himself.  

Main Character

Ralph Macchio didn't really end up with a huge career after his role as Daniel Larusso, but in terms of this film I think he is really good as the lead. He is just a pretty likeable kid and you want to see him succeed. Yes he is a bit hot headed but I thought that added a bit to his character and seeing him train in these strange ways gets you more invested and at least for me by the end of the film I really wanted to see him succeed in his quest. 

Supporting Character 

The legendary Pat Morita plays Mr Miyagi and he is amazing here, so much show that he got an Oscar nomination for his performance. The relationship between Danny and him is fantastic and they are the heart of the movie for me, this mentor and student relationship is great and you see the respect between the two of them which makes there journey together so satisfying. Elizabeth Shue plays Danny's romantic interest and I thought she was really good too, they just had really good chemistry together and were a cute couple that you want to see make it through the film and have a happy ending. The rest of the cast are great too William Zabka as Johnny and Randee Heller as Kreese are really good antagonists and I can't wait to see what is in store for them when I get around to Cobra Kai. 

Story 

The story is really heartfelt, the relationship between Danny and Miyagi is fantastic and really heartfelt and you really end up rooting for them and want to see Danny end up getting one over Johnny and Kreese. As I mentioned the romance is also good and even though there is a little hint of a love triangle it never forces itself into that trope which was a really good decision. No spoilers here but lets just say the plot is pretty predictable, you know exactly where it is going but in a film like this I don't see that as an issue as you want the nice and predictable ending. My one criticism is the execution of the ending, to me it felt like it was very sudden, the film just needed another few minutes to really wrap up its story and that would have made it perfect. 

Script

The script is fine, it actually has some funny moments that had me chuckling quite a bit and the drama did work for the most part. I do though find it sometime in these films from the eighties is that the scripts aren't great and that is fine but now it is 2021 I just feel it has to be mentioned as a negative in my personal opinion. 

Style 

The style is great, all the different training that we see Miyagi use is fun and the montage really works and this film managed to make Karate feel pretty hardcore and violent. The film flows very nicely and even when the more personal scenes are happening it feels really good and adds weight to this story that isn't exactly new in its formulae. 

Overall

Overall, I think this film is great, The Karate Kid is a pretty iconic film and is basically the teenage version of Rocky and it does it really well. If you haven't seen The Karate Kid for some reason then give it a watch and you won't be disappointed. 

Rating - 8/10