The Culturally Inaccurate Kid

I have to admit, I am 99% stoked to go see the remake of one of the seminal movies of my youth, "The Karate Kid." But that remaining one percent is really bugging me. 

Let's set the stage, and while we're at it, set the way back machine for 1984.

As a skinny kid who moved from the East Coast to   California about five years before and was handed his share of bullying and embarrassments courtesy of his accent and uncool ways, the original flick starring Pat Morita, Ralph Macchio and pre-"Leaving Las Vegas" beauty, Elisabeth Shue was pretty much my own fantasy brought to film. Oh, and did I mention that the pre-pubescent version of yours truly also studied martial arts for several years (three years of Judo, one year of Tae Kwon Do) and used to frequent the specific water slide/arcade where Macchio and Shue had their first date.

None of the sequels had the same effect on me as I grew older (but Macchio never seemed to). By the time Mr. Miyagi was training Hillary Swank, there was no more mojo left in the dojo.