The Karate Kid (1984) - Film Review: A Hero's Journey

Figure 1 – The Karate Kid (1984) [Original Poster] 

This review analyses John G. Avildsen’s well-known eighties classic, The Karate Kid (1984) and how it can be applied to Joseph Campbell’s publication “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” (1949). This essay will highlight the various points throughout the film when stages of Campbell’s ‘The Hero Journey’ can be applied.

The concept of Campbell’s ‘The Hero’s Journey’ fixates of the idea of the monomyth that has existed throughout history and aims to examine a common thread that appears in different cultures. This idea presents itself as a pattern, which can be shown in different ways within myths and urban legends, where the hero of the story must go through several stages in order to become an archetype.  The publication primarily focuses on how this occurrence of pattern emerged within different stories globally, becoming a cross-cultural story formula for a hero's journey. Ultimately this led to be a common approach on film analysis, even being applied to notorious films like Stars Wars: A New Hope (1977). (Wimmer, J. N/A)

Figure 2 – Daniel and his mum leaving New Jersey [Film Still]

The Karate Kid is another film that can also be applied to Campbell’s theory. The theory is comprised of roughly 17 stages, stating with Ordinary World. Ordinary World is the hero’s normal day to day life before the real journey begins. In this case, the hero of the story is Daniel LaRusso, whose Ordinary World is living in Newmark, New Jersey. At the start of the film, the audience witnesses his departure from his home town, as he moves to California Los Angeles. This could be considered to be the next stage of the hero’s journey the Call to Adventure, as Daniel is leaving behind his commonplace to enter a ‘new world’ of possibilities.

Figure 3– Arriving to their new home in Los Angeles California [Film Still]

From the beginning it is clear to the audience that Daniel isn’t too thrilled about the move to California. This is not only shown visually but also within the dialog when Daniels mum says, “This is the end of the line” upon the arrival to their new home, when Daniel replies back with “You’re telling me.” Indicating his disapproval of the circumstance, which can be classed as Refusal to The Call, when the hero goes against the call of adventure in this case refusal to accept the move to California.

Figure 4– Daniel not sure about the move [Film Still]

The next stage is having the hero meet or find the Supernatural Aid, which in this case doesn’t follow too far behind refusal to the call. When entering their apartment Daniel discovers that the sink is faulty and needs to be fixed. Daniels mum then tells him about local ‘fix it guy’ who can help, Daniel then meets Mr. Miyagi who will later become his close companion, almost father figure and Supernatural Aid throughout the film.

Figure 5 – Mr. Miyagi [Film Still]

However, before meeting Mr Miyagi, Daniel is invited by Freddy (his neighbour) to a party at the beach. It is here where the Meeting the Goddess stage comes into action. Daniel first catches glimpse of Ali who will be both Temptation and Goddess, as she acts as a motivation for Daniel throughout the film, it could also be said that she aids in the crossing of the threshold. In this scene Daniel Crosses the Threshold by not only attending the party and accepting this new world, that he had prior rejected.

Figure 6– Daniel’s love at first sight Ali [Film Still]

The story begins to fully develop after this point with the introduction of a new character Johnny, Ali’s ex-boyfriend. Johnny tries to confront Ali and breaks her radio, which leads Daniel to intervene. It is from this point the Road of Trials stage of the Hero’s journey begins. When Daniel intervenes, he ends up fighting with Johnny, ultimately ending with Daniel getting beaten up due to Johnny’s strong Karate background.

Figure 7– Johnny confronts Ali leading up to fight with Daniel [Film Still]

It is said that within the hero’s journey there are often a vast multitude of fights with the antagonist before finally succeeding in the end also accounting for the road of trials stage. This happens throughout the film with Daniel getting beat up by Johnny and his friends a few times.

Figure 8– Daniel gets into another fight and loses [Film Still]

The Belly of The Whale is the next stage, in which the hero finally leaves their old way of life behind, this stage is highlighted in the scene where Daniel finally accepts, he will not be returning home and builds trust in Mr Miyagi, he then attends a school Halloween dance in which he seeks revenge on Johnny. From here the audience witnesses just how important the bond of trust between Mr Miyagi and Daniel is as he saves him from Johnny and his gang. This tension then builds up leading to a challenge between the Cobra Kai master and Mr Miyagi taking place at a Karate Tournament between Johnny and Daniel, making it clear that there no way of going back to his old life now.

Figure 9– Mr Miyagi saves Daniel [Film Still]

During Daniel’s training with Mr Miyagi, Daniels faced with even more trials linking back to the Road of Trials stage of a Hero’s Journey. During this, Daniels determination is put to the test as he is given mundane tasks such as washing and waxing cars, sanding wood and painting a fence. Although he does not realise it, Daniel is learning some of the key techniques within Karate and strengthens himself not only physically but as a character.

Figure 10– Mr Miyagi trains Daniel going through a road of trials [Film Still]

Towards the end of his training Daniel learns more about Mr Miyagi and his past, finding that he lost both wife and child due to complications at birth while he was at war. Upon learning this, Daniel find much more respect for Mr Miyagi, this could link to Atonement with Father, as after this Daniel begins to train harder for the tournament as he is doing this for Mr Miyagi (his father figure). It could also be argued that this also applies to the Apotheosis stage where the hero learns and develops as a person. For example, Daniel learns that Karate isn’t all about revenge and fighting but is instead about using it for defence, so he does not have to fight.

Figure 11- Daniel learning about Mr Miyagi’s past [Film Still]

Unlike the Hero’s Journey order, Daniel actually has The Ultimate Boon stage before the Magic Flight or Rescue From without, this is because before the final tournament he has reached his ultimate goal finding a place to fit in within this new world, becoming stronger at Karate and becoming closer to Ali. However, although he has me his personal goals, he must now face to his mistakes in the trail in order to fully own the ultimate boon.

Figure 12- Daniel becoming closer to Ali [Film Still]

Before his final match with Johnny, Daniel goes through a series of fights with various other Karate students. In most cases the Magic Flight stage means fleeing from the villain with The Ultimate Boon but in this particular case It is the opposite, as Daniel instead fights his way through with The Ultimate Boon at his side.

Figure 13- Daniel fighting various competitors with the support of Ali and Mr Miyagi [Film Still]

Within the final fight between Johnny and Daniel, the Cobra Kai master asks one of the students to go against the rules and injure Daniel in the leg before his final battle with Johnny. Not wanting to give up without a fight, Daniel seeks help for Mr Miyagi corresponding with the stage Rescue from Without from a Hero’s Journey, who heals Daniel to make it through the final fight with Johnny. During this scene Daniel explain to Mr Miyagi saying that if he doesn’t go back out there to fight, he will have no balance in his life, with the Cobra Kai or with Ali, this is his Refusal of Return.

Figure 14- Daniel receives healing from Mr Miyagi

By going back to fight Johnny despite being injured Daniel is Crossing the Return Threshold bringing back the balance in his life. Daniel then goes on to win the tournament against Johnny making him the Master of Two Worlds, as he has now gained more knowledge of Karate but has also maintained his belief in not seeking revenge but instead finding balance. In winning Daniel has reached the final stage of the Hero’s Journey the Freedom to Live, as he can now face the Cobra Kai without fear and in turn gains respect from them instead.

Figure 15 – Daniel wins the Karate Tournament

To conclude, The Karate Kid, follows closely to the Hero’s Journey, although altering a few stages along the way, such as facing the fight even after receiving the ultimate boon.

Bibliography

Wimmer, J. (N/A). The Hero's Journey: Campbell's Archetype. Available: https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-heros-journey-campbells-archetype.html  Last accessed 13/10/2019.

Illustration list

Figure 1 – The Karate Kid (1984) [Original Poster] Avildsen, J. (1984). The Karate Kid. Available: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087538/mediaviewer/rm1748932864  Last accessed 12/10/2019.

Figure 2 – Daniel and his mum leaving New Jersey [Film Still]

Figure 3– Arriving to their new home in Los Angeles California [Film Still]

Figure 4– Daniel not sure about the move [Film Still]

Figure 5 – Mr. Miyagi [Film Still]

Figure 6– Daniel’s love at first sight Ali [Film Still]

Figure 7– Johnny confront Ali leading up to fight with Daniel [Film Still]

Figure 8– Daniel gets into another fight and loses [Film Still]

Figure 9– Mr Miyagi saves Daniel [Film Still]

Figure 10– Mr Miyagi trains Daniel going through a road of trials [Film Still]

Figure 11- Daniel learning about Mr Miyagi’s past [Film Still]

Figure 12- Daniel becoming closer to Ali [Film Still]

Figure 13- Daniel fighting various competitors with the support of Ali and Mr Miyagi [Film Still]

Figure 14- Daniel receives healing from Mr Miyagi [Film Still]

Figure 15 – Daniel wins the Karate Tournament [Film Still]