This is absolutely a classic from the 1980’s perhaps one of the top 10 movies released in the decade. It was directed by Jeff Kanew and the story was written by Tim Metcalfe. Jeff Buhai, Miguel Tejada-Flores, and Steve Zacharias worked together on the screenplay. It is a masterful comedy, with a lot to say about society, stereotypes and relationships while trying to prove oneself in life.
Lewis Skolnick (Robert Carradine) and Gilbert Lowell (Anthony Edwards) team together as a dynamic nerd duo who are quite remember able and deliver some classic lines in this story. They are surrounded by quite a supporting cast of characters including a robot.
Who could forget Curtis Armstrong playing Dudley ‘Booger’ Dawson or Larry B. Scott playing Lamar Latrell? This film helped launch the career for John Goodman playing Coach Harris. Ted McGinley plays Stan Gable leader of the Alpha Beta jocks and the star football quarterback. By his side, Julia Montgomery portrayed the character Betty Childs.
James Cromwell plays Mr. Skolnick, who drops Lewis and Gilbert off to their new school where they enrolled into Adams College majoring in computer science. This sets up the initially setting and from there we see them face different obstacles to overcome.
From then on, they meet up with more of their crew including a very young Andrew Cassese playing Harold Wormser (the nerd boy). Brian Tochi plays the character Toshiro Takashi who hails from Japan. Michelle Meyrink plays Judy and captures Gilbert’s attention. Matt Salinger plays Danny Burke, Donald Gibb the one and only Fred “The Ogre” Palowakski, from the Alpha Beta fraternity. David Wohl also plays Dean Ulich.
There were a number of rather creative shots used in some of the scenes, and the locations really became characters for the film as well. Fans of this film wanted to see more, and indeed they had the chance with a string of sequels including Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise (1987). Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation (1992) and Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love (1994). The original remains the most popular and a true comedy classic. Watch this one when you have time.
This is a true classic from the 1980’s. If you have never seen The Karate Kid, then you surely you must have heard of it. It was a standout picture from this decade, and brought some remember able moments in cinematic history. John G. Avildsen directed this one, and it was written by Robert Mark Kamen.
The simple tagline was “Only the ‘Old One’ could teach him the secrets of the masters”
The basic story is about a boy who grows up trying to fit in. He is lost without his former friends from where he lived before. He fancy’s a girl at school who has had a better life than him in some ways. He wants to be popular and yet surprisingly tries many ways to find acceptance at the new school he is at. He has no father, and is raised by a single mother. The character Daniel Larusso played by Ralph Macchio is mentored by the late Pat Morita who plays the infamous Mr. Kesuke Miyagi. He teaches Daniel discipline through the ways of martial arts, particularly karate. Miyagi molds Daniel into growing up with his wits and using his fists as a last resort.
Daniel loves his mother dearly, and would willingly do anything he could to help her. There are moments of teen frustration and anguish throughout the story, which most people should identify with. He meets up with Elisabeth Shue who plays Ali Mills she helps to encourage him along the way while falling for him. The final showdown happens later between Daniel and Johnny Lawrence who is played by William Zabka who does an excellent job playing a real jerk. More appearances in this include Ron Thomas as Bobby Brown, Rob Garrison as Tommy, Chad McQueen as Dutch, Tony O’Dell as Jimmy, Martin Kove is John Kreese, Israel Juarbe is Freddy Fernandez, and William Bassett is Mr. Mills. Larry B. Scott is Jerry, Juli Fields is Susan, and Dana Andersen is Barbara.
I think the characters are interesting and you get to know them well in the story, this movie spawned a total of 3 more sequels, and the entire collection is available on DVD. You will appreciate seeing this one. I recommend everyone to watch this if you haven’t already. Peter Cetera’s “Glory of Love” would later be used as the theme song in the sequel “The Karate Kid, Part II (1986)”.
