The Karate Kid Parts 1-3 (1984-89)

I watched all of the first 3 movies and really enjoyed them! I hadn't seen the first in over 30 years so it was an enjoyable rewatch. The movie holds up pretty decently. I think one of the secrets to not make a film look dated is to avoid showing alot of technology like phones, camera, radios and tvs. There's not much of that in this movie so it appears more timeless. I really liked Part II and their trip to Okinawa. The scenery and music were great and I liked the love stories in the movie and the storm at the end that causes the corrupt landowner to have a change of heart. Part III spotlighted Miyagi's bonsai tree store and the "secret tree' he had hidden at the bottom of a steep cliff. That was a pretty amazing development. He also reveals something that he hadn't said before in the movies, that his heart would be empty without the young Daniel character. It was fate that they met, like many great friendships. 

I got a better sense of how merciless the "kobra kai" students and their teachers are. And now I know why the TV show has been popular using the same characters. I never saw the show but my friend was telling me that it's basically a new generation of students doing the same thing. I'm not sure I'm really that interested in it, and the drama. I guess I don't really care for the characters that much. They're a bunch of racist assholes in the movies and don't really care to spend more time with them. I asked my friend if Ralph Macchio's character Daniel still has the car that Miyagi gave him, and learned that he does, and that the Daniel character is now teaching his son the ways of the master. That's about all I really care about in the saga. 

Mulan - the original one not the new one

Over the weekend I watched Mulan for the first time - the original animated feature, not the new one for $30 on the Disney Plus streaming service. It was really entertaining, my first time learning about the centuries-old Chinese story about the warrior who is a woman posing as a man. The DVD I purchased has a commentary track and bonus features, so one day I will check those out more as well. The film includes many moments where characters talk about the traditional gender roles and customs of the times, which I don't is common in many Disneys.  The movie certainly had plenty of comic relief from the talking dragon (Eddie Murphy), and I liked the cricket who doesn't speak but has some funny moments. It does seem very "Americanized" and "Disney-fied" but I suppose that's the point of it. 

The new Mulan seems to take on a more serious and darker tone without any songs or talking dragon (review from CNN.com here), but I won't be seeing it until the price comes down.