cult film freak: william zabka

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Written by James M. Tate / 12/31/2021 / No comments / 2021 , action , binging , cobra kai , franchise , karate , martin kove , netflix , new , ralph macchio , thomas ian griffith , william zabka

KICKING FRONT THROUGH THE FOURTH SEASON OF 'COBRA KAI'

<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiAPxg4QPwWQuQmpdjiwEftlBpkNpuvW_Ivc3UEeoqBtY9czSZn5CsPQqJN-NDFHdi7Egg1XXiuGLaP1zXsdCNO9FHw1lR5cVxCX3vj3WeindoycBts5I35NYHVKLAXXz5xkbFIA4HHMGEcNw7F7nGeKL_ZA-C-mLXcgVGDA0sURB4GvZ055bRCH5u4g=s907" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="907" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiAPxg4QPwWQuQmpdjiwEftlBpkNpuvW_Ivc3UEeoqBtY9czSZn5CsPQqJN-NDFHdi7Egg1XXiuGLaP1zXsdCNO9FHw1lR5cVxCX3vj3WeindoycBts5I35NYHVKLAXXz5xkbFIA4HHMGEcNw7F7nGeKL_ZA-C-mLXcgVGDA0sURB4GvZ055bRCH5u4g=s16000"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>William Zabka and a Coors Banquet in COBRA KAI Season Four DATE: December 31 2021 Overall Season SCORE: ***</u></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Right before 2022, Netflix's Season Four of COBRA KAI has dropped, and for a show with mostly great seasons it's by far the worst... which is like the weakest album of a band that's had only exceptional ones... The main problem being the main antagonist in Martin Kove's John Creese having to share the titular dojo with the USA-Channel-style co-sensei-villain from the horrendously awful and infamous third <a href="http://www.cultfilmfreaks.com/2014/01/waxing-on-karate-kid-franchise.html">KARATE KID</a>... </p><p></p><p></p><p>Ironically, whenever Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso mentions that particular timeline (usually the failed Banzai Tree store as compared to his successful car lot) he shakes his head in sheer disbelief (almost as if, say, THE GODFATHER III were remade with Robert Duvall alongside George Hamilton)... </p><span></span>

2021, action, binging, cobra kai, franchise, karate, martin kove, netflix, new, ralph macchio, thomas ian griffith, william zabka

KICKING FRONT THROUGH THE FOURTH SEASON OF 'COBRA KAI'

William Zabka and a Coors Banquet in COBRA KAI Season Four DATE: December 31 2021 Overall Season SCORE: *** Right before 2022, Netflix's...

RALPH MACCHIO & WILLIAM ZABKA (KICK) BACK ON 'COBRA KAI'

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>The bad guy's logos are always the coolest YEAR: 2018</u></td></tr>
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Using the Sympathy for the Devil approach, COBRA KAI takes the two most memorable young (male) characters from THE KARATE KID and pits them against each other, again, thirty-four-years later...<br>
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Ralph Macchio's once humble underdog hero Daniel is now a filthy rich (and initially banal) car salesman who uses former trainer Mr. Miyagi's philosophy, including an item he gives to each customer, in a very shallow manner: But the real star is an actor that, albeit never a household name (except for extreme movie geeks), played a character that, despite there having been two <i>Ralph Macchio with Pat Morita</i> KARATE KID sequels with their own set of villains, is the one (led by Martin Kove's nefarious Sensei) that really mattered... Or, <i>matters</i>...  <br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4KA-256lV2jEkLD3VtXWOO5NDWp_oCr9eXOUw5GzYkddibNTy0wEO9quT4yq6jblUUBsiranXv7iXg0FoMeic2IeoF57SIOP5pfVTGIKLz9WdjrKUsWuGESYNvU5aSOaz3mH29GimUNA/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="373" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4KA-256lV2jEkLD3VtXWOO5NDWp_oCr9eXOUw5GzYkddibNTy0wEO9quT4yq6jblUUBsiranXv7iXg0FoMeic2IeoF57SIOP5pfVTGIKLz9WdjrKUsWuGESYNvU5aSOaz3mH29GimUNA/s320/8.jpg" width="212"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Again, William Zabka as Johnny</u></td></tr>
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KAI takes Zabka's one-dimensional bully character and retrofits him with the new kind of quick-glib persona, humorously derailing what would otherwise be considered mean-spirited or racist (with a sort of Aaron Paul vibe, somehow). He does an incredible job playing a fifty-something has-been nobody to not only feel for but root for: And that's not<i> rooting so he'll win</i>, like we did for Macchio in KID. Because the further Zabka's once popular and perfectly blond-haired, blue-eyed Johnny dives into a spiral, the better his character is — it's what the show's really all about. Not some predictable redemption of a former bully but the progression of a once unapologetic, narrow-minded jerk being able to remain one in a likable, natural, and even relatable fashion. <br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Ralph Macchio as Daniel, again</u></td></tr>
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Overall, with these kind of binge shows, it's impossible to write too much since there are twists and turns around each and every corner, and spoilers aren't good, but to rate this solely on a serial-cliffhanger foundation (going back to pulp magazines before cinema even existed), it's more addicting after (and even during) the first two (free on YouTube) episodes than most shows on Netflix and Amazon that constantly force viewers to become proverbial junkies much too quickly, and obviously. And despite the "we really miss our youth" media surrounding the series, KAI isn't just a house built on nostalgia...<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>The quintessential bully</u></td></tr>
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In fact, they play one flashback too many of the John G. Avildsen classic, taking away from these old (and new i.e. young and ironically similar in a "turn the script around" fashion) characters involved in something... dare it be said... even better than its origin. Well, at least more realistic...<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nRlnOz8Lf8k8HtEtsJ9TCNz4lRkgLbfwO8DD3hmKfZ1qYYs-4A3f09OPJwZ2mr3KqnZpfwKxZrUr9fpjTS9IN2TLd3kvUbBxPUCfwbk9jr61u3gyS-0XgNxMWrYPRgPuPZn6W00FTP0e/s1600/99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="214" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nRlnOz8Lf8k8HtEtsJ9TCNz4lRkgLbfwO8DD3hmKfZ1qYYs-4A3f09OPJwZ2mr3KqnZpfwKxZrUr9fpjTS9IN2TLd3kvUbBxPUCfwbk9jr61u3gyS-0XgNxMWrYPRgPuPZn6W00FTP0e/s320/99.jpg" width="195"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>CobraKaiGrade: A+ </u></td></tr>
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Which doesn't mean THE KARATE KID isn't timeless and exciting perfection (in its own lighthearted way). Scenes between Macchio and Pat Morita turned an otherwise fun and thrilling sport yarn into something very deep and moving: like a mesmerizing stage-play at times. But in COBRA KAI, both sides are shown with equal merit and, let's face it, throughout the years, William Zabka... who basically played the same bullying a--hole in JUST ONE OF THE GUYS and BACK TO SCHOOL... has been regarded with the same amount of devoted nostalgia as the KID himself...<br>
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Maybe more since, as the years roll on, we flawed humans start lionizing those characters who — evil or just selfish, greedy or mislead — didn't care what anyone said, or thought about their actions or what reactions would come of them. And that's COBRA KAI: A vehicle far more legit than all the current 80's-loving STRANGER THINGS out there since... these were the guys who were there, and lived it. Plus, the acting... especially Macchio and Zabka's odd couple anti-chemistry... will surprise people who think the "totally awesome" old-school movies were all magically conjured-up by some wizard of pop culture past — as if the performances were all just "meant to be." With this show, our memories are back, and no longer abandoned dreams. Everyone's truly alive now, and completely awake.   
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cable, cobra kai, franchise, karate, ralph macchio, sport, william zabka

RALPH MACCHIO & WILLIAM ZABKA (KICK) BACK ON 'COBRA KAI'

The bad guy's logos are always the coolest YEAR: 2018 Using the Sympathy for the Devil approach, COBRA KAI takes the two most memora...

WAXING ON AND OFF THE ORIGINAL 'KARATE KID' FRANCHISE

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 1984 rating: ****</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Although becoming a campy punchline to authentic Martial Artists, you can't deny the addictive pleasure of the KARATE KID franchise, which began with excellence and eventually dwindled to contrived fare; yet was always entertaining and, to this day, unarguably classic... </i><br />
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<u>THE KARATE KID</u>: With
 two big films, ROCKY and THE KARATE KID, director John G. Avildsen 
gets lost in the mix. And yet, what both iconic features have in common is obvious: An underdog 
trained by an elder with experience and he... they... win a big fight. But looking at two of the director's "deeper" movies before 1976... SAVE THE TIGER and JOE... and heck<span style="font-style: italic;">, even</span> ROCKY for that matter... each has a character-driven soul pulsing 
throughout: Which is no different for the original KARATE KID that, while there's 
some great action with terrific fights, funny moments, and a sweet 
romance for good measure, it's the friendship between Ralph Macchio and 
Pat Morita, and how it drives all the memorable stuff... that really makes 
this film dynamic and provides another signature gem for the director 
who, like he did with the Philly Southpaw story, puts a little art-house into a big 
blockbuster.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejTksaN7qcEmpnpyh6kFtEEwjddGDC5uNtbMBPrSwJQkKFxG0JkdpEnpkU6OlaXkRF0MmFL2DC_0a4TlphyDY0NE3zfI70OfS_0ldPIQJBAnx_TB1bxAi728nCq5z5xAf0GlI1xmbznA/s1600/kk2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />

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<u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-cQNzLGiBQ9Pybqxi4MWfDncWw-WeYoEmog6V9gxjKxOOTPwiX7pTZJXNsFTKSG4_6lSWCWaAj6zm0lD89WqaaIWGuVaUfBQMlJkAVtH3bGKKqHbMjH4w8k6kgGp-WfLkDWR_tnyJq5cfnkiJfkwYueQnyNagGg3uBkK2UevFEoPPlHrWlMiR2d9oX9J/s1362/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-15%20at%202.18.52%20AM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="1362" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-cQNzLGiBQ9Pybqxi4MWfDncWw-WeYoEmog6V9gxjKxOOTPwiX7pTZJXNsFTKSG4_6lSWCWaAj6zm0lD89WqaaIWGuVaUfBQMlJkAVtH3bGKKqHbMjH4w8k6kgGp-WfLkDWR_tnyJq5cfnkiJfkwYueQnyNagGg3uBkK2UevFEoPPlHrWlMiR2d9oX9J/w200-h178/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-15%20at%202.18.52%20AM.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 1986 rating: ***</td></tr></tbody></table></u><u>THE KARATE KID PART II</u>: Very
 uneven sequel but not bad either. Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita travel 
to Okinawa where Morita's father is dying. Morita's former best friend 
turned rival, the owner of the village, wants him dead while his bully 
nephew picks on "Daniel" who falls for a local girl: There are a few 
good confrontations between The Kid and the bullies but the love story
 drags, and anything dealing with the town's traditions keeps things at a
 muddled pace...<br />
<br />
Yet the anticipated finale fight between Macchio and the nephew is 
completely ludicrous: like something from a "He Man" cartoon... this 
after the much anticipated battle between Morita and his rival ends 
because of a typhoon that brings them together, a total cop-out story 
wise and yet, there have been far worse sequels, which was right on the way with... <br />
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<u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfjTc-czfWa0S3LGQBRx44LZwFcxgPNKOUKs6lZ1XfGdDTiRFHm-mbx-ZRAValI2EALBFCc2FOsFsg3u2YZmMmTWUs2eTO9PgIoQV_k6JycAhoH2Pe8mSJrK_tagFIvq9O2f-HQKJnWoFkPlp8WgkhLnjdkkPG_SxsPUHBmA-bces0Od6_HOyY7I2oQqZ/s780/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-15%20at%202.18.42%20AM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="780" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfjTc-czfWa0S3LGQBRx44LZwFcxgPNKOUKs6lZ1XfGdDTiRFHm-mbx-ZRAValI2EALBFCc2FOsFsg3u2YZmMmTWUs2eTO9PgIoQV_k6JycAhoH2Pe8mSJrK_tagFIvq9O2f-HQKJnWoFkPlp8WgkhLnjdkkPG_SxsPUHBmA-bces0Od6_HOyY7I2oQqZ/w200-h151/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-15%20at%202.18.42%20AM.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 1989 rating: *1/2</td></tr></tbody></table>THE KARATE KID PART III</u>: One
 of the most unintentionally hilarious sequels of all time, this, the 
third outing in the franchise, begins nine months past the original as 
ruined Martin Kove, broke and without students, calls his Vietnam war 
buddy, an over-the-top pony-tailed ham who will stop at nothing to 
avenge his cohort...<br />
<br />
We see as Morita and Ralph Macchio (twenty pounds 
heavier) get off the plane from the orient and are then 
thrust into a story that has to be seen to believed... Morita opens a 
store selling Banzai Trees and Machio is once again bullied into competing for the 
tournament for... what logical reason is never made clear and, overall, this is to the KID franchise what ROCKY IV was for that series: a completely unrealistic
 comic-book that's so bad, it's horrendously awesome: the once incredible director force-feeding a contrived story like it's a cable cable movie, for which our villain fits like a torn glove. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">year: 1994 rating: **1/2</td></tr>
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<u>THE NEXT KARATE KID:</u> With
 an exception of two horrific scenes: one involving monastery monks 
dancing to The Cranberries, or when the passive baldies later go 
bowling, this franchise sequel resembling a reboot isn't <i>that </i>bad for a bad movie as a pre-fame Hillary Swank, a
 troubled teen in a hard-lined prep school, dodges advances of bullies 
endorsed by evil Michael Ironside...<br />
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Adding to her irritation is a new <i>babysitter</i>... Yeah that's right... It's Pat Morita as the iconic Mr. Miyagi, who
 doesn't know exactly how to tame a girl but eventually wins her over 
with his mellow wisdom and, at the monastery mentioned earlier, teaches 
her the between-the-lines karate style to kick bully-butt in the predictable conclusion and, basically, THE NEXT KARATE KID is 
like a vapid made-for-TV movie that has enough heart to override the abundant 
stupidity throughout.<br />
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action, cult, drama, eighties, franchise, john g. avildsen, karate, martin kove, nineties, pat morita, ralph macchio, sequel, sport, william zabka

WAXING ON AND OFF THE ORIGINAL 'KARATE KID' FRANCHISE

year: 1984 rating: **** Although becoming a campy punchline to authentic Martial Artists, you can't deny the addictive pleasure of t...

Written by James M. Tate / 3/08/2011 / No comments / chevy chase , john cusack , rob corrdry , tens , time travel , william zabka

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>year:</b> 2010<b> cast:</b> John Cusack, Rob Cordroy, Chevy Chase<b> rating:</b> **</td></tr>
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Time travel flicks are usually intriguing, and a trip to the 1980s seems a good premise, but unlike BACK TO THE FUTURE, in which Michael J. Fox is thrust into the '50s, the four characters here (including John Cusack) returning to the "Reagan era" is more catharsis than nostalgia.<br />
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Using a hot tub in a broken down ski resort hotel, the dudes... three in their forties, one in his twenties... are sent back to the same resort when things were swinging. They have to party hard (like before) without screwing up the time continuum.<br />
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Memorable 80s stuff like new wave and hair-band music, leg warmers, and one-dimensional bullies do little to jolt endearing memories of that era, or effectively parody it: which would have made a better film. These self-described losers could have gone back to any decade and still be miserable.<br />
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Yet despite the many flaws, there's some semi-funny moments. And a cameo by KARATE KID villain William Zabka is a plus.

chevy chase, john cusack, rob corrdry, tens, time travel, william zabka