Films like The Next Karate Kid.

The Next Karate Kid (1994) reads as Neutral, breathless, measured action / drama, grounded in texture. Redemptive, epic, tender. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

The Karate Kid Part III (1989) poster
1. The Karate Kid Part III1989

Keeps the deep human warmth and the cold, bleak undertow — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Karate Kid Part II (1986) poster
2. The Karate Kid Part II1986

Keeps the deep human warmth and the stubborn streak of hope; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Karate Kid (2010) poster
3. The Karate Kid2010

Keeps the deep human warmth and the cold, bleak undertow — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Free Willy (1993) poster
4. Free Willy1993

Keeps the deep human warmth and the cold, bleak undertow; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

The Golden Child (1986) poster
5. The Golden Child1986

Keeps the deep human warmth and the stubborn streak of hope; trades toward a running vein of humour.

First Knight (1995) poster
6. First Knight1995

Keeps the deep human warmth and the cold, bleak undertow; trades toward a heightened unreality.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) poster
7. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade1989

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the grounded, familiar shape; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Dukes of Hazzard (2005) poster
8. The Dukes of Hazzard2005

Keeps the deep human warmth and the stubborn streak of hope; trades toward a running vein of humour.

The Jewel of the Nile (1985) poster
9. The Jewel of the Nile1985

Keeps the deep human warmth and the stubborn streak of hope; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Six Days Seven Nights (1998) poster
10. Six Days Seven Nights1998

Keeps the deep human warmth and the world-sized stakes; trades toward a running vein of humour.

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) poster
11. The Amazing Spider-Man2012

Keeps the deep human warmth and the cold, bleak undertow; trades toward a documentary-plain realism.

Kaththi (2014) poster
12. Kaththi2014

Keeps the stubborn streak of hope and the world-sized stakes; trades toward a deep human warmth.

These are The Next Karate Kid’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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