So I’m gonna take a few hits every now and again to see how the movies, music and TV shows from our youth hold up in a new series called, LMPTSA (Let Me Peep This Sh*t Again).
I repeeped Karate Kid last night with my wife, Maya (10) and Joaquin (7).
We liked it but stopped after the first episode because explaining the backstory over and over again to the kids, who’d never seen the original, was exhausting. So, we downloaded the IMDB movie app and watched it for $Free.99.
Here are a few observations that escaped my attention when I first watched the movie in 1985.
Mr. Miyagi was a Japanese-American immigrant whose wife and unborn child died at Manzanar, a Japanese internment camp, while he was away fighting Nazis.
Holy SHIT.
I was 17 when I first learned of Japanese interment camps, and still another 5 years before I learned there was a large camp at present day Santa Anita racetrack in the San Gabriel Valley, some 5 miles from where I grew up.
While the movie isn’t immune to crude representations of Asian American culture, there was a recurring bit where Daniel mispronounces Mr. MiyaGEE, and is corrected until he finally learns to say it right. And then teaches others.
Do you remember that scene from the tournament when the MC mispronounces the OG’s name
“It’s Miyagi.”
Danielson on the chin check.
Now, if that didn’t flip my wig what I learned next had me questioning all reality.
DANIEL LARUSSO WAS MEXICAN-AMERICAN
Hear me out.
First, Daniel moved into a Reseda apartment complex where his first friend and neighbor was a Mexican kid.
Varrio Reseda 13 or nah?
One can rightfully surmise that Daniel’s mom heard about this apartment from Daniel’s dad’s sister (more on that below), who had a comadre from her rancho living in the same complex.
#Facts
Now, about Daniel’s papi.
First, we have good reason to think Daniel is named after his dad cuz, like, the 80s and shit. And we know a bunch of Mexicans named Daniel. A bunch.
The LaRussa’s lived in New Jersey at the height of the manufacturing boom, so we know Mexicans were there making that town go.
Lastly, regrettably, even if predictably, Daniel Sr. likely had to jet back to his pueblo to reconnect with his Mexican family and he wasn’t about to stick around with Mrs. Larusso, who for all her good intentions, had a bad hairstyle.
If that isn’t proof enough for you skeptics, consider the fact he wore the same pair of Nike Cortez THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MOVIE.
100% likelihood Daniel’s wearing knee high socks
For my most controversial piece of datum, I submit the Halloween Dance scene where Danielson decided to exact revenge on Johnny because…wait for it…Johnny stole Daniel’s weed and was about to smoke the last of it…and I mean the last of it…at the dance.
The temerity is flabbergasting and a insult no Mexican-American can suffer.
Listen, if I had more time, I’d go into Daniel’s preternatural soccer skills, his ability to mack the hottest girl on campus and his Mexican mane but you’re just gonna have to trust me on this one.
OK, I sense some skepticism. So consider this the nail in the coffin.
