The Karate Kid Part III 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "The Karate Kid Part III" offers a commendable visual upgrade, showcasing a high-quality 2160p resolution augmented by Dolby Vision. The picture quality maintains a natural grain structure that enhances the film's textural detail and clarity. While the grain density is generally even, it intensifies in lower light areas and notably during a steam bath scene at the 16-minute mark. Despite this, the overall image excels in delivering a sharpness and detail that render previous Blu-ray editions obsolete. Facial features, clothing details, and environment nuances are impressively rendered, allowing viewers to appreciate every intricate element with remarkable precision.

Dolby Vision color grading further elevates the visual experience. This enhancement subtly draws out vibrant greens, brilliant blues, and fully saturated primary colors, enriching the overall aesthetic without veering into excess. Whites are radiant, black levels are deep and consistent, and skin tones appear natural and healthy. Though not as razor-sharp as its predecessors in the UHD set, this installment still manifests significant improvements over the older 1080p version, benefiting from precise and resolved textures.

However, the presentation is not without flaws. Grain replication under Sony's encode reveals occasional chroma noise, particularly in more challenging scenes such as the aforementioned steam room. Even with these minor setbacks, the visual integrity remains intact for most of the film, enhancing textures without detracting from the overall viewing experience. In conclusion, while it doesn't achieve the splendor of the first two films' UHD presentations, "The Karate Kid Part III" on 4K UHD Blu-ray presents a substantial visual step forward with its vibrant color fidelity and exceptional detail.

The new Dolby Atmos soundtrack for "The Karate Kid Part III" delivers a commendable listening experience, emphasizing a well-rounded and immersive audio presentation. The track exhibits substantial improvements in fullness and richness while maintaining the essential elements of the film's original audio design. Dialogue clarity is maintained excellently, with front-center channel dominance ensuring efficient delivery. While the additional surround back and height channels are used subtly, they effectively support ambient sounds such as background score and atmospheric noise, enhancing spatial awareness.

The mix adeptly utilizes the soundstage, with the musical score taking a prominent role and providing substantial support to various sound effects. Environmental sounds like passing cars or trains, and natural elements such as waves in the bonsai cove, are well-distributed across channels, enriching the immersion. Dialogue retains a natural quality, free from aging artifacts, although the overall fidelity remains smooth if somewhat lacking in low-end depth. Despite these limitations, this Dolby Atmos track represents a clear improvement over the previous 5.1 lossless mix, offering an effective audio experience that enhances the film's presentation.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Karate Kid Part III," unfortunately, falls short in the extras department. Fans hoping for a wealth of supplemental content will be disappointed to find only one notable addition. The disc includes "Theatrical Trailer" (1080p, 1:28) as its single extra feature. This lack of substantial additional material is surprising and somewhat disheartening for enthusiasts seeking deeper immersion into the film's production and legacy. While the set includes a digital copy code and the packaging features a non-embossed slipcover, it doesn’t fully compensate for the paucity of extras offered.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: Standard trailer in 1080p.

Sony has released the 1989 sequel film 'The Karate Kid, Part III' to the UHD format. This new disc includes a 2160p HDR video presentation and immersive Dolby Atmos audio but doesn't add any new extras besides the film's theatrical trailer. The Blu-ray included appears to share the same specifications as the 2016 release, featuring a top menu screen and the exclusion of the trailer collage. This set is currently exclusive to the three-film boxed set.

Continuing from the prior movie's events, John Kreese is financially and emotionally devastated after his defeat at the All Valley Karate Tournament. His Cobra Kai dojo is failing, with no students for months. Enter Terry Silver, a wealthy war buddy who steps in to help Kreese by sending him on a lavish vacation to Tahiti while he orchestrates a devious plan for revenge on Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi. Silver hires Mike Barnes, a ruthless karate expert, to force Daniel into defending his title at the All Valley Tournament. Meanwhile, Daniel is more focused on building a bonsai business with Miyagi, using his college tuition funds to support Miyagi’s dream. Silver's manipulative tactics break down Daniel's mental state by posing as his sensei and replacing Miyagi.

There are underlying societal themes, such as gentrification pointed out through an older woman being driven out of her neighborhood due to a massive complex. Daniel and Miyagi’s bonsai store symbolizes the dying breath of small businesses amidst a wave of capitalist exploitation marked by characters like Silver, who is portrayed as an almost cartoonish villain with behaviors indicative of hyper-pollution and further ethical degradation. Such thematic elements add depth to an otherwise straightforward revenge plot.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Karate Kid Part III" presents a mixed bag in narrative content but excels in technical execution. The film itself struggles with originality, recycling much of its plot from its predecessors. The absence of the first film's antagonist, Johnny, leaves a noticeable void, and his replacement, Mike Barnes, fails to match the same level of impact. However, Thomas Ian Griffith's portrayal of the villainous Terry Silver brings a fresh and engaging energy. Griffith oscillates between a giddy and menacing performance, effectively manipulating Daniel and injecting some much-needed life into the storyline.

Technically, Sony's UHD release delivers outstanding visual and auditory quality. The 4K resolution provides crisp, detailed images that bring new depth to the film's cinematography. Colors are vibrant yet natural, and contrast levels are superb, showcasing the film in its best possible form. The audio mix is equally impressive, offering a rich soundscape that enhances both dialogue clarity and ambient effects. Unfortunately, the release falters in the extras department, offering no substantial bonus content to complement the main feature.

In conclusion, The Karate Kid: Part III lacks original content but is salvaged by Thomas Ian Griffith's engaging portrayal of Terry Silver. While Mike Barnes doesn't serve as an adequate replacement for Johnny, the film remains watchable thanks to some strong components amidst largely recycled material. Sony's UHD presentation looks and sounds terrific, making it a highly recommended addition to any collection, especially when considering the entire three-film UHD boxed set. Though light on extras, this release stands out for its exceptional technical quality.