More than Miyagi : the Pat Morita story

Who was really Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, the actor behind the unforgettable characters of Matsuo Arnold Takahashi (Happy Days series), Mr. Miyagi (The Karate Kid movie saga) and the voice of the Chinese Emperor in the Disney Mulan and Mulan II animated films. This excellent documentary tells us his story and introduces us to a man prey to his inner demons, his penchant for alcohol and his many personal problems.

Noriyuki "Pat" Morita has left behind a painfully revealing autobiographical account of his journey. This documentary containing several fascinating interviews traces his journey from his childhood in bed after an illness to the lights and discrimination in Hollywood. Deep down inside, this gentle, generous and multi-talented artist saw the birth of an army of demons that even alcohol and drugs could not hide. More than Miyagi: the Pat Morita story features many of the actors from the Karate Kid saga, including the excellent Cobra Kai series that continues to celebrate Miyagi's legacy as one of the world's most cult characters. It is thus interesting to listen to William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, and Martin Kove reminisce about their collaborations.

Making a successful documentary must be based on a true journalistic approach, as this documentary, which must be seen by as many people as possible, shows so well. Based on several archive images but also personal images, the presence of his third wife, Evelyn Guerrero, interviewed at length gives this documentary an important personal touch. She looks back at her ex-husband's Hollywood career and the many difficulties he had to go through to continue working because far from having a very promising Hollywood career, he had to make several independent and genre productions such as American Ninja 5 (1993), Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite (1996), Bloodsport III (1996), films that just allowed him to live decently. The Asian minorities in the Hollywood landscape, as this documentary shows so well, find it difficult to achieve success and have to make do with simple second roles.

It is easy to understand that with the critical and public success of the third season of Cobra Kai, More than Miyagi: the Pat Morita story is an indispensable documentary to celebrate the memory of a great actor who will forever remain in our eyes as Mr. Kesuke Miyagi, a master, a spiritual guide and one of the unforgettable characters that cinema has brought us.

More than Miyagi : the Pat Morita story
Directed by Kevin Derek
Produced by Oscar Alvarez, Kelly Jackson, Kevin Derek
Executive Producers: Evelyn Guerrero-Morita, Greg Lai, Cindy Lai
Written by Oscar Alvarez, Kevin Derek
Starring William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Martin Kove, Ron Thomas, Pat Morita, Sean Kanan, Julia Nickson, Esai Morales, James Hong, Henry Winkler, Pat E. Johnson, Larry Miller, Marion Ross, Tommy Chong, Efren Ramirez, William Christopher Ford, Robert Mark Kamen, Simon Rex, Iyari Limon, Don Most, Anson Williams, Evelyn Guerrero, Christopher Cain, Fumio Demura, Tony Schiena, Elizabeth Sung, Diana Tanaka, June Angela, Lance Burton, Kevin Derek, Tino Orsini, Gabriel Campisi, Angela Laprete, Wyland, Ciro Orsini, Guy Aoki, Karen Klostermann, Gloria T. , Imagire, Terry Hara, Larry Ruvo, George Johnston, Richard Watanabe
Release date: February 5, 2021 (USA)
Running time: 89 minutesRelease date: February 5, 2021 (United States)
Duration: 89 minutes

Seen on January 03, 2021 (press link)

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