The Karate Kid Part III (1989)

Revenge can be a patient and cunning enemy, and sometimes the most dangerous threat is the one pretending to be your friend. John G. Avildsen's "The Karate Kid Part III" finds Cobra Kai's disgraced sensei, John Kreese (Martin Kove), broke and humiliated after his students' defeat. His wealthy, ruthless Vietnam War buddy, Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith), a toxic-waste tycoon, vows to help him get revenge on Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). Back home, Daniel has used his college savings to help Miyagi open a bonsai tree shop and befriends Jessica (Robyn Lively), a young woman who runs a pottery shop nearby. Silver hires a vicious young karate champion (Sean Kanan) to challenge Daniel at the upcoming tournament. When Daniel refuses to compete, he's relentlessly harassed, his shop is vandalized and he and Jessica are left dangling from a cliff while trying to recover a rare bonsai tree Miyagi brought from Okinawa, until he's forced to enter. With Miyagi refusing to train him for such a violent fight, Silver poses as a kindly mentor and secretly teaches Daniel brutal, punishing techniques that leave him bruised, angry and increasingly unlike himself, driving a wedge between Daniel and his true teacher. When Daniel finally discovers Silver's deception, he must rebuild his trust in Miyagi and find the strength to face his opponent in a rigged tournament final, relying on the lessons of balance and self-control that made him a champion in the first place.