The Karate Kid. Bill Conti

California, 1984. Having left Newark's cold winters behind him, shy Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) moves with his widowed mother to the Reseda neighbourhood in sunny Los Angeles. But Daniel must find his feet. Of course, fitting in is easier said than done. And as if new beginnings weren't challenging enough, a vicious gang of local karate bullies have set their sights on making life miserable for the young newcomer, in and out of school. With no one to turn to for advice, Daniel has a pivotal encounter with Mr Miyagi (Pat Morita), the building's inscrutable caretaker and unexpected master martial arts mentor. As the grizzled Karate expert takes Daniel under his wing, the teacher and student embark on a life-changing journey of friendship and self-discovery.

The main drawback with the Karate Kid soundtrack as a whole is that it is missing that iconic musical moment, that singular element that elevates it into something unforgettable. Zamfir’s pan flutes are pretty but are more atmospheric than they are theme based; similarly, neither the romantic relationship between Daniel and Ali, nor the montage moments of Daniel’s training, have a score-based moment to rival. The upbeat, optimistic “Main Title”, which features a lush string theme underpinned by more strident brass pulses and flute accents that are really superb, despite being clearly rooted in early 1980s film score conventions that some might find dated.