The Top Ten Most Underrated Movie Villains - 3. Cobra Kai

- sketch by Ed Flagg

3). The Cobra Kai (The Karate Kid): “We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak. Here, in the streets, in competition: A man confronts you, he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy.”

Cody Dee Williams: Sensei John Kreese and his punk minions Johnny, Bobby, Tommy, Jimmy, & Dutch – The Cobra Kai. A buncha bullies clad in black Gis, The Cobra Kai viewed Karate as a weapon, instead of an art. Of course they were just a misguided band of angry teenagers, led down the wrong path by militaristic dickhead of a sensei John Kreese, played with wrathful brilliance by Martin Kove. Unfortunately for skinny Jersey kid Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio), he falls in love with the wrong girl at the wrong time, and proceeds to have his ass handed to him on a plate for about 120 minutes of a 127 minute film. Eventually, good karate triumphs over evil karate and everyone goes home happy. Props to Billy Zabka, who plays the Cobra Kai leader Johnny, for selling one hell of a crane kick to the face. Stuntmen are for the WEAK!

Jen Huber: What a bunch of jerks! I remember watching this movie and hating these guys! Sure, they are pretty good at karate, but to bully Daniel-san, c-mon! Also, how epic was that final fight?! The bully in black and Daniel in white, very clear cut. The Cobra Kai are the ultimate school bullies!

Jeff: You have three possible categories in High School, you are either a victim, an invisible or, like the Cobra Kai, a dickheaded Bully. Oh, and they play it so well! Johnny, and his band of mostly white trust-fund babies getting their kicks off of terrorizing the new kid from Jersey, and if I remember correctly they handed Danny boy quite a few beat downs until Miyagi got into the action. But lets be honest the kid had it coming to him--who dresses up like a fricking shower for Halloween? Billy Zabka made his bones playing jerks in high school and of course his Johnny is at the top of the list. Which makes the Crane Kick to the face that much more satisfying. Kudos to Mr. Zabka for making it look so fracking real--I mean come on it totally looked like Macchio tagged him, try watching in slow mo--you just can't friggin tell! But in then end it's that scary mo-fo John Kreese played by the total badass Martin Kove that ties Cobra Kai together. He's ruthless, he's crazy and he will kill without mercy.