Few people have such a memorable impact on our lives as teachers and mentors. They range from a parent, to a teacher, or a coach. Many times the great teachers are the ones from the silver screen. These include unforgettable names such as Ben Kenobi/Yoda, Gandalf, or perhaps coach Herman Boone from Remember the Titans. Every generation finds a few teachers to guide them in their lives. One of the big ones from the 80’s was a Japanese repairman named Mr. Miyagi. Miyagi taught a young high schooler not only how to defend himself, but how to live life. He was played by an actor named Noriyuki ‘Pat’ Morita. This Friday, February 5th, on Video on Demand comes More than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story.
More Than Miyagi – Decades in the Making
Someone once said behind every great comedian is a world of pain. We need look no further than comedic greats such as Richard Pryor and Robin Williams. They made millions laugh, but behind the scenes things were not so bright. Sadly, Pat Morita was no different.
Despite having a wonderful sense of humor, the final 30 minutes of More Than Miyagi deals with the darks side of Pat’s life. Pat had a drinking problem. He began drinking at the young age of 12, and he never escaped the curses of alcoholism. In the final years of life it overtook him.
One of the biggest take aways of More Than Morita is his wife, Evelyn Guerrero. She narrates much of the film, and gives a very candid detailing of Pat’s life, even the final years when things fell apart. The way she talks about Pat and what she endured tells a very motivational and devoted story.
If you are a fan of Mr. Miyagi or Pat Morita in general, you will not want to miss this documentary. It tells an incredible story of a rather exceptional man, flaws and all. More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story releases this Friday, February 5th on iTunes, Amazon, Vudu,
Google Play, DVD and Blu-ray.
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