THE PERFECT WEAPON (1991)

MORGAN'S RATING

Estranged from his family, Jeff Sanders, a master of kempo karate, returns home to be confronted with his mentor's murder and the discovery that an underworld crime ring is responsible. His quest for justice sets him against his father and brother and on a collision course with one of the world's deadliest men.

Jeff Speakman (Jeff), John Dye (Adam), Mako (Kim), James Hong (Yung), Mariska Hargitay (Jennifer), Chris Tashima (Bag Man), Dante Basco (Jimmy Ho), Beau Starr (Carl Sanders), Seth Sakai (Master Lo), Professor Toru Tanaka (Tanaka), Clyde Kusatsu (Detective Wong), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Kai), Tom Hermann (Jeff, Age 17), Micah Roberts (Jeff, Age 11), Ryan Bohannon (Adam, Age 6), Justin Webb (Adam, Age 12), Nikki Femmster (Jennifer, Age 9), Craig Ryan Ng (Ronital), John Koyama (Porsche), Roger Yuan (Diamond), Shaun Shimoda (Kwong), Yoshimi Imai (Wo Sam), Ralph Ahn (Gi), Tony Formin (Erickson), Leland Sun (KK Guard), James Lew (Crewcut), Ray Sua (Tattoo), Leo Lee (Bandana), Bill Saito (OId Man), Tanya Russell (Lady at Bank), Don Pulford (Cop Partner), Gary Price (Cop Driver), Al Jones, Mario Roberts, Tom Elliott (Cops), Mark DiSalle (The Coach), Thomas Rosales Jr. (Man in Alley), Al Leong (Man in Croc-Pit bar, uncredited).

NO GUN. NO KNIFE. NO EQUAL.

FACTS

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

RELEASE DATE: March 15th, 1991 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $3.9 ?million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $14.0 million (USA) - Film debut for fourth-degree kenpo black belt Jeff Speakman, who trained 6 hours a day to get in shape for the role. Also debut for screenwriter David Campbell Wilson. - First American film to display kenpo, a combination of judo, jujitsu, karate and kung fu. - Technical advisor Ed Parker died before the movie was released. Parker, along with Speakman, choreographed the martial arts sequences.

DIRECTOR: Mark DiSalle (Kickboxer). WRITER: David C. Wilson. PRODUCERS: Pierre David and Mark DiSalle. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Ralph Winter. LINE PRODUCER: Marty Hornstein. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Gary Chang and Ed Alton (additional music). DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Pictures.

QUOTES

Jimmy: Hey Terminator...I don't know where you came from, but you better go back.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

Jeff: I wonder if I could kick your ass...wait...not just you...all three of you.

"Candy for all martial-arts enthusiasts." -- Clint Morris, Moviehole

Jimmy: When you find him, kill for Kim.

Jimmy: Everybody knows Yung killed Kim, dick... [Jeff cuts him off with a harsh glare] Jimmy: [finishing] tracey.

"Better than expected actioner that was supposed to launch Speakman into a big time movie career; then Street Knight shot that notion down." -- Luke Y. Thompson, New Times

[grabbing Yung by the neck] Jeff: I really want to kill you, but you're just not worth it.