Scott LeBrun The first starring vehicle for martial artist Jeff Speakman is overall a very routine affair, utilizing a tried-and-true theme of vengeance for its story. The good thing is that the action is effective, with Speakman delivering the goods in a great many fight scenes. He may be a little bland in terms of personality and acting talent, but as we can see here he is definitely very good at what is known as Kenpo. (The movie is dedicated to the legendary Ed Parker and the "spirit of Kenpo".) Director Mark DiSalle ("Kickboxer") does a decent job, telling a tight little story that clocks in at a respectable 85 minute run time. A supporting cast full of familiar faces also helps matters a lot.Speakman plays a guy named Jeff, a loner estranged from his family who decides to give his old mentor and friend Kim (Mako) a call. Unfortunately, Kim is currently being harassed by meanies representing the Korean mob. When Kim is murdered, Jeff's ripe for revenge, although he will have to deal with the presence of his younger brother Adam (John Dye), who's now a police detective.You do know you're in for some fun with a group of actors that includes James Hong, Beau Starr, Professor Toru Tanaka, Clyde Kusatsu, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Hong is great as always and the massive Professor, one of the most recognizable faces in the whole action genre, is typically amusing as a muscle man. Dante Basco is engaging as live wire kid Jimmy Ho, but if you're watching this because you learned that future 'Law & Order' actress Mariska Hargitay is in it, be warned that while she does *look* great, she basically has nothing to do. Mako is endearing for the duration of his role.The big finish is naturally the best part, with Jeff going one on one against the Professor.Good entertainment overall.Seven out of 10.

ctomvelu1 As Steve Segal's career began to decline, Jeff Speakman's was on the rise. Of the various martial arts movies Speakman did,l this is by the far the best, although Lord knows it is no masterpiece. There is very little plot other than revenge, but the fight scenes are well done and plentiful. Many familiar faces (Mako, James Hong, Toru Tanaka) are on hand to support Speakman, who is about as good an actor as Segal, which is to say not particularly good. But he looks great in the fight scenes. A young and delectable Mariska Hargitay, later of L&O: SVU, is along for the ride. Speakman was one of several actors that Hollywood briefly employed to capitalize on Segal's success. None lasted all that long. It took the arrival of Jet Li to spark new interest in martial arts flicks.

gwnightscream Jeff Speakman, John Dye, Mako, Toru "Professor" Tanaka and James Hong star in this 1991 action film. Jeff Sanders (Speakman) is a martial artist/drifter who returns home to visit his long-time family friend and mentor, Kim (Mako). He learns that Kim is threatened daily by the Korean mafia and is soon murdered by the syndicate's right-hand assassin, Tanaka (Tanaka). Jeff seeks revenge reuniting with his brother, Adam (Dye) who's a cop to catch Kim's killer and find the man responsible. Jeff soon meets Yung (Hong) who claims to be a friend of Kim, but is really the man who ordered his death. Jeff must choose between abiding by the law or his own code of honor when facing both men in a final showdown. I've always liked this film and Speakman is good in it. I recommend this good action flick.

johnnymacbest Jeff Speakman was on the road to martial arts super-stardom since being a master of the Kenpo style of fighting; a fighting style that was new to Western audiences. However, The Perfect Weapon, is far from perfect. For starters, the script is full of sputtered dialog, leaving the characters, especially Speakman, as vapid shells with nothing to work with. The acting is equally OTT atrocious with inane, incompetent and uninspired, by-the-numbers direction. The material is nothing special to begin with as with the case of most martial arts movies (though some of them are technically polished and brilliant) of that era. But TPW is not all that bad though. Some of the fight scenes are impressive and the fact that Speakman gets beaten up and vulnerable(this could've lent Seagal more credibility) as well as the final fight between Speakman and the big guy was one of the only good things out of this film. Too bad the end product was more or less than the sum of its parts and Speakman, sadly, faded away into obscurity from the spotlight; possibly forever. A shame. He could've been the next best thing.