The Perfect Weapon
                                                                                            
Director: Alfred Werker
Year: 1991
Rating: 7.0
On social media some fellow posted that this was the best American martial arts films of its time and a bunch of responders agreed. Not that I believe anything on social media, but I thought I would at least look into it. Released in 1991 when B American martial arts films were coming out of every low budget studio with Van Damme, Seagal, Norris, Wilson, Dudikoff, Rothrock, Daniels and others starring in them. Any guy who could kick higher than his knee, could get a role in some film. This one has Jeff Speakman who I didn't know at all. But what really sold me on watching the film was the reliable and seemingly required contingent of the Asian actors who always show up in these types of films. Partly because the triads and Yakuza are often the villains. This has the enduring Mako, the still going James Hong, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Clyde Kusatsu and the gigantic Professor Toru Tanaka. Hong is about a thousand years old and it is rumored that he is in fact the sorcerer that he played in Big Trouble in Little China. I love these guys scrambling and hustling back then for every job when an Asian character was called for. Doesn't matter if the character is Chinese, Japanese or Korean, chances are one of these actors will be playing him.



Speakman is a black belt in the martial art of Kenpo, developed in America by Ed Parker. It is a "system that is characterized by its emphasis on rapid striking combinations, self-defense techniques, and an evolving instructional framework." What you see emphasized in this film is the rapid striking combinations. Extremely fast and unusual to see. Speakman plays Jeff, who as a young boy was directed into Kenpo by Mako. He becomes very good, but unable to control his anger and when a big lug hits his brother, he beats the crap out of him sending him to the hospital. Jeff's father kicks him out of the house which is a pretty shitty thing to do to your teenage son. Years later - now as Speakman - he returns to his hometown. And trouble soon begins.




In the worst replica of any Koreatown on film,  the Korean mafia is harassing store owners. One a friend. Jeff starts beating up on Koreans in stores, in nightclubs, dojos and warehouses. He also takes the time to beat up a street gang of non-Korean punks. The action is well-done and his rapid strikes are impressive. Eventually of course, he has to battle Professor Tanaka. Built like a tank, but stronger. He had been a professional wrestler in the days when it was a big deal on TV. No, this isn't the best American martial arts film - that is of course The Karate Kid, the anime - but was good enough for me to look for more of his films. Not charismatic but also none of the creep factor of Seagal and Van Damme. If you wonder why Mariska Hargitay is so high up in the credits but is barely in it with no dialogue, her romance with Jeff was cut out. That must have pissed her off.