There’s an alt universe where Jeff Speakman had the career that Steven Segal had and Segal … well he was one and done with the studios making Above the Law a cult entry into the 80s/90s martial arts action film. The Perfect Weaponputs all the studio resources to use to make the big push for Speakman to be the “next big thing” in white dudes doing martial arts in action films. The result is something that’s better than your average JCVD or Seagal joint of the era though, not as hilariously dumb.
These films are your standard basic affair, similar to the Western troupe of a dude who comes into town and trouble comes to him. The Perfect Weapon has Jeff (Jeff Speakman) coming back into town after years away to visit his Uncle Kim (Mako). What Jeff finds is nothing has changed other than the Korean Mob has taken up residence in town. The cops headed by Jeff’s brother and father (John Dye and Beau Starr) are useless in protecting or helping Kim and the whole town. It’s up to Jeff and his skills as a Kenpo Blackbelt to take down the Korean Mob.
Director Mark DiSalle makes an entertaining and serviceable action film. Similar to his Kickboxer,though The Perfect Weapon is nowhere near as delirious piece of action mania but is a story for another time. The film has a truly great cast on its side that elevates it even from Seagal’s studio output at the time. The likes of Mako, James Hong, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Professor Toru Tanaka, Dante Basco, Mariska Hargitay, and Beau Starr all have sizable roles (though some of them are your standard-issue clichés).
However, none of that matters if your lead doesn’t work. Jeff Speakman for the most part works as a blue-collar hero with some real chops (pun intended). Though Speakman is more action and fewer words the filmmakers do build around that. There is a comfortable and relaxed way that he appears on screen which is better than the stiff wooden nature of early JCVD or Seagal. Though, Speakman is more Charles Bronson than he is his contemporaries.
However, what really matters is the action itself and the star in it. This is where Speakman shines. There is a speed that the star possesses that matches the stunt performers in their scenes together. There are still some of that one guy attacks at a time rhythms but the fights happen so quickly it isn’t a huge factor.
The Perfect Weapon is the perfect Saturday morning for those who want to relive the early 90s action genre. Others enter at your own risk.
The Transfer
The all-new HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is a huge upgrade even from the prior Blu-ray release (not from Kino). The image is a healthy sharp affair throughout. The work is so good that one can now tell when the film shifts from location to the studio backlot. There isn’t a scratch or blemish present. The transfer is gorgeously luminous retaining all beautiful black and contrast levels without a hint of artificating or crushing of the blacks making the 35mm shot film look beautifully representative of its origins.
The Extras
They include the following;
NEW Audio Commentary by Director Mark DiSalle and Action Film Historian Mike Leeder
Street Speed: Interview with Star Jeff Speakman
Deleted & Extended Scenes
Theatrical Trailer
The all-new Audio Commentary by Director Mark DiSalle and Action Film Historian Mike Leeder opens with how he got involved with the project with Jeff Speakman. Some of the other details include his relationship with Ed Parker – the founder of American Kenpo; the opening of the film with the track I’ve got the Power; a larger discussion of casting Speakman – which includes DiSalle’s discussion with him about taking acting classes which he did; the casting of the great supporting cast and below-the-line crew and how elevated they were – e.g., the casting of Mako and cinematographer Russell Carpenter; Ed Parker being on set during the production; the younger cast in the flashbacks; the cutting of Mariska Hargitay’s role after a bad test screening; working with Speakman on the actorly aspects of the film; DiSalle’s work with unproven talent (both actors and behind-the-scenes crew); the rating and the studio allowing the film to be R-Rated; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; a larger discussion of how the film’s action scenes were constructed; and much more. DiSalle and Leeder have an entertaining and informational conversation about the production. Leeder does a great job of prompting DiSalle’s into interesting facts about the making of the film from all aspects.
Street Speed: Interview with Star Jeff Speakman (23:34) – in this all-new interview with the star begins with the action scenes and the speed at which it’s conducted as it was produced. Some of the details include his early life; how his training led him to the West Coast and being taught under Ed Parker (the founder of American Kenpo); how he became the star of The Perfect Weapon; the development of the script with screenwriter David Wilson and Ed Parker; a detailed discussion of the construction of the action scenes – which were built very differently than normal Hollywood studio pictures at the time; working with Professor Toru Tanaka; the passing of Ed Parker before the film was released; and much more.
Deleted & Extended Scenes (8:54) – consisting of 6 deleted scenes that can be navigated by using the next and back chapter on his remote. The deleted/extended scenes include Bullies at the Arcade; extended first Kenpo lesson; extended mourning Kim; reconnecting with Jennifer; extended Adam and Jeff reconnecting; Jeff and Jennifer discussing vengeance – and escaping the bad guys.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for The Perfect Weapon (1:57); A Force of One (2:46); Revenge of the Ninja (1:42); Avenging Force (1:19); Catch the Heat (1:51); Code of Silence (2:39); Blind Fury (1:25); Sudden Death (2:16)
The Final Thought
Kino Lorber has done it again. Giving a cult genre film a beautiful transfer and extras. Recommended!!!
Paramount swung big with Jeff Speakman and The Perfect Weapon in the early 90s. Kino Lorber has resurrected the martial arts cult classic on Blu-ray.
The Film
There’s an alt universe where Jeff Speakman had the career that Steven Segal had and Segal … well he was one and done with the studios making Above the Law a cult entry into the 80s/90s martial arts action film. The Perfect Weaponputs all the studio resources to use to make the big push for Speakman to be the “next big thing” in white dudes doing martial arts in action films. The result is something that’s better than your average JCVD or Seagal joint of the era though, not as hilariously dumb.
These films are your standard basic affair, similar to the Western troupe of a dude who comes into town and trouble comes to him. The Perfect Weapon has Jeff (Jeff Speakman) coming back into town after years away to visit his Uncle Kim (Mako). What Jeff finds is nothing has changed other than the Korean Mob has taken up residence in town. The cops headed by Jeff’s brother and father (John Dye and Beau Starr) are useless in protecting or helping Kim and the whole town. It’s up to Jeff and his skills as a Kenpo Blackbelt to take down the Korean Mob.
Director Mark DiSalle makes an entertaining and serviceable action film. Similar to his Kickboxer, though The Perfect Weapon is nowhere near as delirious piece of action mania but is a story for another time. The film has a truly great cast on its side that elevates it even from Seagal’s studio output at the time. The likes of Mako, James Hong, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Professor Toru Tanaka, Dante Basco, Mariska Hargitay, and Beau Starr all have sizable roles (though some of them are your standard-issue clichés).
However, none of that matters if your lead doesn’t work. Jeff Speakman for the most part works as a blue-collar hero with some real chops (pun intended). Though Speakman is more action and fewer words the filmmakers do build around that. There is a comfortable and relaxed way that he appears on screen which is better than the stiff wooden nature of early JCVD or Seagal. Though, Speakman is more Charles Bronson than he is his contemporaries.
However, what really matters is the action itself and the star in it. This is where Speakman shines. There is a speed that the star possesses that matches the stunt performers in their scenes together. There are still some of that one guy attacks at a time rhythms but the fights happen so quickly it isn’t a huge factor.
The Perfect Weapon is the perfect Saturday morning for those who want to relive the early 90s action genre. Others enter at your own risk.
The Transfer
The all-new HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is a huge upgrade even from the prior Blu-ray release (not from Kino). The image is a healthy sharp affair throughout. The work is so good that one can now tell when the film shifts from location to the studio backlot. There isn’t a scratch or blemish present. The transfer is gorgeously luminous retaining all beautiful black and contrast levels without a hint of artificating or crushing of the blacks making the 35mm shot film look beautifully representative of its origins.
The Extras
They include the following;
The all-new Audio Commentary by Director Mark DiSalle and Action Film Historian Mike Leeder opens with how he got involved with the project with Jeff Speakman. Some of the other details include his relationship with Ed Parker – the founder of American Kenpo; the opening of the film with the track I’ve got the Power; a larger discussion of casting Speakman – which includes DiSalle’s discussion with him about taking acting classes which he did; the casting of the great supporting cast and below-the-line crew and how elevated they were – e.g., the casting of Mako and cinematographer Russell Carpenter; Ed Parker being on set during the production; the younger cast in the flashbacks; the cutting of Mariska Hargitay’s role after a bad test screening; working with Speakman on the actorly aspects of the film; DiSalle’s work with unproven talent (both actors and behind-the-scenes crew); the rating and the studio allowing the film to be R-Rated; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; a larger discussion of how the film’s action scenes were constructed; and much more. DiSalle and Leeder have an entertaining and informational conversation about the production. Leeder does a great job of prompting DiSalle’s into interesting facts about the making of the film from all aspects.
Street Speed: Interview with Star Jeff Speakman (23:34) – in this all-new interview with the star begins with the action scenes and the speed at which it’s conducted as it was produced. Some of the details include his early life; how his training led him to the West Coast and being taught under Ed Parker (the founder of American Kenpo); how he became the star of The Perfect Weapon; the development of the script with screenwriter David Wilson and Ed Parker; a detailed discussion of the construction of the action scenes – which were built very differently than normal Hollywood studio pictures at the time; working with Professor Toru Tanaka; the passing of Ed Parker before the film was released; and much more.
Deleted & Extended Scenes (8:54) – consisting of 6 deleted scenes that can be navigated by using the next and back chapter on his remote. The deleted/extended scenes include Bullies at the Arcade; extended first Kenpo lesson; extended mourning Kim; reconnecting with Jennifer; extended Adam and Jeff reconnecting; Jeff and Jennifer discussing vengeance – and escaping the bad guys.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for The Perfect Weapon (1:57); A Force of One (2:46); Revenge of the Ninja (1:42); Avenging Force (1:19); Catch the Heat (1:51); Code of Silence (2:39); Blind Fury (1:25); Sudden Death (2:16)
The Final Thought
Kino Lorber has done it again. Giving a cult genre film a beautiful transfer and extras. Recommended!!!
Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray edition of The Perfect Weapon is out now.
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