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The Perfect Weapon

  • 19911991
  • RR
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
4.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Perfect Weapon (1991)
An expert in "kenpo" karate avenges his Koreatown friend, slain by a mobster in Los Angeles.
Play trailer2:00
1 Video
18 Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama

An expert in "kenpo" karate avenges his Koreatown friend, slain by a mobster in Los Angeles.An expert in "kenpo" karate avenges his Koreatown friend, slain by a mobster in Los Angeles.An expert in "kenpo" karate avenges his Koreatown friend, slain by a mobster in Los Angeles.

IMDb RATING
5.9/10
4.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mark DiSalle
  • Writer
    • David C. Wilson
  • Stars
    • Jeff Speakman
    • John Dye
    • Mako
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mark DiSalle
  • Writer
    • David C. Wilson
  • Stars
    • Jeff Speakman
    • John Dye
    • Mako
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 50User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
    • 35Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    Trailer

    Photos18

    Jeff Speakman in The Perfect Weapon (1991)
    Jeff Speakman in The Perfect Weapon (1991)
    The Perfect Weapon (1991)
    The Perfect Weapon (1991)
    Mariska Hargitay in The Perfect Weapon (1991)
    Mariska Hargitay in The Perfect Weapon (1991)
    James Hong and Jeff Speakman in The Perfect Weapon (1991)
    Dante Basco and Jeff Speakman in The Perfect Weapon (1991)
    The Perfect Weapon (1991)
    The Perfect Weapon (1991)
    Dante Basco, Mako, and Jeff Speakman in The Perfect Weapon (1991)
    The Perfect Weapon (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeff Speakman
    Jeff Speakman
    • Jeff Sandersas Jeff Sanders
    John Dye
    John Dye
    • Det. Adam Sandersas Det. Adam Sanders
    Mako
    Mako
    • Kimas Kim
    James Hong
    James Hong
    • Yungas Yung
    Mariska Hargitay
    Mariska Hargitay
    • Jenniferas Jennifer
    Dante Basco
    Dante Basco
    • Jimmy Hoas Jimmy Ho
    Beau Starr
    Beau Starr
    • Capt. Carl Sandersas Capt. Carl Sanders
    Seth Sakai
    Seth Sakai
    • Master Loas Master Lo
    Professor Toru Tanaka
    Professor Toru Tanaka
    • Tanakaas Tanaka
    Clyde Kusatsu
    Clyde Kusatsu
    • Detective Wongas Detective Wong
    Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
    Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
    • Kaias Kai
    Tom Hermann
    • Jeff - Age 17as Jeff - Age 17
    Micah Roberts
    • Jeff - Age 11as Jeff - Age 11
    Ryan Bohannon
    • Adam - Age 6as Adam - Age 6
    Justin Webb
    • Adam - Age 12as Adam - Age 12
    Nikki Feemster
    • Jennifer - Age 9as Jennifer - Age 9
    Craig Ng
    Craig Ng
    • Ponytailas Ponytail
    • (as Craig Ryan Ng)
    John Koyama
    John Koyama
    • Porscheas Porsche
    • (as Johnny Koy)
    • Director
      • Mark DiSalle
    • Writer
      • David C. Wilson
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Jeff, a young delinquent, is enrolled by his father in a kenpo school, in the hopes of teaching the boy some self-discipline. Years later, Jeff's mentor, Kim, is being threatened by one of the Korean mafia families. Jeff tries to help his old friend, but is too late to prevent Kim's death at the hands of an unknown hitman. Vowing revenge, Jeff takes on all of the families, using his martial arts skills to find the man who killed his friend. —Jean-Marc Rocher <rocher@fiberbit.net>
    • martial arts
    • father son estrangement
    • friendship
    • teacher student relationship
    • homecoming
    • 140 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • No gun. No knife. No equal.
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Crime
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for martial arts violence and for some language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Star Jeff Speakman signed a multi-picture deal at Paramount. One of the two of the two planned movies was a sequel to this film, and another script Paramount optioned about a cop fighting a terrorist. After the Paramount deal fell through, that script went on to Twentieth Century Fox and became Speed (1994).
    • Goofs
      When "Jeff" is fighting the gang of thugs in the antique store at the beginning, he knocks the guy through the window (same one he pulled through at the start of the fight). When the guy is shown landing, there is a glimpse of a blue landing mat just outside the window.
    • Quotes

      Jeff: I wonder if I could kick your ass. No, not just you. All three of you.

      Bandana: Are you serious?

      Jeff: Yeah. Are you? I take on all three of you, you point me in the right direction. Deal?

      Bandana: Full contact. No protection.

      Jeff: No problem.

    • Crazy credits
      Before the credits there is the following line: 'This film is dedicated to Ed Parker and the spirit of Kenpo.'
    • Alternate versions
      TV versions airing on TBS have two additional scenes in which Jennifer (Mariska Hargitay) has lines: one after Kim's funeral, in which she and Jeff catch up; and the other some days later, in which Jennifer and Jeff share a kiss before ninjas attack the two at the garden where she works. Theatrical and video versions have edited out any romance between Jennifer and Jeff in the story.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Hollywood Stuntmakers: Fantastic Fights (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      The Power
      Written by Michael Münzing (as Benito Benitez), Luca Anzilotti (as John Garrett III) and Toni C. (as Tony C.)

      Performed by Snap!

      Courtesy of BMG Ariola Munich/Logic/Arista Records

    User reviews50

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Jeff Speakman rocks in The Perfect Weapon!
    Jeff Speakman really shines in this early 90's beat em' up. He has a lot of charisma, good screen presence and great fighting skills. Directed by Mark DiSalle who made JCVD classics Bloodsport and Kickboxer previous to this. When his family friend Kim is harassed then murdered by the Korean crime syndicate, Jeff Speakman beats up many bad guys on his mission for justice. The pace is quick with much well choreographed martial arts action. The support cast is great with Mako, James Hong, Professor Toru Tanaka, James Lew as well as many Asian Hollywood regulars that worked during this period.If you like the Van Damme and Segal movies of the late 80's/early 90's you will most likely dig The Perfect Weapon. It is too bad Jeff Speakman did'nt make many films with a decent budget. If he had the chance to do more projects of the same caliber and quality as TPW, he would be a household name in the action genre.
    helpful•13
    1
    • dworldeater
    • Nov 14, 2013

    FAQ1

    • Who performed the song "I Got The Power" in the opening credits?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 15, 1991 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Korean
    • Also known as
      • Kusursuz Silah
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,061,361
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,934,572
      • Mar 17, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,061,361
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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