Perfect Target

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Audience Member He kicks like Jean-Claude Van Damme. He talks like Chuck Norris. He looks like Lawrence Harvey. He's Daniel Bernhardt of "The Matrix Reloaded." In the "Perfect Target," Bernhardt plays David Benson, a hard luck, ex-Green Beret who serves as a fall guy for a mercenary group headed up Colonel Shackwell (Robert Englund of "The Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise) and his sidekick Major Oxnard (Brian Thompson of "Sudden Impact") and retained by a South American country's president. Poor Benson cannot sit in a bar and enjoy a quiet brew without somebody picking on him. A smackdown fistfight ensues as a disgruntled big fellow trades jaw-breaker blows with Benson. Initially, Benson wasn't looking for a fight. Nevertheless, the two beat the bejesus out of each other until the police arrive. Predictably, they arrest our hero on trumped up charges and haul him off to jail. Major Oxnard bails David out, and Shackwell offers our hero the job of protecting Santa Brava President Casillas (Mario Iván Martínez of "Original Sin") and his wife Isabela Santiago Casillas (Julieta Rosen of "The Mask of Zorro") from assassins. The biggest problem that David must contend with a obnoxious Federale Captain Miguel Ramirez (TV actor Jim Pirri) who doesn't like taking orders. These two guys decide to set aside their differences until later, when they plan to beat the stew out of each other. During the president's speech, an assassin opens fire and kills him. The assassin turns out to be one of Shackwell's own men and they kill some of their stunned comrades during the assassination. Before he knows what's going on, Benson learns that he has been framed for the death of the president. Benson and Miguel become friends as they retreat into the jungle and stumble onto Teresa Ramirez (Dara Tomanovich of TV's "Highlander") and her band of freedom fighters. As it turns out, Teresa is Miguel's sister and a fine figure of a woman, too. David doesn't miss this either and they create some chemistry. Mostly, however, they are swapping lead with the Major Onxard, General Shackwell and the President's wife. Isabela takes over the government and rules with an iron fist. She wants Shackwell to hunt down David and kill him. All that David wanted was to escape and cross the border, but since he has seen Teresa, he has changed his mind. He hangs around and trains Teresa's men how to shoot. Teresa and David have a dialogue showdown in the jungle because she thinks that all he wants to do is get out of the country. By the time that David decides to stick around, he learns that the army has raided their hideout, killed nearly everybody, and has taken Teresa into custody. Teresa and Isabella are mortal enemies from the first time that they lay eyes on each other. David and Miguel devise another plan and attack the palace where Isabella, Shackwell, and Major Oxnard are holding Teresa hostage. Isabella is speaking to a 'live' TV audience in her palace when the freedom fighters fire mortar rounds. Eventually, because the sound of gunfire continues to grow, she abandons the broadcast, but the frightened technicians leave the equipment on and sending out pictures. Major Oxnard and David go toe-to-toe and head-to-head in a knockdown, drag-out brawl that the countrymen watch on their TV sets. Meanwhile, Miguel has his showdown with evil General Shackwell and gives him his just reward. "Lionheart" helmer Sheldon Lettich, a former U.S. Marine who did time in Vietnam, has served up a tolerably entertaining but standard issue, big dumb, he-man actioneer where fists smacking flesh are the equivalent of gunfire. Daniel Bernhardt is serviceable as the stalwart hero and he handles himself splendidly in hand-t0-hand combat. Brian Thompson is terrific once again as the treacherous antagonist who betrays David. Thompson looks like he was born to play dangerous villains. Indeed, he looks the son of Satan with that over-sized jaw and those sneering lips. Why he didn't become a bigger villain is beyond me. Robert Englund is suitably maniacal but he doesn't have to exert himself, meaning that the role is far below his talents. Julieta Rosen delivers the best performance and it is a testament to her thespian talents that you will HATE this witch before she receives her just reward. Basically, "Perfect Target" is a potboiler. The fights are okay. The scenery is exotic with a south of the border look. There is beefcake galore, gunfight galore, and some sex. Lettich has directed better movies. He helmed "Double Impact" before he made "Perfect Target." "Perfect Target" is a low-budget thriller that doesn't change the way low-budget thrillers are made, but doesn't do anything really wrong. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member better than i though Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Perfect Target

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