terrible... so disappointed.

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Masterful Movie

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

David Benson (Bernhardt) is a former CIA official who is down in the small, sleepy South American town of Santa Brava. All he wants to do is sit and drink his beer and enjoy a good cockfight, but oh no. He is recruited by Maj. Oxnard (Thompson) and Col. Shakwell (Englund) as part of a ragtag team of mercenaries to help protect an idealistic politician, President Casillas (Martinez) from potential assassins as he gives an address in the town square. Naturally, Casillas is shot - and Benson and his associate Ramirez (Pirri) are blamed. Now on the run, they end up in the jungle. They end up training a team of rebels to help overthrow the corrupt government, led by Casillas' wife, Isabella (Rosen). Will Benson get out of this mess alive? What's so funny about this movie is how much Bernhardt resembles and sounds like Van Damme. Perfect Target was directed by Sheldon Lettich, the director of Lionheart (1990) and Double Impact (1991). Supposedly Bernhardt was discovered by the same guy that discovered Van Damme, and Bernhardt appeared in some of the Bloodsport sequels. For all intents and purposes, he IS Van Damme...yet he's not. Every few minutes while watching this movie, you have to ask yourself, "is that Van Damme?" But, even though some wags might say Bernhardt is a low-rent JCVD, Perfect Target is actually a better movie than some Van Damme vehicles.Bernhardt, from such movies as The Cutter (2005) and Strike Force, 2003 (and even the Mystery Science Theater 3000-mocked Future War), appears more like JCVD here than ever before. Everything from his hair to his voice will remind you of the man. The role of David Benson also could have gone to Mark Dacascos or Olivier Gruner.Interestingly, David Benson smokes and drinks. This would never happen today. It's pretty surprising this movie came out in 1997, it seems like it could have come out in '88 or earlier. It has that kind of feel. Brian Thompson, last seen as the baddie from Cobra (1986), enhances that fact. He is solid as the baddie here, as is Robert Englund, who gets to sneer away to his hearts' content. He was probably relieved to not be doing a pigeonholed horror role. Plus, since their names are the mildly silly Oxnard and Shakwell, you can say, "Oh no! Oxnard and Shakwell are coming after you!" The only one missing from the potential trifecta is Patrick Kilpatrick.There's plenty of shooting and hand-to-hand combat, and even one fight that recalls Operation Warzone (1988) of all things. The classic barfight is also here, and Benson is, of course, "the best" at what he does. But it seems an attempt was made to put in some decent dialogue and put in some plot twists. But it just may be too little too late.This is the type of movie you feel you've seen before even if you haven't. The whole "South American-corrupt government-rebels" formula has been seen in everything from Cocaine Wars (1985) to One Man Out (1989) to The Expendables (2010). The movie, shot in various parts of Mexico, has an appropriately hot and sweaty atmosphere, which is conveyed well.Perfect Target, while sporting a nice, professional look and feel, is, sadly, standard fare and underwhelming.for more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

I hated this movie to its guts! How can anybody enjoy it?! How the man who directed Double Impact and Lionheart could make such a bad movie? Daniel Bernhardt is amazing and it is a shame that he starred this piece of junk! And Robert Englund and Brian Thompson deserved better as well! Awful! Very very lame! If you want to see a good Daniel Bernhardt Movie, please, rent Bloodsport 2 and 3. Those movies have great fight sequences and are way more inspired than this one. For example, the fight scene in the end between Bernhardt and Thompson is one of the worst fights I have ever seen! Only the Princess Diaries is worse than this one!

If you like adventure outside the United States, then this movie is for you! We got Mexican architect and scenery! --Conspiracy, backstabbing, multiple violent acts, rebels and comradeship; also some sexual situations, too: all-contributing to the action movie, in an interesting version. One possible obstacle is that, even though Daniel Bernhardt is very appealing, and does well at projecting toughness: because he resembles a duplicate of Jean-Claude Van Damme, settling into Bernhardt might take awhile. But this movie is better than many of Van Damme's movies, particularly when the twist arrives: when, `Senora Presidente Bitch' initiates the main gist of the story.

Yes, I am a big fan of Mr. Bernhardt and his work, and this film is no exception. I couldn't ask for much more, as I felt the film's 90 minute duration, was well spent. You've got Bernhardt in the lead, followed by another underrated talent, Brian Thompson and Robert "The Man Himself" Englund, rounding out the billing in a meaty role. Overall, this is a well directed actioner, from, the man who made "LIONHEART", Sheldon Lettich. If you're a fan, check it out. I should know... I'm a self-taught, self-licensed grindhouse practitioner and historian... Dig It.