Running Red (2000)

less fights, more chases

The Perfect Weapon is usually what comes to mind when one mentions Jeff Speakman. It is the film by which all other Speakman movies are judged, and still comes off as the very best. Running Red is the third Speakman film I have seen, following up Street Knight and Perfect Weapon before that. Like Street Knight, I was dissapointed to see a lot less fighting than Perfect Weapon, but this time, there is even less than Street Knight.

Fortunately, Running Red is still a well made film for a B-movie. This is another Joseph Mehri/Richard Pepin production - the same guys who have done dozens of martial arts action films, and usually tend to have a decent budget to work with. That budget shines in this film, with good picture quality, directing, and explosive action scenes. The story is pretty good too, though a bit boring and then overdone at times.

The action in this film is mainly car chases. There are 3, and the 2nd is the best, which is actually 2 Greyhound type buses involved in a chase at night in town. The finale is a train wrecking into one of the buses. I was rather amazed that this kind of chase could be accomplished with a B movie budget, but they managed. The real disspointments are the fights. It is obvious Speakman is a bit older and is a little heavier, but when he fights it still looks smooth. But I guess he couldn't do much since there are very few fight scenes and all are very very short - like 30 seconds each.

The story again is decent. Greg (Speakman) has moved to America, starting a new life with a family, and leaving his old behind - working with the Russian army. His past comes back to haunt him, as his commanding officer returns and orders him to assasinate three tragets, or watch his family die. Thats about it, but its the elements of suspense and chases that provide a little excitement, even though eventually it gets old. The acting is incsonsistent, and I think Speakman has done a better job with that in his other films.

Overall this is an average film and I had higher hopes going into this. Perhaps if I didn't compare everything to The Perfect Weapon, I'd enjoy this more but Jeff Speakman is (or was) obviously capable of much better. Good action chases and an ok story are the reasons to watch - forget any hopes of long fights. August 18, 2007

A pure Master

His moves speak for them self. A master at his art. Keep the art in martial and he does. July 3, 2006

a master at work

a down to earth plot coupled with some excellent action...I'm not sure how Ed Parker directed this movie though, as one review suggested, since Ed Parker died in 1990. June 24, 2002

Great style excellent movie

Actually Jeff Speakman studies a form of Martial Arts called American Kenpo that was founded by Mr Ed Parker. My son and I both study American Kenpo and love to pick out the diffferent techniques that Jeff Speakman's using in the film. Ed Parker is responsible for directing all the fight scenes in the film. Ed Parker is responsible for teaching such notables as Jeff Speakman, Elvis Presley, and Blake Edwards to name a few. He also was the one that is responsible for introducing Bruce Lee to the Hollywood jet set and getting him started in films. October 2, 2001

KENPO MASTER JEFF SPEAKMAN DOES IT AGAIN

LIKE ALL SPEAKMAN MOVIES THERE ARE PERIODS IN THE MOVIE THAT WILL BORE YOU, BUT IF YOU ARE A DIE HARD SPEAKMAN FAN LIKE MYSELF YOU CAN EXCEPT THIS. SPEAKMAN DOES HAVE TO ACT IN THIS AND ALL HIS OTHER FLICKS. HE HAS TO ACT TO BE COOL BECAUSE HE IS NOT AS NATUAL AT IT AS LET'S SAY STEVEN SEAGAL. ALL IN ALL FOR THE BUDGET THAT SPEAKMAN FILMS HAVE THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD MOVIE, THOUGH NOT NEARLY AS GOOD AS THE PERFECT WEAPON. ( BUT THEN AGAIN PERFECT WEAPON IS THE BEST MOVIE EVER MADE). SO IT COMES DOWN TO THIS. IF YOUR NOT A JEFF SPEAKMAN FAN AND WOULD'NT KNOW HIM FROM A STRANGER ON THE STREET, SAVE YOUR MONEY, AND GO CHECK OUT THE NEW STEVEN SEAGAL MOVIE AT THEATERS. ON THE OTHER HAND IF YOU ARE A KENPO ARTIST LIKE MYSELF THIS MOVIE IS ONE OF SPEAKMAN'S BEST, SO I WOULD RECOMMEND PURCHASING THIS MOVIE, AND ALL OTHER SPEAKMAN MOVIES. MY ONLY WISH IS THAT SPEAKMAN WOULD GO BACK TO HIS ORIGINAL IDEA TO PROMOTE MORE KENPO IN HIS MOVIES, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. March 28, 2001

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