Memorial Day (1999)

A rogue arm of the intelligence community creates a false terrorist group (Red Five) who do acts of destruction via a deadly orbiting satellite in order to get the government to increase military and security spending. They try to use a presidential candidate and an ex- soldier deemed insane as fall guys but things don't go to plan. Cue lots of stock situations, stock footage and stock music. One spent most of the movie thinking, where have I seen that bit of film or heard that bit of music before? Jeff Speakman is a bland leading man who is supported by an uninteresting cast apart from Bruce Weitz who makes a fine villain. Not much excitement here.

The Cold War is over and Defense Spending is down. In order to increase military spending, the Agency (a team of high-level intelligence officers) headed by General Willard (Paul Mantee) creates a fake terrorist group: Red Five that is using a top secret satellite laser (codename Eagle) to create havoc and terrorize the people.Seven years ago, USMC Captain Edward Downey (Jeff Speakman) and former Agency employee told reporter Robin Connors (Stephanie Niznik) about the Eagle not working properly. The Agency discredited him by having him declared insane and committed to a mental hospital. The Eagle is now fixed and operational. Downey is re-programmed and released to do the Agency's evil deeds, Downey starts remembering the past and does not go through with an assignation of Senator Jerald Lancaster (Frederick Coffin) who is a presidential candidate and an unknowing pawn of the Agency's. Now Downey and Robin are on the run for their lives. Downey calls his old Agency contact, Jules (Bruce Weitz), for help. However, Jules (aka #1) is part of the conspiracy and kidnaps Robin because she knows too much.Downey finally convinces Lancaster about the plot against his life and to help him. In a race against time, Downey has to stop the Agency from making Lancaster and Robin martyrs and killing even more innocent people.

The film deals with Edward Downey (Jeff Speakman) , a government agent/ex-Marine imprisoned mental sanatorium where has strange dreams about his mentor (Bruce Weitz) . He's just been released from a mental ward by general Willard (Paul Mantee)and assign him to kill senator Lancaster(Frederick Coffin) and Presidency candidate . There's only one man you can count on when the final countdown begins. As an embittered satellite expert gets the opportunity for revenge against the USA by aiding terrorists in a plan to destroy the country's military base . A satellite called Eagle from 'Star wars project' is robbed by terrorist organization called 'Five Red' and formed by ex-KGB agents . The laser satellite launches a series of ray attacks on orbiting space station and US atomic underwater . Downey's needed to stop a terrorist band that's stolen the laser satellite . Meanwhile , he's helped by a beautiful journalist (Stephanie Niznik) .This routine-low budget movie contains suspense , action , thrills and cheesy effects specials . Routine , and low quality to the point of boring though some moment gets thrilling . The film is starred by Jeff Speakman . He's 6th degree black belt in American Kenpo Karate . Speakman is director of American Kenpo, an International Kenpo Karate organization with more of 50 schools . In the cinema his greatest success was 'Perfect weapon' but his career failed with C grade films (¨Hot Boyz¨, ¨Deadly outbreak¨) , like this one , becoming himself a failed star . Secondary cast is formed by usual B-movie actors such as Bruce Weitz , Frederick Coffin and Joe Stevez who holds an uncanny resemblance his brother Martin Sheen . The movie was middlingly directed by Worth Keeter . He's usually TV movies director (Power Rangers episodes) and occasionally cinema director , such as ¨Hijack¨ , ¨L.A Bounty¨ , ¨Trapper county war¨ and ¨Scorpio one¨ (again with Jeff Speakman and with similar plot and FX) . Rating : Below average , though displays some action but also boredom .

About the only thing worse than the awful dialog is the (over?) acting. Bruce Weitz's talent somehow comes through, in spite of what appears to be poor direction. Oh, yeah..the effects. Cheap...laughable at times. A notch or two above Flash Gordon.