Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins

This is an excellent movie that blurs the line between action/adventure and comedy in the tradition of Big Trouble in Little China. The one-liners from Remo (Fred Ward) Chiun (Joel Grey) and Mr. Smith (Wilford Brimley) are reason enough to see this movie. Some people complained that the martial arts abilities are too unbelievable. However, if you enjoy "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", any James Bond movie, or just about any martial arts movie coming out of Asia, you should have no problem with Remo Williams. The music to the movie is also surprisingly well done. I wholeheartedly recommend this movie to anyone with a trace of humor in their soul. You will not be disappointed.

So what if the the total package is not up to blockbuster standards. We need these types of film to go and have a great afternoon at the movies where you don't have to think and you can eat a lot of popcorn. I dug the hell out of this movie because it didn't take itself too seriously. It looks like they had a fun time making it and God bless em' for it! You started to get a little idea of the outrageousness of it all when Chiun begins talking about all the other great martial arts as mere shadows compared with his fighting style. And then there's the water-walking or running toward the end of the film. And the super secret organization (with only 3 members!) answering only to the President. What a hoot! But every time I see it on the tube, I'm right there watching it if I can.

Hello From Here - When you consider that this movie was released in 1985 it still delivers a solid watching experience in 2022. It's surprising how well it holds up and how much entertainment it still gives so many years on!

This is a typical 80s action setup, yes it's a bit clunky in places, yes times and attitudes have changed but what you get is an exciting fun adventure with acting and storyline that still keeps you glued to the screen. With its simple story, gritty feel and characters that are light in depth but still relatable, the well acted and slightly camp fun feel all adds up to an action movie that's definitely worth your time.

Look all you movie snobs out there. This is a classic 80's action flick and nothing more. Sure there were some effects, but that is not the focus of the story. It is the interplay between Remo and Chuin that makes this one shine. It has classic and memorable lines. And, it was good enough for major plot points to be stolen later by the writers of the Matrix and Men in Black. If you want better action sequences, see those. If you want to see 80's action in all of its glory, get this one. One last point: It is sad that the DVD doesn't have a Widescreen option.

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins... is a terrific action/espionage film that rides on the wave of the immensely popular Roger Moore 007 films of the 80s. But, Williams is a decidedly different spy...a policeman who "dies", but is brought back through the miracles of plastic surgery to become Remo Williams, the enigmatic point man for CURE, headed by the wonderful Wilford Brimley as Harold Smith. The true scene stealer in this action-packed, fast-paced film is Joel Grey as the Korean martial/mental arts master, Chiun, who delivers the best lines and performance of the movie. Fred Ward is also good as our hero, who is physically imposing and equally emotionally distraught as Remo Williams.

Highly recommended for action lovers, spy fans, and people who love quirky films that have been lost, but not forgotten.