MovieChat Forums > Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) Discussion > Why it maybe failed

Why it maybe failed

posted 19 years ago by huzdaman
32 replies | jump to latest

My belief is that the film was toned down by the producers to make the movie more accessible to a broad audience, which actually hurt the film. If you look at the other action films of that time, they were sort of violent and over-the-top. Think 'Commando', 'Rambo', 'Terminator'.
I read many of the books in the Destroyer series, and they are much darker in tone. Remo would have offed a lot more people had his character been more like the original.

But, still a gret film, too bad they didn't continue the series. Thoughts?

[–] rick-918 17 years ago

It failed because the top two assassins in the world were up against a namby-pamby crooked weapons manufacturer. Come on! These guys eat dudes like that for snacks before their rice!

[–] if_u_run_youll_die_tired 17 years ago

Yeah, it was okay.

Look, I've been a fan of the original novels most of my life. The "real" Remo was a hell of a lot more violent that this version. I remember a scene from one novel where Remo kills about a half dozen gang members in a movie theater with a fistful of popcorn. He flicked the kernels with such force that they slammed into the skulls of his assailants like hypervelocity bullets. That kind of violence would be hard to pull of now, let alone in '87. But I still think that the property would make for a hell of a TV series if done properly. With villians like Jeremiah Purcell, The Master, and Chiun's evil nephew Nuihc the show would rival "Buffy" in terms of action and adventure. A few flashbacks showcasing Remo's early days training in Sinanju wouldn't hurt either.

Only two there shall ever be
One to possess power,
The other, to crave it
-Darth Bane

[–] ndru_01 17 years ago

I read about 20 of the Destroyer series before seeing the film when it was first released.

I enjoyed most of the books until they started to lose their way at about the time the black female secretary joined them, which was probably an attempt by the authors to satirise blaxploitation.

I found the book series hilariously funny because it was an unlikely buddy comedy based around two ultra-violent anti-heroes who spent most of their time bickering like an old married couple in a sitcom. I don't think I've ever seen a series quite like the Destroyer it since.

The film captured the relationship between Chuin and Remo really well, which is a credit to both the writers, Grey and Ward. Brimley did a good job as the reliable agent Smith, who attempts to calmly control the insane duo of Chuin and Remo.

Unfortunately, the film had a crap plot and villain. It would have been better if the story used some kind of satire of a supervillian, as was often used in successfully in the books. They could easily have used a mob boss or evil dictator.

I think the writers and producers forgot that the success of the book series was that it was a dark comedy first, and an action series second.

[–] nlapietr 16 years ago

I am a BIG fan of the books and have been for probably 25 years. I thought the movie sucked! They totally changed the plot from the first book. CURE is supposed to be headquartered in a private hospital not a bank, Remo's name did not come from the bottom of a bed pan, the choice for The actors was not the best in my opinion, and the plot was hokey. In addition, the movie totally missed the humor and social commentary in the books which is really the selling point. Here would have been my pick for a main cast:

Remo: Paul Newman
Chuin: Pat Morita
Smith: I admit Wilfred Brimley was a good cast for this.

If you have not done so already, read the books. They are much much better.

[–] huzdaman 16 years ago

Remo was not old enough to be played by Paul Newman. Isn't he like, in his 70's?

The cast was alright, the plot and overall tone were just wrong. In 1985 you just could not have a movie with the politically incorrect characters and over-the-top violence. In one book, for example, Remo goes to assassinate a team of corrupt firemen. He basically stuffs one of them into a fire hose. I wish I were kidding.

Plus, someone already mentioned the villian was lame, Remo did not have a love interest, and there were no real fight scenes. Still, I have a copy of it just because I loved the books, and some of the elements were spot-on, like the bickering between Remo and Chiun, Smith's no-nonsense style, and Remo's sarcastic attitude.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] cbaldwinjr 13 years ago

I just don't think Fred Ward was bankable...which is tragic, because I EFFIN LOVE THIS MOVIE! I know I'm screaming! But I love this movie...it's not too serious, not too camp...and sorta like how Jim Rockford was a believable character, so is Remo Williams. Too bad the adventure didn't actually continue because its a thoroughly entertaining movie.

[–] patkav6 13 years ago

Interesting topic. Agree with most of you. Villains were lame and it never seemed like Remo had a focus. Ask yourself at any Remo scene in the movie what he is trying to accomplish overall? Thinking about it, does he ever mention a clear motivation? They bookended the villain scenes with Remo training and making jokes to Chun. There was no connection between him and the military crooks. Hence, no tension. Too many scenes with him and Chun in the apartment also. I love the statue of liberty scene though and grew up on the movie so I am a fan. I think a lot of this falls on Guy Hamilton. He's the captain and the movie simply played out dull as an action movie.

I still pop in the dvd with a beer though.

[–] intexor 13 years ago

I liked this one. It didn't have to be more violent, even though I'm a big fan of the very violent 80's action classics. This is clearly an action comedy. The films the OP mentions weren't really meant to be humorous (well, we can argue about Commando which has a lot of tongue in cheek humor, but Terminator is a sci-fi horror and Rambo is an action flick with drama elements).

[–] Winfield_Browne 9 years ago

It is definetely toned down quite a bit. As I remember from the books, it being so very long ago, the dogs Remo encounters pissed themselves when they recognized a superior predator and ultimate Alpha-Male.

In the film the guard dogs are played as 'comic relief' ...

As for it failing, it was scheduled on paper and in contract, i guess, that Fred Ward would star in at least three more episodes. They could have easily serialized this. I think it's more 'campy' than it should be and the older audience saw thru that.

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.
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