Adapted from the “Destroyer” series of novels and comic books, Remo Williams: the Adventure Begins is meant to be a fun, tongue-in-cheek adventure—and a star vehicle for Fred Ward.
Unfortunately, it is neither. Ward plays the titular role, a New York cop who works for a top-secret government agency accountable to the highest authority, the President of the U.S.
Following his reluctant induction into this agency, Remo is trained in Korean martial arts by Chiun (Joel Grey), an inscrutable master in ancient oriental skills.
Once trained, Remo goes after a corrupt arms manufacturer with connections in the U.S. military and acquires the necessary help-mate, Major Rayner Fleming (Kate Mulgrew). Antics at the
The plot is silly and preposterous, but some of the set-pieces, one at New York’s Statue of Liberty, are not bad.
As directed by Guy Hamilton (who had helmed some good James Bond pictures), “Remo Williams” was made in the mid-1980s, around the time of the “Indiana Jones” series, and the producers hoped that it might launch a long-running series. Critical response was negative, however, and there was not much of an audience for it either.
Oscar Nominations: 1
Makeup: Carl Fullerton
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
The winners of the Best Makeup Oscar were Michael Westmore and Zoltan Elek for “Mask.”