Remo Williams - The Adventure Begins poster & wallpaper
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Fred Ward, Joel Grey, Wilford Brimley, J.A. Preston, George Coe ... see more see more... , Kate Mulgrew , Charles Cioffi , Marvin H. Albert , Jeff Allin , Cosie Costa , Roger Cudney , Wendy Gazelle , William Hickey , Reginald VelJohnson , Dodi Kenan , Patrick Kilpatrick , Gene Lebell , Tom McBride , Davenia McFadden , Jon Polito , J.P. Romano , Michael M. Ryan , Frank Simpson , Suzanne Snyder , Duane B. Clark , Phil Culotta , Frank Ferrara , Joel Kramer , Phil Neilson , Michael Pataki , Webster Whinery , Will Jeffries , John Christianson , Sebastian Ligarde , Andrew Ian McMillan , Ray Woodfork , Amanda Mackey-Johnson , Jane Jenkins , Janet Hirshenson

Adapted from the "Destroyer" series of novels and comic books (not exactly the level of Ian Fleming), Remo Williams (Fred Ward) is a New York cop who works for a top-secret government agency accountab... read more read more...le directly to the President of the U.S. After his reluctant induction into this agency, Remo is trained in a near-magical Korean martial arts form by Chiun (Joel Grey) in great sequences where walking on water is taken in stride. After his training, Remo goes after a corrupt arms manufacturer with connections in the U.S. military and acquires the necessary help-mate in the form of Major Rayner Fleming (Kate Mulgrew). Antics at the Statue of Liberty and other stunts enliven the action, but cannot make up for comic-book level characters. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Flixster Users

57% liked it

7,237 ratings

Critics

42% liked it

12 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Guy Hamilton

Release Date: October 11, 1985

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DVD Release Date: July 15, 2003

Stats: 337 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (337)

  • ironclad1609
    August 13, 2011
    ironclad1609
    This action adventure was meant as start of a James Bond-esque franchise, but flopped at the cinemas back in the day. That doesn't mean this isn't an enjoyable film. It doesn't take itself too serious, has wonderful parts of humor, especially in the relation between Remo and his ... read moreAsian master. That tongue-in-cheek attitude is necessary if you deliver a movie where people walk on water. The majority of the stunt work is good old-fashioned stuff, with actual people hanging from all kinds of high places. the highlight being a chase around the scaffolded statue of Liberty. Sure, the pace and filming of the film feels a bit dated today, but that doesn't lessen the enjoyment. Entertaining, likable action film that would have deserved a larger audience.
  • ajv2688
    June 20, 2011
    ajv2688
    This movie has action, comedy, outrageous and silly stunts... it's stupid, but fun. It could have been a better movie, though. It needed some funnier jokes, a couple of better actors maybe, at least for the bad guys, and maybe they could rewrite the script a little. As it is, ... read morethe ending isn't satisfactory, we need more to the story, but the rest of it is mostly entertaining.
  • flixsterman
    July 12, 2010
    flixsterman
    One of my many guilty pleasures. Joel Grey is fantastic as the ancient but wry martial artist who mentors Fred Ward's stumbling, bumbling persona into a skilled but reluctant hero. Silly, outlandish and fun to watch.
  • phubbs1
    March 4, 2010
    phubbs1
    Haha wow!! flashback to my childhood bigtime!! this was like....a slightly adult version of 'The Karate Kid' but still kinda childish, almost like a TV movie but slightly expensive (I'm guessing) haha
    First time I came across Fred Ward and I was quite hooked on his action man sta... read moretus, I used to watch this allot, the best bits being the high flying stunts and of course Remo being trained by his 'Mr Miyagi' type instructor..Chiun. Very much in the same style as The A-Team but with deaths, but not horrible obvious deaths hehe
    This is now VERY dated ;)
  • briandeguelle
    September 19, 2009
    briandeguelle
    80's cheese feast action,fred ward kicks ass.
  • tsigur
    December 9, 2007
    tsigur
    I rented this movie over a hundred times and now I don't even own it.
  • deano
    October 8, 2006
    deano
    Spectaular and funny adventure film of a street smart cop turned as the no. 1 recruit of top secret organisation.
  • Beefy
    September 24, 2006
    Beefy
    I still want to be Remo Williams. I want Chun to teach me.
  • Godless
    March 9, 2006
    Godless
    A super hero movie before its time.
  • Fascade518
    June 12, 2009
    Fascade518
    A truly original movie where the view of law enforcement can be as funny as it can be serious. Joel Grey is as funny as hilarious can be in having the job of training Fred Ward in the art of martial arts. See this it is undeniably hilarious.

View All Remo Williams - The Adventure Begins Reviews

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
July 20, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

A disappointing film, Remo Williams was meant as a star vehicle for Fred ward and as the first chapter of a franchise, but, alas, neither thing happened. Full Review

David Nusair
July 19, 2010
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...a sporadically watchable (yet surprisingly dull) piece of work. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 15, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

A terrific piece of escapist entertainment that deserved to be a much bigger hit. Makes you wish there were more Remo Williams movies.

Randy Shulman
January 15, 2004
Randy Shulman, Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

And it ended almost immediately.

Gerry Shamray
July 6, 2003
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland

The adventure begins...and ends painfully.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 21, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Philip Martin
October 30, 2005
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Rebecca Murray
August 5, 2004
Rebecca Murray, About.com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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  • In 1985's "Remo Williams - The Adventure Begins", a famous American landmark is used for a major scene. On location in Mexico, they also rebuilt a lifesize version of one section of that landmark. Name the famous American landmark.  Answer »
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