 |  | Remo and Chuin deserve better |  |
As a kid, I LOVED this movie. After I read the series, I didn't like it as much. Fred Ward and Joel Grey certainly had the right look (although Chuin's attire wasn't proper, but his acting was perfect as Chuin). The origin was totally stupid, and McCleary wasn't portrayed right, either. This movie deserves a remake!
July 3, 2008 | | The best there was, for the era | |
Enough has been written here about this typical action film, but an ignored beauty is Joel Grey's deft performance of an old Korean master. Though in heavy makeup (Grey is not as ancient as the character Master Chuun) Grey was commended for the most sensitive and accurate performance of an Asian character by a white actor. Sounds racist, but the critics at the time really meant it. Yellowface was still in vogue. Very true to the culture, from his accent to the attitude that women are fairly worthless, from his love of soaps to his love of assassination, Grey nails this character. I doubt that the great Keye Luke himself could have done it better. Since America had only cheap Chinese "kung-fu" films, and samurai films were limited to Kurosawa's output, "Remo Williams" is not so bad. Jackie Chan had a small cult following then, and his films were a delight, but I was there when "Remo" was newly released, and I was jaded by all there was to see from Asia. Yet "Remo" moved me. It showed me a good time, and didn't kill me at the box office or when I originally bought it on VHS. Few youngsters today realize the impact it had on the martial arts genre American-style. It gave the genre a hope it had never nejoyed. Bottom line: see this film and decide for yourself, and be merciful to the 1980's for once!
June 16, 2008 | | This movie would have made Fred Ward a household name | |
Good plot line, good acting, lots of energy, here's a movie that's custom made for sequels. What happened? No Hollywood hype machine. Would have made Fred's career. Love Joel Grey, but not as an Asian character, this was before Hollywood realized that Asian's can play Asian characters. Not as awful as Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's though. That was the worst I've ever seen. I remember when I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's I didn't know he was supposed to be Asian, I just thought he was "special".And Mickey is a good actor, but that performance was just embarrassing for him and the audience. Too bad about this movie though, it would have been a fine jumping off point for Fred's career.
September 26, 2007| | | Love Remo but this movies falls short. | |
The Destroyer was NOT given a fair shake in this outing. Though it was a good try, it falls short. You can tell there were many involved who did not have a clue about Remo, Chuin, or the Glorious House of Sinanju. I wish they could have done better by them. Though Fred Ward is PERFECT cast as Remo!
August 31, 2007| | | Action adventure fun movie | |
This is the only movie from the destroyer book series. A gumg ho go america film thats fun for all
July 16, 2007More reviews at Amazon.com ...
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