Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985): A Retrospect

[KubrickKurasawa]

I think I've seen parts of this and it was super cheesy and seemed low budget which made it even cheesier. It's kind of awesome in it's cheese factor-ness though, and in that regard I would rather have it in my collection than say something like Commando or a bad Dolph Lundgren movie (He Man or I come in Peace).

[Spirit Zero]

Originally Posted by KubrickKurasawa

I think I've seen parts of this and it was super cheesy and seemed low budget which made it even cheesier. It's kind of awesome in it's cheese factor-ness though, and in that regard I would rather have it in my collection than say something like Commando or a bad Dolph Lundgren movie (He Man or I come in Peace).

Oh its highly cheesy in a fun way but its still kinda drab methinks. For an action film there is so little action and when it comes your wanting it to really kickass but it never happens! Makes you feel frustrated, there needs to be a bit more ass kicking.

[EricJ]

That's like complaining that there wasn't enough gunplay in Midnight Run.

The book series is "cheesy" pulp action, but the movie turned it rather, well, sweet, by focusing on the humor, of Ward's ungraceful entry into the business, and his relationship with his "master". You don't cast Joel Grey as a martial-arts master and expect gritty hard-biting realism.

I remember first seeing the trailer with an audience who had never heard of the book series, and when the title "REMO" came on screen, everyone guffawed thinking it was as desperate a Rambo ripoff as a producer could come up with.
I suspect that's where most of the current 00's-children reviews are approaching it from--"Hawhaw, look it's trying to be 80's action!"--but the movie genuinely believed it was paying tribute to the fantasy-pulp of the book series, which puts it sort of in the same corner as Disney's John Carter:
A movie with little action but its heart in the right place is better than lots of action and none.

[Spirit Zero]

I agree but I didn't quite enjoy as much when rewatching :/
Had a lot more fun with it when I was a kid.