Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.5

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 17, 2014

Guy Hamilton's "Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins" (1985) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Arrow Video. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; new audio commentary with producers Larry Spiegel and Judy Goldstein; new feature-length documentary from High Rise Productions; new video interview with actor Joel Gray; new video interview with composer Craig Safan; isolated music and effects soundtrack; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the origins of Remo Williams by Barry Forshaw and an on-set report from American Cinematographer magazine. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

"First hit? No big deal. You'll get used to it."

New York cop Remo Williams (Fred Ward, Tremors, The Right Stuff) is recruited by a secret organization to take down some really bad men with a lot of money and plenty of important friends. Before Remo is sent to 'clean up', however, he is introduced to a kooky Korean master named Chiun (Joel Grey, Cabaret, Buffalo Bill and the Indians), who teaches him how to fight, how to walk on water, and dodge real bullets. The old man also does his best to convince Remo that fast food isn’t good for him.

When Remo eventually acquires the necessary skills to be a professional hit man, he is ordered by the leader of the organization -- played by the always likeable Wilford Brimley -- to expose and eliminate an obnoxious businessman (Charles Cioffi, Klute, Shaft) whose company supplies the U.S. Army with overpriced defective automatic weapons. Remo begins asking questions and hurting people and the businessman quickly realizes that he isn’t just another dim-witted troublemaker. Meanwhile, an overly ambitious army officer (Kate Mulgrew, Star Trek: Voyager) also begins her own investigation after she witnesses a terrible accident during a field training exercise.

Loosely based on "The Destroyer" book series by Richard Sapir and Warren Murphy, Guy Hamilton’s Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins is as bad as advertised. It borrows from a number of good films -- most notably Sydney Pollack's 3 Days of the Condor and Alan J. Pakula’s The Parallax View -- but it looks and feels like an awkward James Bond parody whose creators rushed to finish it once they realized that what they had already filmed was simply irreparable.

The first half of the film is dedicated to Remo’s important training. There are a couple of funny sequences where the eccentric Korean master teaches Remo valuable lessons, but the dull one-liners he constantly utters very quickly turn the entire process into a giant farce. Then Remo gets some real world experience, with the Korean master observing him from afar and intervening when necessary, but the fights are so ridiculous that it actually looks like they might have been misplaced or poorly edited.

The second half is equally disappointing. Now Remo is fully committed to the cause and determined to help the leaders of the secret organization accomplish their goals. At one point he also realizes that he truly cares about the Korean master, though he reveals to him that if things don’t go as planned he might have to eliminate him. There is almost a spark between Remo and Major Rayner Fleming as well, but they never really get enough time to do anything else than exchange a few inviting looks. Too bad, really, as Mulgrew really does look fantastic in a uniform.

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins was lensed by Hungarian cinematographer Andrew Laszlo, who is probably best known for his collaborations with director Walter Hill on the cult hits The Warriors (1979), Southern Comfort (1981), and Streets of Fire (1984). Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, however, does not look anywhere near as stylish as Hill’s films.

The film’s soundtrack was created by Craig Safan (TV’s Cheers: Complete Series, TV’s The Twilight Zone, Matthew Robbins’ The Legend of Billie Jean).

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Arrow Video.

The high-definition transfer has been struck from a pre-existing master with some obvious limitations. Unsurprisingly, there are different fluctuations throughout the film that more sensitive viewers will easily spot. Generally speaking, when there is an abundance of natural light image depth and clarity are quite good (see screencapture #2). However, during the daylight footage at times there are also light halo effects that could be slightly distracting (see screencapture #12). Contrast levels remain relatively stable. The darker indoor footage looks mostly pleasing, but occasionally light noise sneaks in and covers some of the grain. Image depth isn't seriously compromised, but the end result is that grain is not always as well resolved as it should be. Image stability is very good. Lastly, there are no large cuts, debris, scratches, or stains, but a few tiny flecks can be spotted. All in all, this is a decent presentation of Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, but it is clear that there is plenty of room for important improvements. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Also included is a Music & Effects LPCM 2.0 track. For the record, Arrow Video have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.

The sound effects and the exotic soundtrack benefit greatly from the lossless treatment. Also, there are a number of sequences, such as the one where Fred Ward first meets Joel Grey, where clarity is notably improved and the range of nuanced dynamics is excellent. There are no balance issues. The dialog is clean, crisp, stable, free of background hiss, and very easy to follow.

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Theatrical Trailer - original Orion Pictures trailer for Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Isolated Music and Effects soundtrack - presented as an LPCM 2.0 track.

• Notes for a Nobleman - in this new video piece, composer Craig Safan discusses the production history of Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins and the high expectations Orion Pictures had for the film, the film's complex soundtrack (and specifically its unique themes and harmonies), the original CD release of the soundtrack, etc. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Changing Faces - in this video piece, special make-up effects artist Carl Fullerton recalls how he became involved with Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. Carl Fullerton also discusses the important influence of Dick Smith's (Taxi Driver, Little Big Man) work on his work. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).

• When East Met West - in this video interview, Oscar winning actor Joel Gray recalls how he was approached to play Chiun, and discusses the make-up tests he did, the Asian community's response to the film and his character, etc. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Remo, Rambo, Reagan, and Reds - this feature-length documentary from High Rise Productions takes a close look at some of the most popular action movies from the '80s and the different political overtones in them, as well as the very specific characterizations they promoted, their general attitude towards violence, the political climate in Hollywood, etc. Included in the documentary are new video interviews with professor Susan Jeffords (author, Hard Bodies: Hollywood Masculinity in the Reagan Era), Asian cinema expert Bey Logan, film critic and film historian Howard S. Berger, director Mark L. Lester (Commando), director Sam Firstenberg (American Ninja), producer Larry Spiegel, and producer Donald P. Borchers (Angel), amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (77 min).

• Audio Commentary - producers Larry Spiegel and Judy Goldstein discuss the production history of Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, and specifically how and were key sequences where filmed (apparently, a large portion of the film was shot in Mexico), Guy Hamilton's directing methods and body of work, the editing of the film, its marketing, etc. The audio commentary was recorded exclusively for the Blu-ray release of Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins.

• Coverwork - reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by The Red Dress

• Booklet - reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by The Red Dress

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There is a brand new audio commentary on this release in which producers Larry Spiegel and Judy Goldstein mention that they always fancied Remo Williams as the blue-collar James Bond. I like the description, but Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins has little in common with the James Bond films Guy Hamilton directed. As far as I am concerned, Remo looks and acts a lot like some of the more colorful characters from John Carpenter's films, but he lacks their charisma. Ultimately, I can recommend this release only to those of you who have already seen Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins and like it. The film looks decent on Blu-ray and as usual Arrow Video have provided some very good supplemental features. (See the new documentary film).