Remo - Unarmed & Dangerous: Rare & Under Appreciated #3

Fred Ward should have been a big movie star. The man is cool, bringing a tough, gruff charm to his roles coupled with a self depreciating streak. Just look at the genuis of partnering him with Kevin Bacon in Tremors...pure cinematic joy joy. Still, like other offbeat leading men that never cracked the big time (Jeff Fahey, Robert Forster, Bill Sadler) he's still working hard today, last seen in last years heist thriller Armored.

The film that should have catapulted him into stardom is the little seen Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. Titled 'Remo: Unarmed & Dangerous' in the UK on it's original 1986 release, it was meant to be the start of a long running film franchise, based on the popular Destroyer novels by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir.
However, it only made a pitiful $14 million in the U.S. meaning that audiences didn't find the film appealing, and dashing the hopes of a film series.

One can see, to a degree, why the film didn't take off. Directed by Goldfinger's Guy Hamilton, the movie has a distinctly, old fashioned, visually flat, 1970's vibe, especially compared with the hi-tech TV (Airwolf / Knight Rider) and Spielberg influenced cinema that dominated during the mid-80's (Back To The Future / Top Gun).
Story wise, it's essentially an origin tale that plays like the pilot for a new television adventure show. We're gradually introduced to the small team that will be fighting criminals 'above the law' before the main plot of a corrupt arms manufacturer gain momentum. It also has a small scale feel, consist ant with a TV show, for much of the run time. Having Star Trek Voyager Captain, Kate Mulgrew, as the female lead doesn't help as she's just as sexless and irritating here as she was in her sci-fi years.

There's several elements that raise this above much of the competition. On three occasions, the director is allowed to let rip with same huge, cinema scale action sequences including a brilliantly unique chase sequence up and around the Statue Of Liberty (when it was enclosed in scaffolding for maintenance). Then there's Craig Safan's Remo Theme which is every bit as memorable as Bond or Superman...lifting the excitement further.

But the reason this whole movie works is the constant bickering between teacher and student. Fred Ward's rugged charisma pitted against Joel Grey's noble but quirky Korean martial arts master, Chiun. If they partnered Eastwood with Yoda you'd be someway to understanding the dynamic between the two. But the script rises to the occasion and delivers some witty exchanges between the two.

Remo: You know, Chiun, there are times when I really like you.
Chiun: Of course! I am Chiun!
Remo: And there are times when I could really kill you.
Chiun: GOOD! We will practice that after dinner!

A TV pilot it might seem on occasion, but that makes it all the more tragic it was never picked up for a series. With banter like thism, I would have tuned in every week.