I Am Created Shiva, The Destroyer
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Wow, I honestly don’t know how I feel about this.
Consideirng this is Pajiba, I am sure there are several of you familiar with the fantastic Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. Based on the Destroyer action-adventure novel series (over 100 books and counting), it featured Fred Ward as Remo Williams, a cop convicted of a crime he did not commit and sentenced to death. Instead, his death is faked, and he is recruited into a secret government organization tasked to do the dirty work of the nation. He is trained in the ancient art of Sinanju (considered the source of all martial arts) by Chiun (Joel Grey), a cranky old master and the deadliest assassin alive. Basically a Korean Pai Mei, played by a white guy.
Remo Williams was glorious. You had Fred Ward as a martial artist who was even able to, amongst other things, dodge bullets in the most hilariously awkward way possible.
And my God, was Chiun awesome. He was racist, sexist … just pick an -ist, and he probably had it. He could also kill you as soon as look at you, and could run (not walk, he was a stickler on that) on water. And he was actually toned down from the books.
Oh and if that didn’t make you want to watch, Wilford Brimley and his diabeetus also shows up as the head of the secret government organization, known as CURE. And there is a massive weed field near an Army base in one scene. Could be a goof, but I love the other implications. While many of the book’s fans hated the film for the usual reasons, I loved the hell out of it.
But I digress. The point is that Columbia Pictures is resurrecting the franchise with a new Destroyer film. It will be another origins/franchise bait story, following the first book. Brothers Charley and Vlas Parlapanides have been hired to write the script. They’re currently penning the script for the Greek mythology epic War of Gods, which has Tarsem Singh set to direct.
While I, like many, am apprehensive of all these 80s movie reboots and remakes and rehashes, if anything deserved another shot at being terrible, it is Remo Williams. Either they take it seriously (turning it into a superpowered spy film), they go cheesetastic with it, or they do both (like the first film). I can’t say I would be disappointed with any of them. And since the producers are from The Dark Knight and The Transporter, the glimmer of hope in ym heart grows a bit stronger.
Really, as long as they have a racist jackass Korean in there, I am satisfied.
Oh and for those wondering: the title The Destroyer (as well as the quote) comes from the books, where Remo discovers he is an avatar for Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction. He can channel this into incredible destructive potential, and in this state is dubbed “The Destroyer”.
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Comments
Posted by: Jerce at July 14, 2009 6:24 PM
I've never read the books, but I am surprised by my affection for the original movie. Everyone in it is mad fun. (You didn't even mention Kate Mulgrew!)
If any underappreciated 80s film deserves a remake, this is the one.