The Man from U.N.C.L.E.: original series & films

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  • edited August 2015 Posts: 2,115
    //I think releasing it so close to the new Mission Impossible was a huge mistake.//

    UNCLE went for the Aug. 14 date first, Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation's move to July 31 from Dec. 25 occurred after that. For Warners, it was either move UNCLE to a third date or make the best of it. We'll see.
  • Posts: 725
    This is the Variety review and probably the films first major review. It likely nails why the film will fail and why Cavill will never be Bond.

    http://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/the-man-from-uncle-film-review-1201556925/
  • Posts: 11,119
    smitty wrote: »
    This is the Variety review and probably the films first major review. It likely nails why the film will fail and why Cavill will never be Bond.

    http://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/the-man-from-uncle-film-review-1201556925/

    I don't read reviews to hear how and why a film will fail at the box office. Completely uninteresting. "Mad Max", "Shaun The Sheep" and "Ex-Machina" got raving reviews, but they weren't exactly blasts at the box office.

    It's not the most positive review though, when it comes to story and plot. I agree. But it's good to read that the production design, music score, locations and costumes evoke a "Goldfinger 1960's vibe".

    As I read it, the Variety review gives it a 6.0 out of 10.....Anyway, I will watch the film this weekend by myself ;-).
  • Posts: 11,119
    RC7 wrote: »

    Hitfix says: "Guy Ritchie's "Man From U.N.C.L.E." is slick, nimble pop entertainment"
    8.3/10
    http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/review-guy-ritchies-man-from-uncle-is-slick-nimble-pop-entertainment


    So far on Metacritic a 6.0/10 after 8 reviews.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    RC7 wrote: »

    Hitfix says: "Guy Ritchie's "Man From U.N.C.L.E." is slick, nimble pop entertainment"
    8.3/10
    http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/review-guy-ritchies-man-from-uncle-is-slick-nimble-pop-entertainment


    So far on Metacritic a 6.0/10 after 8 reviews.

    Reading between the lines I get the impression it's a bit of 60's pop fluff that appeals to those who feel nostalgic about it and turns off those who don't.
  • Posts: 11,119
    RC7 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »

    Hitfix says: "Guy Ritchie's "Man From U.N.C.L.E." is slick, nimble pop entertainment"
    8.3/10
    http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/review-guy-ritchies-man-from-uncle-is-slick-nimble-pop-entertainment


    So far on Metacritic a 6.0/10 after 8 reviews.

    Reading between the lines I get the impression it's a bit of 60's pop fluff that appeals to those who feel nostalgic about it and turns off those who don't.

    Yeah, it seems it's a bit content-less. Perhaps the story is too simple....I don't know. Still, don't forget that the original "U.N.C.L.E."-TV-series weren't exactly gritty realistic spy thrillers with inventive and sharply written plots.

    Are you going to see the film in cinema @RC7?
  • Posts: 11,119
    RC7 wrote: »

    Hitfix says: "Guy Ritchie's "Man From U.N.C.L.E." is slick, nimble pop entertainment"
    8.3/10
    http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/review-guy-ritchies-man-from-uncle-is-slick-nimble-pop-entertainment


    So far on Metacritic a 6.0/10 after 8 reviews.

    TheWrap says: "As a hit-and-miss affair, it’s a bracing bit of late-summer fun for anyone who has given up the notion of a major studio offering anything truly revelatory until at least October."
    7.8/10
    http://www.thewrap.com/the-man-from-uncle-review-henry-cavill-armie-hammer-alicia-vikander-elizabeth-debicki/
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    RC7 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »

    Hitfix says: "Guy Ritchie's "Man From U.N.C.L.E." is slick, nimble pop entertainment"
    8.3/10
    http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/review-guy-ritchies-man-from-uncle-is-slick-nimble-pop-entertainment


    So far on Metacritic a 6.0/10 after 8 reviews.

    Reading between the lines I get the impression it's a bit of 60's pop fluff that appeals to those who feel nostalgic about it and turns off those who don't.

    Yeah, it seems it's a bit content-less. Perhaps the story is too simple....I don't know. Still, don't forget that the original "U.N.C.L.E."-TV-series weren't exactly gritty realistic spy thrillers with inventive and sharply written plots.

    Are you going to see the film in cinema @RC7?

    I loved the TV series. While I'm not expecting anything spectacular, narratively, many of the tv episodes were very idiosyncratic, (I recall an episode where fish came out of the taps at UNCLE HQ. I've not seen much from the trailer to suggest this bizarreness is still in play. It looks a bit cookie-cutter, 'Evil villain has an atom bomb', but I'll reserve judgement until I see it. I just hope it's more than decent production design and great music. Feels like it needs a Roger Moore type to bring that abundance of charisma to carry it. Not convinced Cavill or Hammer have that.
  • edited August 2015 Posts: 11,119
    TimeOut Magazine: 4 out of 5 stars (8.0/10)
    http://www.timeout.com/london/film/the-man-from-uncle

    ComingSoon.net: 9.0/10:
    "Guy Ritchie’s take on the popular ’60s television show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. offers the best of both worlds, since it never takes itself too seriously with its irreverent sense of humor, but it also doesn’t skimp on the action and tension one would expect. Even more impressive is the force that is Alicia Vikander, who is much more than just a third wheel to her male stars, as she holds her own with a verve and charm we rarely get to see in the women in spy movies. (Probably the closest is Eva Green in Casino Royale.)
    http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/reviews/469807-the-man-from-u-n-c-l-e-review

    TheWrap.com: 7.8/10
    http://www.thewrap.com/the-man-from-uncle-review-henry-cavill-armie-hammer-alicia-vikander-elizabeth-debicki/

    HitFix.com: 8.3/10
    http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/review-guy-ritchies-man-from-uncle-is-slick-nimble-pop-entertainment

    DigitalSpy.com: 3 out of 5 stars:
    "James Bond may have cornered the market in '60s-inpsired spy flicks, but director Guy Ritchie's The Man from UNCLE offers a fizzy antidote to 007's deep psychological probing of late. Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer tread lightly, just like their predecessors Robert Vaughn and David McCallum did in the original TV series."
    http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/review/a662222/the-man-from-uncle-review-a-fizzy-antidote-to-007s-deep-psychological-probing.html#~pl2SYdZFBJBKXb

    Little White Lies: 4 out of 4 stars:
    http://www.littlewhitelies.co.uk/theatrical-reviews/the-man-from-u-n-c-l-e-31378

    MattsMovieReviews.net: 3,5 out of 5 stars:
    "The Man from U.N.C.L.E. spectacularly combines the buddy comedy and espionage sub-genres into a visually gorgeous and stupidly entertaining piece of action cinema. The film succeeds thanks to the great chemistry between its two leads Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer. Above all it is a fun movie that’s filled with the kind of 60s retro chic that the Bond films used to have, a lightness that the Mission Impossible films could never attain, and a vibrant style that is all its own."
    http://www.mattsmoviereviews.net/movie-critic-reviews/man-from-uncle.html

    RottenTomatoes currently: 100%. Although that will go down drastically. I could see this getting a very similar RT-rating like "Kingsman". Probably 75%. In any case, reviews so far are good. Not great, but good.
  • //I recall an episode where fish came out of the taps at UNCLE HQ//

    The Mad, MAD Tea Party Affair, an episode that takes place almost entirely at HQs. Details here, scroll down to episode 18.

    https://uncleepisodeguide.wordpress.com/about/season-one-1964-1965/
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    I'm delighted that this movie is doing generally well. That 2 star rating was overly harsh. I'm really looking forward to this and will catch it on Friday. I'm not expecting anything deep nor do I expect crazy action. I just want to be pleasently entertained and so far it looks like that's what I'll be getting.
  • doubleonothingdoubleonothing Los Angeles
    Posts: 864
    I'll be sending my review of The Man From U.N.C.L.E to MI6 main site tonight so stay tuned
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    Great! Look forward to reading it. Be thorough.
  • edited August 2015 Posts: 11,119
    These are my 10 favourite tracks from the "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."-soundtrack (composed and conducted by Daniel Pemberton). I find these the best, but I did rate all other 11 tracks composed by Pemberton as well (I did excluded the 7 theme songs).

    And on average this was my rating for the entire score: 7.7/10. In all honesty, it is really really good. And better than Joe Kraemer's score for "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation", which I gave a 6.8/10.

    Why I love this score? It's entirely memorable. The motifs and melodies really stick to your head. And it is indeed a true espionage soundtrack, though with some believable retro flavors (1960's moogy synth sounds, xylophones, Russian clavesimbels, harps, lots of delicate German flutes and a great deal of strings). On many occassions you can hear John Barry's Bond sound and even Ennio Morriccone pops up every now and then. I think this score has an outside chance of being shortlisted for the Oscars:

    "03 - His Name Is Napoleon Solo" (my rating: 9.0/10):


    "06 - Mission: Rome" (my rating: 8.5/10):


    "15 - Into The Lair / Betrayal Part 1" (my rating: 8.0/10):


    "16 - Laced Drinks / Betrayal Part 2" (my rating: 9.5/10):


    "20 - Take You Down" (my rating: 8.0/10):


    "21 - We Have Location" (my rating: 9.5/10):


    "22 - A Last Drink" (my rating: 8.5/10):


    "24 - The Unfinished Kiss" (my rating: 9.5/10):


    "25 - The Red Mist" (my rating: 8.0/10):


    "27 - Warhead" (my rating: 8.0/10):

    I've updated some of the links, so you must be able to hear the music now. Still think "The Unfinished Kiss" is the best track, but couldn't find a link for that one :-(.

    Down below, you'll find 8,5 mins of clips from the actual film. So enjoy :-). Ooowh, by the way, do you think that in the future....the actor who know portrays Ian Fleming's Napoleon Solo....has what it gets to play Ian Fleming's Jmaes Bond 007?:

  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    RottenTomatoes currently: 100%. Although that will go down drastically. I could see this getting a very similar RT-rating like "Kingsman". Probably 75%. In any case, reviews so far are good. Not great, but good.

    http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_man_from_uncle/

    Currently 64% - 7% higher than DAD. Rogue Nation on 93%. I post this literally not giving a crap, these things mean nothing to me, but given the flow of conversation I am posting for relevance.
  • edited August 2015 Posts: 11,119
    RC7 wrote: »
    RottenTomatoes currently: 100%. Although that will go down drastically. I could see this getting a very similar RT-rating like "Kingsman". Probably 75%. In any case, reviews so far are good. Not great, but good.

    http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_man_from_uncle/

    Currently 64% - 7% higher than DAD. Rogue Nation on 93%. I post this literally not giving a crap, these things mean nothing to me, but given the flow of conversation I am posting for relevance.

    You failed to mention my other remark "Although that will go down drastically". This is always the case when the first 20 or so reviews show up on RottenTomatoes or Metacritic. A lot of variance shows up, because of the average of a very small pool of reviews. Once it goes past the 50 reviews, the RottenTomatoes or Metacritic average starts to stabilize.

    Anyway, did you heard the soundtrack @RC7? So far, SoundTrackGeek has got a raving review about the score. A full 100%:
    http://www.soundtrackgeek.com/v2/soundtrack-review-the-man-from-u-n-c-l-e-2015/

    Did you also see the movie clips I just posted?
  • Posts: 11,119
    Here's also a great review about "Spy Music" (The All-Time TOP 10 of Spy Movie Scores):
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    RC7 wrote: »
    RottenTomatoes currently: 100%. Although that will go down drastically. I could see this getting a very similar RT-rating like "Kingsman". Probably 75%. In any case, reviews so far are good. Not great, but good.

    http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_man_from_uncle/

    Currently 64% - 7% higher than DAD. Rogue Nation on 93%. I post this literally not giving a crap, these things mean nothing to me, but given the flow of conversation I am posting for relevance.

    You failed to mention my other remark "Although that will go down drastically". This is always the case when the first 20 or so reviews show up on RottenTomatoes or Metacritic. A lot of variance shows up, because of the average of a very small pool of reviews. Once it goes past the 50 reviews, the RottenTomatoes or Metacritic average starts to stabilize.

    Anyway, did you heard the soundtrack @RC7? So far, SoundTrackGeek has got a raving review about the score. A full 100%:
    http://www.soundtrackgeek.com/v2/soundtrack-review-the-man-from-u-n-c-l-e-2015/

    Did you also see the movie clips I just posted?

    Well, you said 75%, so I didn't mention it as it was a way below that. Had it been 85% I'd have mentioned it. Like I said, I don't really care. I came across it by chance. It won't influence my opinion of the film.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,559
    63% on Rotten Tomatoes, so it's getting relatively mediocre reviews, then.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    I couldn't care less for Rotten Tomatoes or Rotten Bananas or anything rotten anyway...

    There are movies that I love that generally get low numbers, there are movies that have high numbers that I find boring, bad or overhyped.
    Sure it's fun to look at those ratings but I don't take them too seriously.

    Uncle Henry and Arnie will please me enough I'm sure of that. I like the cast, I like the director, I absolutely love the soundtrack.
  • edited August 2015 Posts: 11,119
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    63% on Rotten Tomatoes, so it's getting relatively mediocre reviews, then.

    Ah well, I saw the 8,5 reel of movie clips. And I am sold. I definately going to see it. And I am a sucker for good movie music during a film, which seems to be the case.
    http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_man_from_uncle/reviews/?sort=fresh
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    edited August 2015 Posts: 11,139
    @Gustav, thanks for that 8 minute clip. I'm really REALLY excited to see this. I have Friday off so I'll try and catch this...twice.
  • Posts: 486
    Down below, you'll find 8,5 mins of clips from the actual film. So enjoy :-). Ooowh, by the way, do you think that in the future....the actor who know portrays Ian Fleming's Napoleon Solo....has what it gets to play Ian Fleming's Jmaes Bond 007?:

    Cavill just seems to be completely devoid of personality. Daniel Craig has set the benchmarker higher for the series than a further GQ Brosnan style Bond.
  • Posts: 11,119
    doubleoego wrote: »
    @Gustav, thanks for that 8 minute clip. I'm really REALLY excited to see this. I have Friday off so I'll try and catch this...twice.

    Wow, my bookmarked website CinemaBlend gives it a whopping 4.5 out of 5 stars:
    If you’re looking for one last blast of summer-movie fun, see The Man From U.N.C.L.E!

    It isn’t easy adapting a TV show to the big screen, much less a show like The Man From U.N.C.L.E., where the politics and the narratives are soaked in Cold War ideology. Some would be inspired to modernize the show, turning it into a more gritty reboot -- much like the ongoing Mission: Impossible series. While that tactic works if you know how to use it, there’s also nothing wrong with keeping the story in its original period, which is what Guy Richie does with his film adaptation of the classic spy franchise. This is one of many intelligent decisions Richie has made to play to his strengths, and a huge part of what makes The Man From U.N.C.L.E. one of the most refreshing and entertaining films of this summer.

    With World War II finished, and the Cold War arms race heating up, Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) are forced by their respective spy chiefs to team up. Their mission is to assist the daughter (Alicia Vikander) of a former Nazi scientist in locating her father, who’s helping an evil shipping heiress (Elizabeth Debicki) craft and sell an atom bomb. If they can control their tempers, their libidos, and their trigger fingers, they might just save the world.

    In the year with both Kingsman: The Secret Service and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation before it, and the Spectre of James Bond yet to come, there’s one weapon The Man From U.N.C.L.E. uses to effectively distinguish itself from the pack: charm, and lots of it. Whether it’s Napoleon and Illya’s witty banter, the absolutely gorgeous period settings and costumes, or the mix of era-appropriate music with Daniel Pemberton’s lushly retro score, there’s always something that manages to catch the eye or the ear. Most important, the script penned by Guy Richie and Lionel Wigram reflects the trademark double entendres and comedic bickering that they injected into the Sherlock Holmes series.

    While charm is the name of the game with The Man From U.N.C.L.E., there’s also the prerequisite amount of action and adventure involved. After all, what’s a spy picture without infiltration, car chases, gun fights, and a couple of warheads? But even with the usual thrilling set pieces, Richie has fun with the unique ways he presents them. In one set piece, a character who isn’t in the action is observing the proceedings, and we’re focused mostly on their reactions to the action that we’re seeing in a windshield’s reflection. Despite the scene description you’ve just read, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. isn’t afraid to kick some ass, it realizes that we’ve seen this sort of stuff before, and it tries to give us a fresh perspective on mayhem and chaos.

    The main difference between Richie’s U.N.C.L.E. and his Sherlock series is that instead of an all-out free for all of comedy and action, he approaches this film with a more focused sense of gravity. Henry Cavill’s Napoleon Solo could be throwing a quip in one moment and preparing to fall under the powers of enemy sedation the next. Armie Hammer’s Illya Kuryakin is a spy who needs to control his rage, and is struggling with some issues involving family pride. Both are made of the stuff that typical spy movies forget to throw in. The only real problem that The Man From U.N.C.L.E. runs into is that the story routinely shifts fortunes via a series of agents crossing agents. The film relies on so many turns that you can kind of see the biggest ones coming, one of which is spoiled in the trailers for the film. Also, if you’re a fan of the original show, you’ll see where one character’s introduction is going from a mile away; but even with these minor notes, the film manages not to be weighed down.

    At the heart of Guy Richie’s latest project is the trio of Cavill and Hammer’s spies, as well as Alicia Vikander’s genius mechanic/accomplice, Gaby. As strong and capable as her male counterparts, Gaby spends most of the film interacting - and occasionally flirting - with Illya. Thankfully, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. resists turning this into a love triangle, and instead uses Napoleon Solo as a comedic third wheel when it comes to the romantic angle. And when it comes to the actual saving-the-world angle, Vikander’s Gaby is given equal weight and enough action in the plot to prevent her from becoming a damsel in distress (which is appreciated).

    For a film that started its life as a Steven Soderbergh / George Clooney vehicle, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is pretty close to the work those two collaborators would have probably generated -- as this is very much a film in the spirit of the Oceans franchise. It is one of those rare birds that manages to take the source material and do right by its predecessor, while having its own fun creating a unique avenue of enjoyment. The chemistry between the three leads is magnificent, and the film doesn’t run so much as glide through its entirety; taking you, the audience, along for the ride. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is a ride well worth the price of admission, and a fun closing act to this year’s summer season.

    Reviewed By: Mike Reyes

    http://www.cinemablend.com/reviews/Man-From-U-N-C-L-E-67027.html
  • Posts: 11,119
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    63% on Rotten Tomatoes, so it's getting relatively mediocre reviews, then.

    67% now. Slightly more than the 65% of QOS. But for a fun popcorn spy film, it's even more interesting to look at the audience rating.
  • Posts: 486
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    63% on Rotten Tomatoes, so it's getting relatively mediocre reviews, then.

    67% now. Slightly more than the 65% of QOS. But for a fun popcorn spy film, it's even more interesting to look at the audience rating.

    QOS had that ridiculously poor word of mouth reputation from the first reviews that seemed unjust when I first saw it at the cinema. Whereas Skyfall was rather overrated by the critics I think.
  • Posts: 1,723
    After searching out several reviews, this really seems to be a film the reviewers love or hate depending on their personal perspective. While Variety disliked it, Ain't It Cool gave it top marks.
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