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

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  • Posts: 1,661
    I think Cavill, who keeps talking about possibly doing Bond in his interviews has made a bad judgement call. If Uncle were to be a hit (which is now unlikely) there would be sequels. EON would never hire an actor as Bond when the actor has two franchise commitments with one of them (Uncle) a near imitation of his Bond character. The other alternative for Uncle's outcome was that it would bomb. These major US reviews about Cavill are unflattering and their knocks (some of them a good deal rougher than just calling him a poor actor) will also undermine his chances at Bond. With either outcome, Cavill was going to kill his chances for Bond. What was he thinking? Actors with long term strong careers better be smart about what projects not to do.

    There's always risk when you chose film roles.

    I don't think it was a bad career move. If Cavill never gets to play Bond he can say he got to play a similar sort of spy.

    Cavill has Superman as a back-up. Brandon Routh (remember him!) didn't have a film career after Superman Returns. He's gone back to tv. I think Henry Cavill has a much more secure career because of Superman. And as you say, if UNCLE were a hit and a franchise he'd never be Bond so in a weird way if it flops it might improve his chances of playing Bond. How bizarre is that. :D
  • Posts: 232
    My wife and I have both liked Cavill going way back, but think that the muscle he put on for SUPERMAN is way too much of a good thing and has actually somehow distorted his look. What is more troubling though is that it seems that doing the high-profile gigs has taken something away from his acting chops.

    Jon Hamm should have been Solo, but I can say that Hamm should have gotten any number of roles in the last decade. REALLY not understanding why this multi-talented guy is missing out on so much, unless he poaches wildlife illegally in his spare hours.
  • edited August 2015 Posts: 1,661
    Jon Hamm should have been Solo, but I can say that Hamm should have gotten any number of roles in the last decade. REALLY not understanding why this multi-talented guy is missing out on so much, unless he poaches wildlife illegally in his spare hours.

    I think his dating video holds back his career.



    Fabulousity! ;))
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    I think Hamm just tends to do more low key stuff out of choice. Hamm as Solo would have been genius casting but then honestly, it would just be Don Draper with a gun.
  • edited August 2015 Posts: 3,333
    I have to say as soon as I read that Richie was only keeping 4 things from the original TV series (the character names and title) I had my doubts about the new UNCLE movie. After watching it less than 10 minutes ago I'm struggling to remember anything good about it. Ok, Cavill is actually quite good in his slow-burn role as Solo, and Hammer isn't too bad either once Richie dispenses with the stupid idea of turning Illya Kuryakin into the Bionic Man seen in the opening act. But what is this movie? Well, for starters it's not The Man From UNCLE. In fact, I don't know why Richie even called it by that name. He might as well have called it Spy vs Spy if he didn't like the original concept to begin with. I'm also a bit confused, is UNCLE now a British outfit and no longer American? Gone are the cool Headquarters underground, gone are the communication pens, the Bond vibe and cool theme tune. Thank god Richie never got to make the first Mission Impossible movie is all I can say. I actually wish DePalma had been given this to reboot as he understands the formula and how to make the transition from small screen to big. Richie does not. Sure, there's some funny moments but for long drawn out moments it's a tedious mess. Sorry folks, this is a FAIL for me.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    My wife liked Cavill ever since seeing him completely naked in The Tudors :D
  • On the original show, UNCLE was never an American outfit. It was an international one. New York was one of five regional HQs, but a kind of first among equals. Waverly was one of the five regional chiefs, but a first among equals.


    Here's The Spy Command's review. While it's favorable, the movie definitely is an alternate universe.

    https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com/2015/08/13/review-guy-ritchie-adds-an-edge-to-u-n-c-l-e/
  • The movie is a prequel, origin story. But even if there's a sequel, UNCLE isn't going to be the vast worldwide organization it was in the series, at least not in a Guy Ritchie UNCLE movie universe.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    Not sure if it's been posted, but it's falling short of many other spy/action films from this year (and last year releases from around the same time), only earning $900,000 in Thursday sales with an estimated $15-20 million opening.
  • DoctorKaufmannDoctorKaufmann Can shoot you from Stuttgart and still make it look like suicide.
    edited August 2015 Posts: 1,261
    @smitty: You mean Cavill, not Cahill? ;)
    I also liked Pemberton's score, some little touches of Barry...
    And some trvia fact: The two German actors Sylvester Grothe and Christian Berkel both were in INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, as did Christoph Waltz. :bz

    And there was a SPECTRE trailer before the man film, but it was *only* the teaser trailer... [-O<
  • Posts: 12,526
    Not good getting slaughtered by the critics, but to me I do not care as I have a mind of my own.
  • Posts: 11,119
    The movie is a prequel, origin story. But even if there's a sequel, UNCLE isn't going to be the vast worldwide organization it was in the series, at least not in a Guy Ritchie UNCLE movie universe.

    How do you know that? I think the acronym "U.N.C.L.E." was neatly explained in the end titles sequence. A bit like how Bond got his 00-licence after he killed two men during the PTS and how "0.0.7." got stamped in the main titles sequence of "Casino Royale". In fact, very similar examples really.

    The only difference is: "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." is a brand nobody knows off today, whereas Bond is a pop-cultural icon that all Earthlings know off. That fact alone gave Warner a much harder task with their origins story as opposed to EON's/Sony's/MGM's agent James Bond 007.

    Also, "U.N.C.L.E." is a TV-Series that didn't age as well as "Mission: Impossible". Although "U.N.C.L.E." did won a Golden Globe, I find the TV-series much harder to watch as of today. Perhaps because it's more camp-y, cheesy than "Mission: Impossible"? And the fact that the film is really a period-piece doesn't help the target audience to expand. If you really want to make the 60's iconic again, you had to do like Austin Powers did. And luckily Guy Ritchie prevented that.

    I have tried to fully place myself in the 1960's. How would I react to this movie if I was really living in 1963? And suddenly, you'll discover that this film could have been a real competitor to "Goldfinger" or "From Russia With Love"......back in 1963. But not in 2015.

    Tomorrow I will post a review. But in all honesty? I hope Warner doesn't give up on this franchise. It really took courage to create this nice combo of a reboot and revival by dusting off "U.N.C.L.E.". If I were Warner, I would look at the potential they have with this franchise from now on...

    Sadly, we know how short-sighted the world has become since 1963 :-).
  • Posts: 232
    doubleoego wrote: »
    I think Hamm just tends to do more low key stuff out of choice. Hamm as Solo would have been genius casting but then honestly, it would just be Don Draper with a gun.

    The producer on MAD MEN also wouldn't adjust the shooting schedule for outside work. Hamm had the Affleck lead role in GONE GIRL, but then had to bow out because Weiner wouldn't work with Fincher on adjusting the dates.

    I'm actually pretty cool with just getting 'Draper with a gun.'
  • edited August 2015 Posts: 1,661
    Perhaps it's a nod to modern-day feminism or political correctness, but there is no mention of T.H.R.U.S.H. in the film. I don't think the evil S.E.M.E.N. (society of evil men) will appear in any sequel neither. ;))


  • //How do you know that? I think the acronym "U.N.C.L.E." was neatly explained in the end titles sequence.//

    Having seen it for a second time, it's pretty clear, that U.N.C.L.E., at the end of the film, consists of Waverly and the three agents (his comment about keeping the team together).

    U.N.C.L.E. in the show consisted of five regional headquarters and many, many field offices as well as a training complex hundreds of miles off the main shipping lines.
  • Also, since the question was asked, in the series, UNCLE had been up and operating for a number of years (see The Odd Man Affair, final episode of the first season). Solo graduated from UNCLE's training center in 1954 and Kuryakin in 1956 (The Survival School Affair, fourth season).

    It would take some time, not to mention lots of investment, to get a worldwide organization up and running.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    In a rush. Apologize if someone has already posted this. I just saw that there is a review on thequietus.com for this film:

    http://thequietus.com/articles/18532-man-from-u-n-c-l-e-review
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    UNCLE is being slaughtered by the NWA straight out of Compton movie, critically and financially.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    I hope Warner doesn't give up on this franchise. It really took courage to create this nice combo of a reboot and revival by dusting off "U.N.C.L.E.". If I were Warner, I would look at the potential they have with this franchise from now on...

    Sigh
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    edited August 2015 Posts: 9,020
    Ok, I've seen UNCLE now.

    I won't spoiler anything, let's just say it looks fantastic, very stylish, the music is great if not genius, I like the cast, it is funny.
    But somehow it was a bit boring really. The story is kind of ok but nothing really special.
    The characters could have been done better.
    Honestly, not a movie that has to be seen at the cinema. If you like Spy movies then buy the DVD/Blu-ray/Download when it's out.
    Guy Ritchie is not the best of directors. Sometimes he has a moment of glory but UNCLE isn't one of them.
    Anyway If I had to rate UNCLE I'd give it 7.0 of which 1.0 is merely for the looks and sound of the movie.
    The re-watchability of UNCLE is hard to predict, I have to wait till it hits the home cinema.
  • Posts: 11,119
    RC7 wrote: »
    I hope Warner doesn't give up on this franchise. It really took courage to create this nice combo of a reboot and revival by dusting off "U.N.C.L.E.". If I were Warner, I would look at the potential they have with this franchise from now on...

    Sigh

    You've seen the film?
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    RC7 wrote: »
    I hope Warner doesn't give up on this franchise. It really took courage to create this nice combo of a reboot and revival by dusting off "U.N.C.L.E.". If I were Warner, I would look at the potential they have with this franchise from now on...

    Sigh

    You've seen the film?

    I'm referring to the notion that it took 'courage' for WB to produce the film. I don't need to see it to know that is claptrap.
  • Posts: 11,119
    RC7 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    I hope Warner doesn't give up on this franchise. It really took courage to create this nice combo of a reboot and revival by dusting off "U.N.C.L.E.". If I were Warner, I would look at the potential they have with this franchise from now on...

    Sigh

    You've seen the film?

    I'm referring to the notion that it took 'courage' for WB to produce the film. I don't need to see it to know that is claptrap.

    Ok
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    Wow, it appears that the movie didn't even make $5 million on Friday.
  • doubleonothingdoubleonothing Los Angeles
    Posts: 864
    @doubleonothing You wrote the Kingsman review for the main site, right? Out of interest, how would you say UNCLE compares with that film (and, if you've seen it, the new Mission Impossible film)?

    Yeah, I wrote that review. I'd say both films are very stylish, slick spy movies with the tongue firmly planted in the cheek. Not strong on plot, but Kingsman has the edge based on it being better with the irony. Haven't seen Mi5 yet.

  • Posts: 2,491
    This movie is predicted to open to around 15m dollars in US.. shame :/

    Let's hope the rest of the world will be able to bring this movie to around 100m+ overall (what's the budget for this movie btw?)
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    The production budget is apparently estimated to be $75 million. Thus, it doesn't have to be a blockbuster hit to make some money, so we'll see how it opens everywhere else. If it's only going to make around $15 million this weekend domestically, then I don't see the following weekend being any kinder to it, so it'll have to rely on a large foreign box office return.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    Well I hate to say it but when I was watching it the cinema hall was half empty and that's on opening weekend :-S
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    That's definitely not a good sign, especially for foreign markets, if anyone else analyzes the box office and lack of popularity/excitement this is garnering.
  • SzonanaSzonana Mexico
    Posts: 1,130
    Call me crazy but i have a conspiracy theory that Barbara Broccoli is paying lots of money to everyone to make Cavil's projects fail so she can get him as the next Bond.

    So she can be sure no one will know about Cavil before he plays Bond hehe.
    But its just a crazy idea don't listen to me much
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