MovieChat Forums > I Spy (1965) Discussion > am I the only one who thinks it stinks?

am I the only one who thinks it stinks?

posted 12 years ago by jeff-90
44 replies | jump to latest

I just finished the first dvd of season 1, 6 episodes, thinking I was going to love this show I haven't seen since I was a kid. Wow, just painfully bad.
The pacing is GLACIAL, with 10% of every episode nothing but filler shots of scenery. The rare action is terrible, as they don't use stunt men for the "fights". There is no suspense and no creative "spy stuff" by our two heroes - they just chat with a couple people and constantly walk into ambushes or get caught unaware and then escape in some half-assed way. The attempts at humor fall flat and the entire thing is just SO dated. Oh, and the music may be the worst thing of all! It is ridiculously over the top, a blaring big band sound that is constantly out of context with what is happening on screen.

I'd love to know what it is that people like about it. There wasn't a single moment of suspense or anything to raise a heart rate and there were maybe two chuckles. Maybe it improved by leaps and bounds, but the first 6 episodes are just so bad I'll never know unless I'm incredibly bored and they are on hulu for free.

[–] mactach 12 years ago

If you don't like it keep it to yourself and let all those who enjoy it discuss it without some dope like you complaining about it!

[–] jeff-90 12 years ago

I'm trying to save someone else from a similar wasted video rental fate. And no answer as to what you like about it? If you actually like the first 6 episodes I'm quite confident I'm not the dope. Just watched 1st episode of season 2, yep, still bad lol. Reading about it the producer wanted a travelogue type show, maybe back then when people had never seen the exotic locations they were willing to watch just for scenery and ignore everything else. To each his own, happy viewing.

[–] mactach 12 years ago

Shut up!

[–] GoUSN 11 years ago

This is a comments section. Not an "agree or else" section.

I never saw the show, but it intrigues me since I like Sheldon Leonard. But should I devote the time to watching it? Maybe some good, robust debate in the comments will tell me.

But not according to you. No dissent. My view or no view.

[–] mactach 11 years ago

I'm not crtical of those not liking something. But it's annoying how some people go about expressing themselves. Instead of just saying "I don't like it" He asks "Am I the only one who doesn't like it?" I ususally can't explain why I like or don't like something. Case in point, can't say why I didn't like "The Cosby Show" but liked Bill's 1969 sitcom "The Bill Cosby Show"

Makes a big fuss over they don't use stunt men for fights, like that really matters.

The attempt humor is so dated., well show me anything from almost 50 years ago that isn't? What's the use of even saying that?

And the fact he buys the DVD and has the nerve to come on here and complain about , it's just anoying to hear this guy's bitching over it.

[–] GoUSN 11 years ago

He or she was asking a rhetoricsl question to launch some dialogue. There is nothing wrong with asking whether anyone else agrees with you, particularly if the consensus seems to be going the other way.

Humor isn't always dated, even for entertainments that are many more years old than this show. If the humor is dated, that's a fair point. Some humor doesn't age well, while some does. I Love Lucy is an example of timeless humor. But even with that show, there are critics. There's a diversity of ideas.

[–] jritty 11 years ago

Didn't like The Cosby Show?? ...yikes.

You Suck...now deal with it.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Soodinum 11 years ago

Would you grow up? The poster is allowed to discuss the show, whether they like it or not. The clearly asked for the opinion of others at the end of the post.

This site is not just for rabid fanbois of films and TV shows.

Plot Hole - the most overused and least understood phrase at IMDb

[–] Cate17 12 years ago

Unlike the other poster I don't think you're a dope for having the opinion that you do, but I do wonder what exactly you were expecting to get from what is essentially a 60's James Bond homage. I don't think anyone is trying to convince you this is high quality stuff; it's just fun. However, since you say you watched it as a kid, I can understand the emotional collision that usually occurs when nostalgia comes up against reality.

Is it dated? Absolutely, and that's one of its draws for me. I'm a sucker for campy 60's dialog and style. I also enjoyed the "filler" scenery shots, but they don't appear as much in the following seasons in case you ever hazard another watch. And the big band soundtrack? Guilty; love that too.

But truly it's the chemistry of the two leads that's the real fun. Hokey sometimes? Heck yeah. But we will all have our guilty pleasures. ;)

"Ah,sweet storyteller. What will it take to slay the dragon..."-Steven James

[–] bradford-1 11 years ago

I also watched it as a child (I was 9 during the first season) and was fascinated by the location scenery and the Culp-Cosby byplay, which at the time was a revelation. Of course, more than 40 years and god knows how many imitations later, the show doesn't seem as fresh as it once did. I find some of the humor heavy-handed, but still enjoy the two stars' banter. If the OP is disappointed by the action scenes, he HAS to realize that graphic, bloody violence didn't occur on American TV at that time.

"May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?"

[–] DarcyBrandon 11 years ago

Serious question, what kind of movie were you expecting?

[–] mactach 11 years ago

I think these are just a bunch of young people, probably younger than me, ( and I'm 40) you just probably despise these classic shows and those older people who have the same envy towards the present day one.

Think they just need to get off these forums and leave then for those who enjoys these shows are they are.

[–] malduroque 11 years ago

Dude, will you leave him alone? He said he's old enough to have seen the show as a child. Just accept the fact that not everybody loves "I Spy" and these forums are for all tastes not just for sycophants like yourself. I'm old enough to remember the show too and it has not aged well. The landmark of the show of course the bi-racial pairing of Cosby and Culp which was unprecedented at the time but fairly quaint for the 21st century. The plots are cookie cutter spy show plots. Culp's acting is fairly wooden and the whole pace of the show was often stunted and static. The show's only strong point was the chemistry between the co-leads but that's not enough to keep one watching episode after episode. Man From UNCLE and Mission Impossible were much better 60s spy shows IMO.

Check out Sheba's Rain on YouTube

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] malduroque 11 years ago

Funny thing, no one has answered your question yet.

Check out Sheba's Rain on YouTube

[–] Nobby21 11 years ago

I agree, it's slow paced, not funny, predictable, bad color and sound, etc, etc. it's almost as if if was made in the 60's for 60's audiences. Crazy stuff!

[–] mactach 11 years ago

Well what do you expect stupid.

Expect a show from that time to be like TV shows are now? Probably better than the crap that's being out out today so why not just stick with that?

Lot worthless garbage people in this world.

[–] rockmail 11 years ago

My ignore list has been growing a lot in the past month. Welcome aboard!

[–] bwalright 11 years ago

Watching on Cozi tv right now. I like the 2 main actors & the story lines but the guest stars are not so interesting so far. Like the clothes & theme song, very retro cool!

[–] jadedbaby 11 years ago

Funny how a bunch of adults can't have a reasonable discussion about the merits (or lack thereof) of "I Spy" without devolving into name-calling. I for one appreciated the OP's original criticisms, and the one or two reasonable replys he got. A distaste for Bill Cosby (that's a big can of worms, I know) has kept me from watching this show so far, but I'm a big fan of The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Star Trek, thus I think I'll check it out cause Sheldon Leonard and Desilu were involved. (By the way, I am not old enough to have seen any of these shows in my childhood. Just a young-ish guy who likes quality TV, no matter when it was made).

[–] tamyabonet2 11 years ago

I love it plus it's a ground breaking show.