MovieChat Forums > The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) Discussion > Grossly Underrated

Grossly Underrated

posted 8 years ago by burger1124
40 replies | jump to latest

I honestly think this movie is the victim of critics' more recent tilt toward dark, edgy stories. Ever since the Bourne films and the Dark Knight series, the post-9/11 hero movie has to be dark. It ruined Superman, it's claiming the MCU. If it had opened in the wake of BvS, maybe it would'v gotten better reviews. It seems like people are finally starting to get over the dour tone of spy and superhero movies.

This was old-fashioned fun, perhaps some of the smartest filmmaking Ritchie has done. He found ways to sneak in signature camera moves and title inserts, particularly in the beginning, while also lending the movie a truly '60s vibe. I have remembered events from this movie months after forgetting about 90% of SPECTRE and Rogue Nation. I would even argue that it was more enjoyable in many ways than Kingsman. The only secret agent movie last year that really gave it a run for its money was Spy.

[–] peggygeordie 8 years ago

Many people would agree with you. I know so many people who thought this was the best time they'd had at the movies in years and went back to see it over and over, finding more to admire each time.

You are not the only one who is tired of despair and darkness as the theme in pop culture.

[–] blackintel 8 years ago

I agree with you.

[–] Lupin-III 8 years ago

Many people would agree with you. I know so many people who thought this was the best time they'd had at the movies in years and went back to see it over and over, finding more to admire each time.

Liar.

The first transport is away... hey!

[–] wooody 8 years ago

This was my favorite film for 2015 and I viewed it on repeated occasions in the theater....

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] laikinasemail 8 years ago

skits from SNL have deepers stories than this piece of crap. It was boring, unoriginal and filled with bad acting. It is OVERRATED.

[–] thompsonmark 8 years ago

1. True, the story isn't deep, but it isn't *supposed* to be. It's stylish and fun.

2. Overall, I very, very strongly disagree with you.

[–] FlintyMoon 8 years ago

Agreed. A great film top to bottom. I saw it many times in the theater and got the blu-ray the day it came out. I hated Nolan's Batman and did not like what happened with Superman either. I do not think every book, film and TV show needs to be dark, bleak, humorless and hopeless to be good. In fact it makes it monotone and tedious if it is relentlessly dark and gritty.

Whatchoo Lookin' At??

[–] wooody 8 years ago

Agreed!

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

This was old-fashioned fun, perhaps some of the smartest filmmaking Ritchie has done.

I've really enjoyed the way Guy Ritchie has rebooted the Sherlock Holmes series and now this. Loved the fact that this was set in the 60's and filmed with a genuine retro-feel.🐭

[–] eighteen_percent_gray 8 years ago

set in the 60's and filmed with a genuine retro-feel

That was one of the best parts. I especially loved Gaby's and Victoria's wardrobe.

[–] archer1812 8 years ago

Stylistically it was great. I love the look of it. The wardrobe, the styles, the cinematography. That era to me had such a cool vibe, especially in Europe. An this film captured it perfectly. I also loved the soundtrack. And Gaby was gorgeous.

[–] eighteen_percent_gray 8 years ago

Everything you said, especially Gaby. Alicia is a rare beauty, so unlike everyone else around.

I mentioned elsewhere that I never notice the soundtrack, only the theme at the beginning and end. This soundtrack was so perfect, every note added to the visuals. I love it too.

[–] galluslass 8 years ago

Yes - the movie looked great and they were all very easy on the eye. The height and size difference between Gaby and Ilya was sweet and their reluctant romance one of my favourite things in the movies.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] MydnightRose 8 years ago

I liked it and thought it was a very well done movie. In was really impressed with Hammer and I have a soft spot for Henry. I loved the Russian and American dynamic.

1. BVS 2. Avengers 3. TWS

[–] merh 8 years ago

I gave it a 9

This isn't Wall Street-this is Hell. We have a little something called integrity-Crowley

[–] Korpus500 8 years ago

I totally agree. Hopefully a sequel or sequels are possible. Both leads did splendid jobs and the tone of the movie was quite entertaining.

[–] mstanley-1 8 years ago

It did well and the critics favored more than disfavored it; also, fans liked it. So that probably means sequel, like the Sherlock Holmes ventures. I hope so. This was a well done film - better than many Bond movies I've seen in the past. And that franchise goes on forever....

[–] rod775-1 8 years ago

I agree....Grossly underrated! Beautifully done. I will add this to my DVD collection. Guy R. is a genius.

[–] thebuckleys-06 8 years ago

I really enjoyed this movie. So much so that I am considering buying the DVD. It was a nice throwback with some great jokes interspersed throughout. While I enjoyed the Bourne movies (among others), this was a very nice departure from the manic, all-out action sequences.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] cjbarrett 8 years ago

Really. This is almost as good as Swept Away!

[–] shoobe01-1 8 years ago

I've been in a hotel for business, and caught bits of this on HBO i the background in evenings before I got a chance to watch it all the way through. Twice.

On the surface, at a glance, it seems a bit silly, affected and almost spoof-like dumb. But when I really watch it, it is not, in a way that I suspect hurt it for mass market. It's quite clever, and there's a lot of stuff key to understanding the character or plot that can run past you if you don't listen to (especially) Cavil's patter.

And of course, really well filmed, has annoyingly good music, etc.

[–] wooody 8 years ago

I agree with everything but the soundtrack. For me and many posters it was one of the highlights.

[–] shoobe01-1 8 years ago

Annoyingly good = very good. From somewhere on the internet:

If you say that someone is 'annoyingly good' at something, you are really complimenting them and saying that they are REALLY good at that particular thing. You might say that the person is 'so good it's almost annoying'. It sort of means that they're so good you cannot argue about it, even if you wanted to...

Much to my surprise, it's a colloquialism and not everyone seems to get it. Sorry about that.

I used this turn of phrase because of my surprise at how good it was. Far exceeded expectations even after I heard reviewers mention it was well selected. I am much much more often than not disappointed in music in films. Such that I appreciate the rare soundtrack-free ones (Kajaki / Kilo-Two-Zero is an amazing movie in general). I assumed that TMFU would have gone overboard with the whole period soundtrack thing, but is was not just great music, but mixed wonderfully, selected and arranged to work with the editing to an almost never seen level.