The Man From U.N.C.L.E. | 2015 Movie Review 

Honestly I really adored this movie. It was such a breath of fresh air from the genre, and just a really captivating watch on so many levels. I'm really sad that we'll probably never get a follow up to this.

I'm actually exceptionally fond of this movie. Its so very sleek and stylish, the chemistry between the three leads is terrific, and what really made it stick out in my memory is the style and aesthetic. Loved the camera work, visuals, set design, and especially the music! The score doesn't get talked about enough, but its absolutely wonderful. This movie was just a really fun experience start to finish, and I had a blast with it!

I really liked the Man From U.N.C.L.E. film way more than I thought I would, considering how Hollywood has been handling updates of old 60's television shows. More than that this made me believe Cavill would make a great James Bond. When you see Cavill in the most current Mission Impossible film, I think you'll change your mind about him as an actor. The marketing for this film was terrible which is why it did so poorly. A lot of people simply didn't know it existed.

My friend and I are very fond of this movie, to the extent that we've watched it multiple times. We like the movie for its star cast, the story was nice enough and a set up of decade long past is refreshing when every movie set up is contemporary.

This movie is one of my personal favorites. There is such amazing chemistry between the three leads. They are so charming and very likable. Cavill is the stand-out performance. I hope Henry Cavill becomes our next James Bond.

Tbh, I want the Bond series to become much more like U.N.C.L.E. Only a bit more serious and dark.

Very well done. Two items of interest: --The Man From UNCLE is part of the Warner Bros. film library. WB's library includes MGM productions from 1985 and before (but that were not United Artists). So WB has Gone With the Wind and such but also MGM TV productions. --One of Ian Fleming's 1962 ideas -- that Solo liked to cook -- made it into the 2015 movie. It was never referenced in the series.

1:49-THRUSH stands for Technological Hierarchy For The Removal Of Undesirables And The Subjugation Of Humanity, BTW.

Like the movie a lot And yes Henry Cavill should be 007

I love this movie! So underrated. Guy Ritchie is such a great director! This is better than some Bond films in my opinion.

One of my favourite movies of all time. Have nothing but positive thoughts and feelings towards this film. Also, I'm one of the people waving the flag for Cavill to take up 007 after Craig 😁. Keep up the amazing work Calvin

I love movies directed by guy ritchie , His latest movie “The Gentlemen” had a cool Bond - Like intro

Elizabeth Debicki was really good in 'The Night Manger' -a fantastic spy mini-series

Oh you're not being too generous here, Calvin. I liked it back when it came out, but it is one of those films that gets better the more I watch it and I can never get tired of it. Most people I know pretty much enjoy the film, I honestly don't know anyone who dislikes it Shame it underperformed at the box office because it was easily the best spy film that came out in 2015. Spectre was a disappointment for pretty much all the reasons that has been stated to death at this point. Mission Impossible Rogue Nation was good, has some things that I didn't care that prevents it from being a film that would top Ghost Protocol (something Fallout would soon do) and Kingsman while has its moments of greatness is one of those films that is way overhyped somewhat incoherent in its themes and almost comes off as a film that was made out of spite.

Wonder what you think of Michael Bay’s “The Rock” and the fan theory that Connery is secretly playing Bond in that one

Best James Bond type film since Golden Eye. Having the Commando raid at the took me back to true Ian Flemming real life history which he was constantly planning during WW2 & is what all the Daniel Craig (I wan't to be Borne clone) films sadly miss. 4 coming on 5 Daniel Craig 007 films without a big raid at end is why I have given up on new films

George Lazenby has a role as Bond with Aston Martin in the spin off movie The Return Of The Man From UNCLE.

This movie and his performance in Mission Impossible: Fallout are definitely very strong cases for Henry Cavill's casting as Bond.

I'd love to see you explore more of the 60's Spy TV shows and their merits (Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Avengers, Get Smart, Wild Wild West, I Spy, Danger Man, etc.).

I saw this as part of an advanced screening and really enjoyed it! Disappointed it didn't do well at the box office.

The very best thing about this movie was - box office notwithstanding - it serves as a nice proof of concept for a "Bond-type" espionage thriller to return to its 60s heyday, and all the style and technological non-complications (no cell phones, no cameras everywhere, no digital record of a 'Bond, James Bond'). I believe the reason this film did not work at the box office was simply because the name has no cache with the mass audiences. Mission Impossible did OK in the 90s, sure, but that was 20 years earlier. It's been beaten to death (like a North Korean therapist), but the IP is 90% of the appeal. Sadly. But that this film worked as well as it did should be encouraging. Bond really CAN go home again. The chic, jetsetting 60s is calling, James.

I bet Henry Cavill going to shop at the grocery store looks more like Bond to me than Daniel Craig in his movies.

I too contributed to "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."'s box office and thoroughly enjoyed how Guy Ritchie and the lead trio handled the film, so I continue to be disappointed that a sequel is a pipe dream. Though with the recent revelations about Armie Hammer's personal life, I imagine any sequel now would most likely see the role of Ilya Kuryakin recast... Fun but of personal headcanon for the film is that Solo, Kuryakin and Gabi's next mission - as touched on by Hugh Grant's Weatherly at the very end - is cleaning up after 007 and his mission to steal the Lektor decoding machine. The film in set 1963 and Weatherly describes the job as a mess in Istanbul that needs resolving...why not send in the newly minted UNCLE team to ensure a solution that both sides of the Cold War can abide by and fix the fustercluck left behind by Bond and Kerim Bey's daylight raid of the Soviet Embassy/Consulate?

I think I only got recommended this channel because I'm also called Calvin. But I'm so glad I was, it's rekindled an urge to rewarch movies I've not seen in 10-20 years.

I really enjoyed this movie. It's a shame that this will probably never get a sequel. The chemistry between the cast is so perfect.

I really liked this movie. I thought the intro alone was so cool, showing the Cold War build up after World War II while "Compared To What" by Roberta Flack plays over it and then we meet Napoleon and then Ilya in Berlin. Was anyone surprised that the movie was set in 1963, instead of at any point when the show was set, so 1964-1968? Also I definitely noticed a lot of Bond similarities and homages in the movie. I can't believe it only made $104 million off of a $75 million budget. For some reason I thought it did really well at the box office. I honestly think it's better than SPECTRE and Mission Impossible Five. Great review!

I enjoy this movie and I love the kingsman movies too

I love the TV show and really enjoyed this film! Its major weakness is that it was not close enough to the TV series-especially the ridiculous decision NOT to use the iconic Man From Uncle Theme. (That would be like the Mission Impossible franchise not using that classic theme-it would be unthinkable!) There were other weaknesses, of course-not much action, weak villains etc...but the style and sheer “coolness”of this film was just off the charts. The cast was great-especially Henry Cavill who I thought was perfect as Solo and -no doubt about it-would make a terrific 007. It’s too bad this did not do very well at the box office - I think it was probably too stylish and not enough of a large scale action film to connect with a bigger audience. Still though-its definitely built a nice cult audience since then ...so you never know-we may see more Uncle in the future!

This movie did a lot better on streaming, so a HBO max series would be pretty cool, the franchise did originate in TV so it’s perfect

I rather enjoy this film. Great review as always, Calvin!

Needs more Bill Koenig and klaxon sounds.

This is not a bad spy movie, I would liked to see a sequel with more action.

Hi Calvin, can I make a suggestion for another film to review? It is Gold from 1974 with Roger Moore and that's not the only link with Bond: it's directed by Peter Hunt, it has fantastic titles by Maurice Binder and a terrific Bond-like soundtrack by Elmer Bernstein including a title song Shirley Bassey could have sung. Shot in South Africa, the film has a Bondian look and feel about it. I wonder what you think? Should be interesting!

Henry cavils audition for James Bond

I thought, "Codename U.N.C.L.E" as it was called in Germany, was quite a fun and entertaining ride in the past of the U.N.C.L.E. characters - but I also have to say, that I prefer David McCallum as Ilya Kuriyakin - which might have something to do, with the fact, that I like him as Ducky on NCIS and as Daniel Westin on "The invisible man". The Ilya of the show is... just different. He's funny, lighthearted, while Armin Hammer is too serious. Superman does a terrific job as Napoleon Solo and I concur, he'd be an "On-the-nose-Bond", but he could work as such an obvious casting.

I really don't understand what you dislike about this and Kingsman's action. It is amazing.

One of my favourite movies of the 2010s, i really that hint at an UNCLE sequel in 'The Gentlemen' comes true

Hi Calvin I am a big fan and I just wanted to say thank you for all the good content you have been posting. I loved the moon taker review and can’t wait till the next video.

I love The Man From U.N.C.L.E and found it a great watch. I'm a big fan of Henry Cavill and love that in this film he basically plays a real life Sterling Archer which I find hilarious 😂 I'm a huge Cavill fan and would love to see him as Bond, though I understand why others may not want to see him in the role. I really like this as a fun spy film and would definitely recommend it to anybody else

**Raises hand as one of those people who'd really like Cavill as the next Bond** As you said, he really looks the part and is perhaps a very 'obvious' choice and a safe bet, but so was Brosnan and I was never really surprised by any acting choices Brosnan made (sorry!), so I wouldn't have any problem with a Bond that has less 'depth' in his acting, so to say. As for this film, I agree that the action scenes and maybe even the plot aren't the reason to watch this film (though I kinda like the car chase, but that's it). The characters, the clothes, settings and 60's aesthetic and set decoration pull me in, however. And then it's an enjoyable romp.

You should review "The Helicopter Spies" (1968), the best of the UNCLE films that were cobbled together from 2-part episodes.

Loved this film when it arrived in our cinemas back in the day. It is still one of my faves, actually rewatched it on quarantine. And I keep rewatching it from time to time. It has this charm of old films; as well as lovely music. It is funny, has a great casting, and dialogue. Definitely would love to see the sequel at some point in the future. Also, I think it has some cult following, I guess, whomever I ask, they say they are quite fond of it. And yeah, fans still make fan videos on this film. Moreover, some fans in Russia and CIS countries like it, because the Russian character, Illya Kuryakin, was shown more or less properly, in the Western film. So Illya is not too goofy, his accent is okay, and also they chose an actual Russian speaking actor to play his handler in KGB, who spoke perfect Russian. So I guess it one of the reasons why it is loved by a small number of devoted fans.

It was really a pretty good movie. It's problem was that young people did not understand its COLD War Berlin beginning and old UNCLE fans spent 3/4 of the movie getting over that Ilya was not played by David McCollum (or someone resembling him) but instead by a hulking muscle man. Hugh Grant gave a good performance as Mr. Waverly. The ending was an excellent set up for a sequel. Too bad it won't happen.

I absolutely loved this movie. It was smartly done. I loved the characters and the story line. It was intelligent and interesting. The music was awesome. I wish they would do another one.

Literally Henry Cavill's Bond audition. Idm I adore it

I'm glad you covered this movie. One of my favorites :)

“Stuck on a Sunday” as opposed to any other day at the moment.

Daniel Pemberton's music score is flatout awesome!

I hope you get to the mission impossible with Cavill, it's so good. Rogue Nation and Fallout are both excellent fun actually

You should really consider reviewing more movies, not just spy films. You’re great at it

I enjoyed it. It was a nice throwback, and not as brash and cynical as Kingsmen.

I was a big fan of the U.N.C.L.E TV show when I was a kid. I watched a few episodes recently and discovered that some memories are best left in the past. The movie was quite entertaining though. As far as Henry Cavill as the next Bond is concerned, I think he’ll be perfect in 10 years, but now, I think he’s still too boyish looking. However, in the late 90’s I watched the Hornblower series based on CS Forrester’s literal naval hero and saw Ioan Gruffudd and thought he would also make a GREAT James Bond, but like Cavill now, we was too boyish and young back then. He’s now in his mid 40’s and is rugged enough the carry the part convincingly. It should be Gruffudd next and then Cavill after that.

I was a fan of the TV series. I hoped for years that there would be a movie... and this was not what I was hoping for, since it's basically an origin story/prequel with very little of the series. However... I love it. Perhaps forgetting he'd used used the name Mr. Solo for a Goldfinger gangster, Ian Fleming contributed the name Solo to the project. (Solo was later used as a title for a Bond novel). Fleming also coined the name April Dancer, who was the Girl From UNCLE in the spin-off series. The film has a few nods that suggest it might be set in the same world as From Russia With Love era Bond movies. One subtle one that may not mean anything is when Napoleon and Illya have hotel rooms above and below one another with each room number ending in 7. A trifle more specific without risking copyright infringement: In the mens room at the race track Kuryakin beats up a group of young men (off screen) - and it's mentioned that he's hospitalized a Count Lippe... could be the same Count Lippe who was at the Shrubs clinic in Thunderball? Calvin: the car jammed between buildings was not CGI - they actually had it run on rails so they could stop it exactly where they needed it. As much as I'd watch another one, it was not a box office success and then there's some tabloid nonsense about Armie Hammer fantasizing about cannibalism that seems to have Cosby'd his career.

Did one good thing: It reminded me how great David McCallum was as Illya Kuryakin.

I think the film would've performed better had there been actual marketing for it. I saw one trailer for it before a movie I saw in the theater, and that was it

This one is a true underrated little film. And just because Henry is an obvious choice doesn't mean he's the wrong one. But I think with his commitments to Witcher we won't see it happen.

As a generic, period-piece spy yarn it's enjoyable on a stylistic level -- but as an UNCLE adaptation, it fails miserably -- which is why it didn't find an audience and flopped.

Cavill or Richard Madden would be ideal for 007

I had a film professor in college who DESPISED this movie, he was a huge fan of the original series. One of his final exams had the question “Should Henry Cavill go to jail for being in this movie?” The correct answer was apparently yes.

The problem of this movie for me was the tone. It was way off. Call it bad editing or lack of chemistry between the actors I'm not sure. But it didn't work.

I'm obviously a MUSIC guy. And I find that when they don't use the music that was so much of a driving force in the popular TV shows the title suggests, I fall out of favour with the film immediately. I know they didn't want to go for the campy feel of the 60's show, but could it have hurt to use the Man From UNCLE theme? Did they? I'm going to guess they didn't. Much of what drove a lot of the TV shows of yesteryear was indeed the music. I think one reason the Mission: Impossible films do so well is because they didn't distance themselves from Lalo's music. This film, The Equalizer (1 and 2), Power Rangers (yes there was 15 seconds of the original theme in it), Batman, The Green Hornet, Transformers and the list goes on and on all could have benefited from the use of the original music. Iron Man and the Spider Man movies use their 60's themes and while those characters didn't need a boost really, hearing the original theme songs in those movies gave me a thrill. Imagine Never Say Never again, and the 1967 Casino Royale being able to use the Bond theme. It would have not saved those movies, but it sure would have been fun.

I really enjoy Man from U.N.C.L.E. I think it does what it set out to do really well with style and a welcome breeziness. Plus the soundtrack!

Yeah, I'm one of those guys who thinks Cavill would make a great Bond. I think after Craig's more untraditional take on the character we need a little bit of rerailment.

Brosnan was definitely the most handsome and stylish Bond, and Cavill would have for all his efforts still looked like Brosnan Lite if he had followed the former in the role

If your reviewing other spy movies than Bond, have you done the Harry Palmer trilogy? Ipcress File, Funeral in Berlin and Billion Dollar Brain. Would love to know your thoughts, particularly on Funeral in Berlin. I know Harry Palmer is the antithesis of James Bond but i know a lot of Bond fans who love these movies.

I think lack of publicity, the source material not being known by younger audiences and like you said, not a ton of action led to its tepid performance. Nonetheless, a great deal of fun. Cavill could easily play Bond based on this an his recent MI appearance. Will he? Doubt it, but he could provide the charm and suave Craig doesn't deliver.

The television show is awesome, movie is so-so, even with season three giving in too much to the camp style inspired by Batmania. Season Four made an effort to get back to the more serious nature of Seasons One and Two, but it was too late from a ratings standpoint. Bonus Trivia: in the books but not onscreen THRUSH had the acronym defined. Technological Hierarchy for the Removal of Undesirables and the Subjugation of Humanity.

I enjoyed the movie, and think cavil is more fun to watch than Vaughn, but I couldn’t get past hammers brutish depiction of Ilya kuriyakin. David mccallum was so much more charming in the role.

I'd love to see you do a side by side comparison between xXx and the Bond scenes it borrowed from. I am a fan of xXx, they're fun

Hi Calvin have you listened to the radio 4 dramas on James Bond they are really good perhaps you can do a review on them they are on RU-vid

What about Aime Hammer as Bond? The next Bond movie will be around 2024. Hammer will only be 37.

I watched the movie tonight for the first time and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I would easily rather watch it again over You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man With the Golden Gun, and Moonraker.

I really like this movie. It's just a fun spy adventure movie. Of course it wouldn't be an adrenaline rush like other modern spy movies because it's light-hearted. It has all these clever, fun moments the audience can laugh at without becoming a comedy. I feel like spy movies nowadays are getting to dour and serious and losing the energy that made them so fun in the first place. I really like Henry Cavill in the movie and I think being in it was a very deliberate decision on his part. Most people only knew him as Superman and his Superman is very reserved and quiet. I think he wanted to make a movie to show how charming he can be. While I agree that he should probably step out of his comfort zone and do a really out-there role, I still think he would make a fantastic Bond.

Absolutely love your content Calvin, but the wait for Bond 25 has made us all feel numb and indifferent. It's incredibly sad that the James Bond community gets fucked by the James Bond franchise over and over again, and has to turn to other spy movies, the James Bond novels and even analyzing deleted scenes. Should James Bond be turned into a TV series and be set in the 50's and 60's or should it stick to the silver screen and take more time production-wise?

I'd love to see Cavill as Bond. Also hearing Calvin with an American accent really threw me off for a second. As an American I can tell you Calvin you did good.

Better then Mission Impossible when it comes to adapting the 60's TV show to a movie. But the show never had Solo being a ex Thief . For some reason the movie mixed "It take a Thief " with "Man From Uncle " .

There have been spy movies with better action sequences; there have been spy movies with better dialogue; there have been spy movies with plots that make more sense; but, darn it, there are no movies whatsoever that are just so *stylish* as the Man from UNCLE - my family and I are still hoping for a sequel...

0:42 When you look at David McCallum, doesn't he strike you as someone who could have played James Bond? If you see the older David McCallum on NCIS, he could have played Q.

Team Cavill for next Bond here! Anyway I think Matthew Vaughn out did Guy Ritchie in creating that stylish spy action thriller. Between this and Kingsman, I feel like this movie lacks a certain pizzazz. Sort of feels like Vaughn turned the style knob to 12 and Ritchie kinda left it at 8.5. Either way the movies are entertaining enough to watch, with a different feel from the Bond movies.

Just one of the many people wishing this had become a movie series. I was blown away with what a great movie it was and a great set up for more. 🐾

The casting costumes and choreography are brilliant, and really feel more like the sixties, than most modern films that attempt it. I rather like it as an origin film, and would have like to have seen a sequel more like the series, which is worth a look! - Dan Stevens from Downton Abbey would make a great next Bond, see him in 'The Guest' where he shows his action chops.

I dont remember much about this film but I gave a distinct memory of my dad being desperate to see it purely because we're supposed to be distantly related to actor who originally played the Russian in the TV show

Awesome review, yeah i watched every single episode of the man from uncle, having first watched it on a channel called Me tv where they play old classic shows, and then being a big bond fan i decided to watch all of it, and its must fun and alot of aspects associated with fleming, one aspect is that george lazenby appeared in the TMFU movie, that they did after the show, and the original show had movies, as well, and luciana the bond girl from thunderball was acutally in that film, i havent watched all of those movies, yet, but i have watched that one, so that is cool, and maybe you can review the 60s movies they did. Also fun fact, henry cavil played superman and this character solo, robert vaughn was in a superman movie, and playes solo. So that is king cool to see, and i think its was a great movie, i really enjoyed it, and hopefully they come out with 2. But there might be more bond links such as various actors that play in the show, was proabably in some of the 60s bond movies as well. I know that mission impossible tv show shared some bond actors in episodes. This was fun calvin, and i would like you to cover get smart the movie or the show there is some cool stuff to be had there, and hopefully one day they can do a get smart 2 with the original cast from the first movie come back. Or can you review past bond directors non bond movies, there is alot to be had, there I watched some of them and man alot of bondage if you know what i mean. I would like to share my youtube channel if anyone is interested, and yes the name is from the fleming book. That i currently brought and read, but my channel name is Thrilling Cities, Its basically everything associated with travel and eating, just like fleming in a way, i do travel vlogs, filming locations hopefully i can do bond locations one day, maybe when i go to san frans i can do living daylights and a view to a kill. But i hope you enjoy and calvin i like the content, forever be a subscriber. ru-vid.com/show-UCof2kckg2UFf-z6SF1PZbtAvideos

I really enjoyed the TV show and found this movie incredibly boring with no pace or thrills . The Box office displays how lack lustre this effort was and having been excited to see it I was disappointed . The sixties show was great at the time and still entertains. David Mcallum and Robert Vaughn were greatly missed .

cavil should play Bond as a mix of this character and the one he plays in Mission Impossible with all the physicality on a bond trilogy directed by Nolan.....oh god

What's nice is that it features two actors (Henry Cavill and Hugh Grant) who both auditioned for Bond

I thought the movie went up a few notches anytime Hugh Grant turned up.

A very underated movie. The soundtrack is absolutely brilliant.

The Uncle films are great, well worth a watch.

Man from UNCLE and Guardians of the Galaxy are the only films I've watched where I've said "I'd like to see a sequel to this". It's a fun buddy spy movie.

Films like Kingsman, Mission Impossible and Man From Uncle prove that Bond is being decimated in the spy film market.

This is a GREAT FILM i love it absolutely. Watched it in the cinema

Honestly, I really liked the movie. There was a certain suave element, especially by Cavill and Hammer's acting, and the plot, while basic, was fun. I do think the cinematography was awesome, and that's what kept me engaged from start to finish. Definitely is a great spy flick!

I love this film and it seems to have a bit of a cult following. Sadly a sequel almost certainly will never happen

2015 was the year of spy films, there was this movie, Rogue Nation, Kingsmen and Spectre

I love this movie and was perplexed at its box office performance. Of the 4 spy movies that year, it was tops for me. But then again, I love a bit of tongue-in-cheek and Diamonds Are Forever totally works for me.

Bond reference in the movie: the hotel room number...

The bad guys want to steal a Atomic Bomb. Like we haven't seen that a thousand times.

Have not seen the film but it kind of looks all right just to look at. just the opulence as you put it. I think Henry Cavlin would have made a good Bond. There is no doubt that he is more suited to the part than Calvin Dyson. Just looks the part has polish and sophistication.

I'd like for them to do a sequel