Tag: The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare

2024    Lionsgate

Rated:  R

Length:  2 hrs

Action ~ Comedy ~ War ~ History ~ True Story

Directed By:  Guy Ritchie

Starring:  Henry Cavill, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Henry Golding, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Babs Olusanmokun and Eiza González.

NO RULES. NO REGRETS. JUST VICTORY

Henry Cavill stars as Major Gus March-Phillips who is brought out of Military Prison by Brigadier Colin Gubbins “M” and Ian Fleming late 1941 in England during World War II. He is tasked with heading Operation Postmaster, a last resort mission dreamt up by Winston Churchill, “M” and Ian. An unsanctioned secret operation to go to the Spanish island of Fernando Po in Africa, where the Nazi’s are resupplying their U-boats that are decimating the Royal Navy fleet, and destroy the resupply ships.

Accompanied by Irishman Henry Hayes(Hero Fiennes Tiffin), Freddy “The Buzz” “Frogman” Alvarez(Henry Golding), and “The Danish Hammer” Anders Lassen(Alan Ritchson), they sail around the coast of Africa to La Palma Canary Islands where they storm a Nazi Garrison and extract Geoffrey Appleyard(Alex Pettyfer). They then continue on the Swedish fishing Trawler Maid Of Honor to the Spanish port of Fernando Po to destroy the Nazi resupply ships. A suicide mission fraught with  perils and unexpected twists and turns. They sail between the British Navy ships on one side who will incarcerate them and the Nazi U-boats on the other that will kill them.

This is based on the true story of the first Black Ops before there was such a thing. The beginnings of Agencies like the Navy Seals, CIA and other world agencies that were spawned to do the dirty work under the radar. Gus March-Phillips was the inspiration for James Bond in Ian Flemings novels. Sir Christopher Lee who starred in and was a consultant on numerous James Bond movies, was a member of The Ministry Of Gentlemanly Warfare in it’s early days. He was also second cousin to Ian Fleming.

Cavill delivers his most charismatic performance since The Man from U.N.C.L.E., channeling that mustached grit with Guy Ritchie flair, while his co-stars, like a sharp-shooting Eiza González and the ever-reliable Alan Ritchson, match his energy beat for beat. Christopher Lee’s nod to real history adds gravitas, reminding us these men and women changed the course of history.​

A thrilling blend of fact, legend, and adrenaline-fueled storytelling, this is one of the best True Story war films of recent years. These men and women helped change the course of history. It’s a fantastic story well told and portrayed by all involved in this movie. I love the True Story Movies and I love this one.

A great adventure!

Well done and highly recommended!

Two Thumbs Up!

 

Alex Pettyfer, Alan Ritchson, Henry Cavill, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Henry Goldin in THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE.
Photo Credit: Dan Smith for Lionsgate.
Courtesy of Lionsgate.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

2015   Warner Bros. Pictures

Rated:  PG-13

Length:  1 hr  56min

Action ~ Adventure ~ Comedy ~ Spy

Directed By:  Guy Ritchie

Starring:  Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, and Hugh Grant.

“So I have news….A fresh little unpleasantness has arisen…. but I’ve spoken to your superiors and now that we’re all such good friends, they’ve kindly agreed to let me keep the team together for awhile. Oh, and you have a new code name…..rather a good one…..U.N.C.L.E.”

United Network Command Law Enforcement

Henry Cavill stars as Napoleon Solo, an indentured Agent for the American C.I.A. at the height of the Cold War in 1963 tasked with crossing into Russian controlled East Berlin, Germany and extracting…….

Gaby Teller(Alicia Vikander), a female mechanic whose father Dr. Udo Teller worked for the Germans during War World II developing rocket technology. After the war he worked for the Americans until he suddenly disappeared. Now Napoleon needs to convince Gaby to escape with him into West Berlin to help find her Father before the Russians get to her. As they try to escape they are followed by…….

Illya Kuryakin(Armie Hammer), a Russian KGB Agent tasked with stopping Napoleon and extracting Gaby for the Russians. A car chase ensues with Illya hot on their tale but Napoleon and Gaby manage to escape over the wall into East Berlin.

The next day the Russians and the Americans decide to team up together to stop Alexander(Luca Calvani) and Victoria Vinciguerra(Elizabeth Debicki), Nazi sympathizers who have kidnapped Dr. Udo Teller to build a nuclear bomb for them. So Napoleon Solo, Illya Kuryakin and Gaby Teller (who is secretly working for the British MI6) set out on a mission to stop the evil villainous Victoria managed by Alexander Waverly(Hugh Grant).

I remember watching the TV Series as a kid and being a big fan. This is an excellent adaptation of the TV series. I love the chemistry between Illya, Napoleon and Gaby. Especially Illya and Gaby. In a scene in the hotel room Gaby decides to get drunk on Vodka and have some fun. She puts on her sunglasses, cranks the radio and starts dancing to entice Illya to join her, the chemistry between them is unmistakable. One of my favorite scenes.

This is an excellent Spy Caper, thoroughly enjoyable, good clean fun!

I’ve seen it several times, one of my favorites!

Highly Recommended!

Two Thumbs Up!

Where’s the sequel?

I just did a quick search and there are rumors of a possible sequel but nothing concrete yet…Let’s keep our fingers crossed!