Film Preview: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

Page Revisions:

(March 22, 2015) Original
(June 14, 2015) New Trailer (#2) / New Poster (#2)
(August 8, 2015) New Posters (#3-#8) / Page Redesign

Release Date:

August 14, 2015

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons.”

Poster Rating: B / C- / C+ / C (5)

Review: (#1) Sleek and simple, this is the kind of design that works its charms without being overly involved. Two prime actors in poses suggestive of their styles as secret agents without all the high falutin’ action to distract the viewer.

(#2) As the film’s release approaches, we’re likely to be inundated with character posters and varied action designs that try to evoke an era long past. This poster seems to be such an effort and it fails miserably. It feature a convoluted and ugly color scheme and the actors don’t really seem that excited to be featured.

(#3) The release design has some interesting elements, but the simplistic monochrome elements are too diverting and make the poster seem too antiquated. (#4-#8) Taking the monochromatic concept into the character posters is interesting, but when you have three male characters in incredibly similar poses while the two women are quite different, it shows both a gender bias and a lack of inventiveness.

Trailer Rating: B- / C

Review: (#1) The only thing that should give anyone pause when watching this trailer is when it says “Guy Ritchie.” He’s not a good director and no matter how well you polish his films, they just aren’t that great. Still, the trailer belies that truism and gives us the idea that this is a first rate period action comedy even if it probably isn’t.

(#2) A tease is a tease and while the first trailer suggested the film might have an ounce of fun, this second trailer seems to drain most of the fun out of the film. The action sequences are measly, the acting looks halting and the film itself looks like an ill-advised mess.