In 20th Century Fox's Hitman: Agent 47, mysterious woman Hannah Ware, who is searching to find her father Ciaran Hinds and uncover the mysteries of her ancestry, teams up with an elite assassin while another elite assassin is after her.
Based on the video game series Hitman, this reboot movie is a combination of the Bourne films, Dark Angel, and John Wick. Rupert Friend as engineered human being 47 plowing through security reminds me of Jason Statham from the Transporter films. It is interesting to see the juxtaposition between Friend and Zachary Quinto, especially during their fight scenes. I believe Quinto could become a new action star if he wants to go in that direction in his career. Ware is also someone you could be looking out for as an action star.
It is sad that Paul Walker was originally supposed to play Agent 47 before he passed away.
The number of nameless victims in the movie represents the visceral action of the video game, as they are just action figures and not actual characters. There were very few people that you would actually care about if they were killed. I will admit though, that the action did make me flinch a couple of times. The movie is too urban and inner-city to be a full-blown action film, but is more of an action thriller with the feel of video game action.
It is curious that for a high tech movie, the surveilance cameras that were used in the movie were an obsolete model. We have never used those cameras at work and our building is 15 years old.
There is an after credits scene which sets up a sequel.
Rated R for violence and language. Running time: 96 Minutes.
Based on the television series The Man From U.N.C.L.E., the movie is Written and Directed by Guy Ritchie. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is set during the height of the Cold War of the 1960's in 1963, soon after the Cuban Missile Crisis. News archive footage from British Pathe, including footage of President John F. Kennedy and World War II and atomic bomb footage, as well as the graphics at the beginning of the movie and throughout the movie reflect that time period. Not only does having the film set during the 60's retain the flavor of the TV series and the spy movies of the 60's, along with the music in the film, the 60's style separates the movie from the current series of spy films set in today's world. It was also nice that they incorporated the theme song from the TV series into the movie.
In a most dangerous time of our history, top CIA agent Solo/Cavill extracts Alicia Vikander, the daughter of Nazi scientist turned US collaborator at the end of World War IIChristian Berkel from East Berlin - evading the best KGB operative within three years Kuryakin/Hammer. Vikander's uncle Sylvester Groth works for a shipping company owned by Elizabeth Debicki and Luca Calvani who are Nazi sympathizers and have ties to an international criminal organization that want to destabilize the fragile balance of power and intend to use Berkel to build thier own private atom bomb. Rivals used to working independently - Solo/Cavill and Kuryakin/Hammer are ordered by their governments to work together on this mission, as well as with Vikander to act as Kuryakin's/Hammer's fiancee, in order to locate Vikander's father Berkel and to stop Debicki and Calvani from succeeding in having Berkel developing the nuclear weapon.
I felt that The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is more fun than a James Bond movie in that the comedy comes from the character relationships, rather than the plot. I always felt a lot of the plot in a James Bond movie was contrived. It is curious that Ian Fleming developed both James Bond and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. A couple of the dining scenes reflect the humorous character relationships between Solo/Cavill and Kuryakin/Hammer when they are working together in the field as well as the relationships during the various chase scenes.
I loved the rivalry between Solo/Cavill and Kuryakin/Hammer and how they grew to respect each other. Actually, personally I related to Cavill more to his role as Napoleon Solo rather than Cavill in his role as Superman as Solo uses his criminal talents in infiltration as well as overcoming security systems. It is curious that Armie Hammer was once considered for the role of Superman. Cavill and Hammer did most of their own stunts, which I think was great - especially as Kuryakin/Hammer had more of a temper and Hammer doing his own stunts which would be shown onscreen. With Kuryakin/Hammer having a temper as well as being Vikander's "fiancee" and his relationship with her, it feels that Kuryakin/Hammer is more of the protagonist of the movie during most of the film instead of Solo/Cavill and Kuryakin/Hammer being equal.
I did not recognize Hugh Grant as Commander Waverly as his hair has changed from the last time I saw him. It is funny that Grant is the only principle character that used his own accent in the movie.
Due to the various languages spoken in the film, such as Russian and Italian, there are subtitles in the movie. The movie has in international feel as it travels from East Berlin, to Rome.
The graphics of the end credits show the dossiers of the agents of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.
I am looking forward to more of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. films, even hopefully a film of The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.
On a sad note, before the movie started, the theater showed a video of emergency procedures for the theater in case of an event. It is a shame that with events that are happening in today's news that the movie going experience has come to this.
Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual situations, nudity. Running time: 116 Minutes.
Keynote Speaker/Emergency Response Provider -
Experience in Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery, Life Safety/Crisis Management in private sector critical infrastructure.
Level 2 experience with City of Costa Mesa, CA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program through Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Dept. Graduate of City of Costa Mesa, CA Police Department Citizens Academy.
Member of Disaster Action Team for American Red Cross Orange County helping families impacted by house fire or other disaster. Member of Mass Care for American Red Cross providing emergency services of feeding, sheltering, & bulk supplies after a disaster. Home Fire Associate installing free smoke alarms in homes. Continuous certification training with American Red Cross.
Continuous certification training with FEMA Emergency Management Institute. the emergency management community’s flagship training institution, providing training to Federal, State, local, tribal, volunteer, public, and private sector officials to strengthen emergency management core competencies for professional training.
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