This Week’s WAMG Podcast – U.N.C.L.E, Compton, Blazing Saddles, and More!

817-560

This week’s episode of our podcast WE ARE MOVIE GEEKS The Show is up! Hear WAMG’s  Jim Batts, Michelle McCue, and Tom Stockman discuss the weekend box office, and next weekend’s releases. We’ll review STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., END OF THE TOUR, and DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL. We’ll also preview SINISTER 2, HITMAN AGENT 47, AMERICAN ULTRA, discuss the movie news coming out of D23, and have fun with one of our favorite comedies, BLAZING SADDLES!

WE ARE MOVIE GEEKS The Show is a weekly podcast and we will soon be streaming at ONStl.com Online Radio.

Here’s this week’s show. Have a listen:

 

 

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. – The Review

manfromuncle

Oh my, is it be “spy time” once more? Already? Wow, 2015 has been a big movie year for all those “cloak and dagger” undercover men (and women)! Early in the year, audiences were introduced to the “hush-hush” exploits of KINGSMEN: THE SECRET SERVICE, ripped fresh from a very adult graphic novel. As Summer began to heat up, funny lady Melissa McCarthy took satiric aim at the genre in SPY (aided by action vets Jason Statham and Jude Law). And just two weeks ago, film fans were gasping at the daredevil work of Tom Cruise, risking life and limb in his fifth go-round as Ethan Hunt, leader of the IMF in MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION (number one at the box office for the last couple weekends). And before the end of the year, the king of “gentlemen agents”, 007 AKA James Bond returns in his (official) twenty-fourth action extravaganza feature film SPECTRE. Besides the genre, this week’s release has connections to two of those aforementioned flicks. Like Mr. Cruise’s current hit, this film is based on a popular weekly network television show from the “swingin’ sixties” (1964-68, to be precise). And Bond’s creator Ian Fleming had a big hand in the development of that TV series (particularly in the naming of a main character). As they’d say into their slick communication gadgets, “Open Channel ‘D’!”. After years in development limbo, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E finally gets a big screen reboot/remake (THE WILD WILD WEST and GET SMART had movies years ago!). Looks like the secret HQ entrance at Del Floria’s Tailor Shop is now at the multiplex!

The opening credits of this “affair” (each TV episode title ended with that word) gives younger film goers a bit of a history lesson, “Cold War 101”, you could call it as grainy black and white news footage and graphic animation helps place us in the divided city of Berlin Germany circa 1963. Suave, smartly dressed Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) glides into the Soviet-occupied Eastern section of the city. We soon learn that Mr. Solo is an undercover CIA agent, recruited by the agency after he was jailed for working in the black market after his military service. He meets up with the focus of his new mission, fiesty auto-mechanic Gaby (Alicia Vikander). She’s the daughter of a scientist who has recently vanished. When Solo sneaks Gaby into West Berlin, they are nearly thwarted by the almost-unstoppable KGB agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer). Later, we learn that Gaby’s uncle has been snatched up by an Italian auto magnate, Alexander (Luca Calvani) and his wife Victoria (Elizabeth Debicki), who plan to use his skills to create stream-lined, deadly nuclear weapons, which they will sell to the highest bidder. This alarms the spy community and compels the East and West to join forces. Now reluctant partners Solo and Kuryakin will travel to Rome. Solo, posing as an antiques dealer will go after Victoria, while Kuryakin, taking the role of Gaby’s architect fiancée, will circle Alexander. The safety of the world just may depend on this secret agent “odd couple”.

Cavill trades the blue body armor and red cape for several superbly tailored suits, and makes a quite believable sixties spy. He even adopts the clipped, tight-lipped, off-the-cuff delivery of TV’s original Solo, Robert Vaughn crossed with a pinch of Cary Grant charm. He also handles the action scenes well, but really seems to lack the ruthless, dangerous element so evident in spies from Connery to Craig. That lack is somewhat taken up by Hammer who makes Illya a single-minded “weapon of mass destruction”(much more believable here than as a certain “masked man of the plains”). For much of the time he clenches his fists, waiting for the right moment to transform into a blond, blue-eyed hulk. His accent is strictly from Chekov (not the playwright, but the Star Trek staple), which helps to punch up the humor in his often deadpan dialogue. He appears to have more chemistry with Cavill than with his potential paramour, international cinema’s actress of the moment, Vikander. She reveals a loose, frolicking fun side, not really seen in her previous screen work, particularly when her endearing hotel suite “go-go” dance suddenly become a frisky wrestling match with Hammer. Unfortunately she’s never given a chance to join in the action and get “down and dirty” with the boys, and, for most of the third act, is regulated to the “damsel-in-distress” role. The opposing team (the baddies) lack any real charisma. Calvani glares while suppressing the urge to twirl his opulent mustache with menace. His on-screen spouse Debicki slinks about in lush vintage fashions in a game of “cat and mouse” with Cavill, seeming more like a bored trophy wife than villainous (until her cold-blooded side emerges in the film’s last thirty or so minutes). Some of the “evil” slack is taken up by Sylvester Groth as Gaby’s Uncle Rudi, an old-school sadist, who is a part of the film’s funniest, but really twisted, scene. Hugh Grant elicits a few chuckles as the befuddled English aristocrat who constantly crosses paths with Cavill, while the terrific Jared Harris is wasted as his gruff CIA handler.

First up, the good! Big, big kudos to the producers for setting the film in 1963, making it a true prequel to the original TV series (oh, if only the recent FANTASTIC FOUR reboot was set in that era!). The pre-“mod” clothing, cars, and props are almost a love letter to that “pop explosion” from fifty years ago (good period songs along with the nifty score by Daniel Pemberton). Sadly, the plot and direction are oddly lackluster. The director Guy Ritchie, best known for his high-octane, ‘in your face” action sequences, seems strangely muted here, almost muzzled, in fact. There’s none of the frenetic energy last evident in his two SHERLOCK HOLMES flicks. The action set pieces seem closer to a made-for-TV film, especially after the spectacular stunts that Agent Hunt executes in the still “packin’ them in” MI:RN. Hey, the fights and chases from the Connery Bonds were more “pulse-pounding”. These here are closer to Derek Flint and Matt Helm. Speedboats? eh. Antique ATV? Whatever. There’s not even a lot of fun “retro spy gadgets” in use.  Ritchie and three others (really?!) penned the tepid. meandering script. At least the Italian locations pop with color, but Berlin is dank, dark, and dull. The film limps along several minutes after the end of the mission to deliver a lackluster coda intended to set things up for a sequel, or a franchise. Now, there’s yer’ impossible mission! “Close channel ‘D'”, please!

We wish to thank the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement without whose assistance this review would not be possible.

2.5 Out of 5

manfromuncleposter

Win THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Prizepack

DSC_6030.DNG

THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED

Henry Cavill (MAN OF STEEL) stars as Napoleon Solo opposite Armie Hammer (THE SOCIAL NETWORK) as Illya Kuryakin in director Guy Ritchie’s THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., a fresh take on the hugely popular 1960s television series.

Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, the film centers on CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin. Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology.

The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

To celebrate the release of THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. on August 14th, WAMG has 2 cool prizepacks to give away to TWO lucky readers.

IMG_20150803_161730270

Enter for a chance to win –

GRANDPRIZE:

1 CD Soundtrack
1 THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. T-shirt
1 Water Bottle
1 Baseball Cap
2 Phone cases
1 pair of sunglasses

RUNNER-UP:

1 THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. T-shirt
1 Water Bottle
2 Phone cases
1 pair of sunglasses

ADD YOUR NAME AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

1. Must have a U.S. mailing address.

2. No purchase necessary.

We will contact the winners by email.

manfromuncle.com

Rated PG-13 for action violence, some suggestive content, and partial nudity.

315495id1e_TheManFromUncle_FinalRated_27x40_1Sheet.indd

This Week’s WAMG Podcast – THE GIFT, Harold Lloyd, Jonathan Demme, and More

810-560

This week’s episode of our podcast WE ARE MOVIE GEEKS The Show is up! Hear WAMG’s  Jim Batts, Michelle McCue, and Tom Stockman discuss the weekend box office, and next weekend’s releases. We’ll review THE GIFT, FANTASTIC FOUR, RICKI AND THE FLASH. We’ll also preview STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., and DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL. We also discuss the films of director Jonathan Demme and Harold Lloyd’s 1923 silent masterpiece SAFETY LAST.

WE ARE MOVIE GEEKS The Show is a weekly podcast and we will soon be streaming at ONStl.com Online Radio.

Here’s this week’s show. Have a listen:

Composer Daniel Pemberton Talks His Score for Guy Ritchie’s THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

TheManFromUncle_Sdtk

Working across a wide range of musical mediums, Ivor Novello Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated composer Daniel Pemberton has embraced everything from large scale orchestral and choral works to innovative electronic sound design, live salsa bands to post-rock guitar line-ups.

From THE COUNSELOR, THE AWAKENING and the upcoming STEVE JOBS film, to name a few, Pemberton has delivered another eclectic score – this time Guy Ritchie’s latest movie THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., in theatres Friday, August 14.

D3S_3994.dng

Fans of the TV show are familiar with the theme music from composer Jerry Goldsmith, with additional music for the various seasons provided by Morton Stevens, Walter Scharf, Lalo Schifrin, Gerald Fried, Robert Drasnin and Nelson Riddle.

Now comes the film version and a 5-star, international score that exudes the 1960’s as if it was pulled from a time vault. You’re right into the film from the first musical note and drum beat.

Recently the composer and I spoke about his affection for spy movies and on being chosen by Guy Ritchie to take on the music for THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

Daniel Pemberton int (2)

WAMG: Guy Ritchie said of your MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. music, “The score was a very important, fundamental part of the film.” When were you brought onto the project and what did he tell you he was looking for?

Daniel Pemberton: Right from the start. I had a meeting with Guy and he asked me if I wanted to do it. I try to get involved in films as early as possible, that way you write a better, more unique score. I was involved as they edited and we worked in tandem. Guy has an amazing editor James Herbert who had some important musical ideas. I worked with them all the way through the process and we would add my music to the film in different ways.

We would do that 4 or 5 different takes. James is great. He’d say, “We’ve got the scene. Let’s try it a different way.” They’d always be pushing you to try different music that was the most surprising and exciting ones that would end up in the movie.

WAMG: It doesn’t sound like something from today – it’s as if you’re watching and listening to a score set in the 60’s from one of the composers of the time – like Henry Mancini, Elmer Bernstein or Jerry Goldsmith.

DP: I love 1960’s spy scores. It’s probably my favorite movie genres and I grew up with that. I spent decades absorbing every great spy score. This world wasn’t new to me. I didn’t have to do the research as it was already running through my blood.

I wanted to make it feel it was of the time and a 1960’s spy score. I wanted every one of the tracks on UNCLE to feel like the tracks on those spy scores.

DSC_7086.DNG

WAMG: Was it a conscious decision to stay away from using the Goldsmith/ Lalo Schifrin themes from the TV show?

DP: Guy wanted a very different take on the film’s theme. He had a vision on how he wanted the film to look and sound, that you have to respect, and we had it in there for a while, but it didn’t feel right.

It wasn’t like it didn’t go with the tone of the film, Guy just wanted a new take on the music. In the same way when Christopher Nolan did BATMAN, he didn’t use the Nelson Riddle TV theme – although that would be quite funny.

But I was quite keen on getting THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. in there somewhere. There is a short little musical cameo of the TV theme that’s in there. It’s in the scene where Napoleon Solo is changing the radio channels in the car and he hears it for a second, dismisses it and keeps changing the channels. Once again the film’s editor, James Herbert, while doing the sound mixing, quickly edited it in the scene.

WAMG: The soundtrack is filled with some fabulous tracks of a Cold War, espionage score.  “Escape From East Berlin,” “The Vinciguerra Affair“ and “Bugs, Beats and Bowties” to name a few. It’s what you’d expect in this type of exotic film. What did you use to get a bold, 60’s type sound?

DP: Another great thing about scores from that era, everyone was using crazy instruments. I love using crazy instruments because it gives you something new and something you haven’t heard before.

Guy loves anything that’s unexpected and unusual. There’s an amazing flute player, Dave Heath, who we used a lot. He plays a lot of the crazy sounds you hear in the “East Berlin” track.

We’ve got a lot of percussion, organs and a Marxophone, which is a bit like a zither and a cymbalom which is like a giant zither, famously used by John Barry on THE IPCRESS FILE. It gave it a classic, Cold War sound.

We’ve got vintage guitars and genuine old 1960’s harpsichords. We had two harpsichords – an old classical one and a 60’s boxy one. The classical one had this beautiful range, but didn’t have the punch or the attitude that the 60’s one did and it had such a great sound to it, so we used more of that. That harpsichord sounded brilliant. We also put it through an old 60’s mixer which compressed everything a bit more heavily.

D4D_1901.DNG

WAMG: The percussion section on “The Drums of War” is just insanely great.

DP: That was the result of a crazy evening in the edit suite. Everyone was pleased with the cue, but felt like we’d heard that before. Everyone on this film loves mad percussion and wanted mad bongos, so it was 7 or 8 in the evening and they tell me there will be a first screening the next day and to just throw in some big percussion. I went home and worked all through the night until 3 in the morning and pretty much what I wrote that evening is in the film now. It’s all the different drums playing the different tempos together as they’re going in and out of time.

WAMG: What’s going on in the “Take You Down” track? Is it Vocals run through a mixer or purely instruments?

DP: That’s vocals run through really heavy distortion. I really enjoy that track and it was great to write crazy bold cues. My favorite kinds of movies are ones where you don’t know what’s going to happen – where you’re ready for a surprise. And when it’s accompanied by crazy music, you go, whoa what’s that?! It’s a great moment when it enters the movie and it was a really fun track to do. We did that cue with two drummers playing at the same time and that’s why it sounds so big – we wrote each drummers part full out and had them play it together at Abbey Road and it sound huge.

It’s very much like the “Drums of War” track where you have this polyrhythmic music to create these crazy sounds.. It’s chaotic in the middle and eventually comes back together at the end. It’s very complicated to do but sounds very cool.

WAMG: The songs mixed throughout are fantastic! Nina Simone, Louis Prima, Tom Zé and Valdez – you could almost swear the film was made 50 years ago. The selection of these songs just makes the soundtrack even more fun to listen to.

DP: I’m a massive soundtrack album geek and anytime I put a soundtrack out, I’ve gone over every single detail down to the pauses between each track.  Those songs are a big part of the film and they had to be on the album. “Jimmy, Renda se” by Tom Zé and Valdez was one of the first songs we added and Guy loves that song – he hadn’t heard it before. None of the songs feel out of place alongside the score.

D3S_1223.DNG

WAMG: During the action sequences and transitions, there are kaleidoscope split-screens, where the score is very important. How did you approach these?

DP: There’s a scene where the screen is starkly divided into eight parts, along with these cutting sounds effects, and I wrote in the bongos cues, so as the screens divides, you hear the bongo player’s music as an added sound. We spent a lot of time trying to get details like that spot on so it feels really cool.

WAMG: You previously worked with Ridley Scott on THE COUNSELOR, which was a very modern score. Depending on the genre, how much do you like to experiment and come up with new sounds for your scores?

DP: Every film I do, I want to come up with a unique sound for that world. When I get hired, people want my take on the story and on the world, and I often come up with different ideas very early on and usually they’re not like the film.

I did another project with Ridley called “The Vatican” where I used Italian choirs with organs and hip-hop breaks. I love coming up with different ideas of how to approach a film and I often start with the main cue because there are so many different ways to tell a story. I want it to be unique and its way more work and way more grief, but when you get it right it’s exciting because when I go to see a movie, I want to think anything could happen here – not just two hours of an obvious sound.

2462_TPT_00002R_CROP
© 2015 Universal Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

WAMG: Your next score is for Danny Boyle’s STEVE JOBS and it was just announced that the movie will close the 59th BFI London Film Festival. You said you like your scores to be unique, so will it have a melodic motif with a technological sound like a computer or from the world of Steve Jobs?

DP: I’m not telling. (Laughs) We record that this week at Abbey Road and we’re doing some very different chords and cues than on any previous film. The only thing I’m allowed to say is that the Apple slogan from 1998, “Think Different,” has a big part.

Follow Daniel Pemberton on Twitter: twitter.com/DANIELPEMBERTON

DSC_8067.DNG

From WaterTower Music, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. soundtrack is available to order at iTunes and Amazon. The track list is below.

1. “Compared To What” – Roberta Flack
2. Out Of The Garage
3. His Name Is Napoleon Solo
4. Escape From East Berlin
5. “Jimmy, Renda se” – Tom Zé and Valdez
6. Mission: Rome
7. The Vinciguerra Affair
8. Bugs, Beats and Bowties
9. “Cry To Me” – Solomon Burke
10. “Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days” – Louis Prima
11. Signori Toileto Italiano
12. Breaking In (Searching The Factory)
13. Breaking Out (The Cowboy Escapes)
14. “Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera” – Peppino Gagliardi
15. Into The Lair (Betrayal Part I)
16. Laced Drinks (Betrayal Part II)
17. “Il Mio Regno” – Luigi Tenco
18. Circular Story
19. The Drums Of War
20. Take You Down
21. We Have Location
22. A Last Drink
23. “Take Care Of Business” – Nina Simone
24. The Unfinished Kiss

Henry Cavill stars as Napoleon Solo opposite Armie Hammer as Illya Kuryakin in director Guy Ritchie’s action adventure THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., a fresh take on the hugely popular 1960s television series. Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, it centers on CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin who are forced to put aside longstanding hostilities and team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology.

The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

The film also stars Alicia Vikander and Elizabeth Debicki, with Jared Harris and Hugh Grant.

Visit the film’s website: manfromuncle.com

Photos: © 2015 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND RATPAC-DUNE ENTERTAINMENT LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

315495id1e_TheManFromUncle_FinalRated_27x40_1Sheet.indd

Win Passes To The Advance Screening Of THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. In St. Louis

315495id1e_TheManFromUncle_FinalRated_27x40_1Sheet.indd

Saving the world has never looked SO GOOD! We’ve got your passes to this year’s fast-moving, action-packed, sexy and stylish international adventure.

Henry Cavill (MAN OF STEEL) stars as Napoleon Solo opposite Armie Hammer (THE SOCIAL NETWORK) as Illya Kuryakin in director Guy Ritchie’s THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., a fresh take on the hugely popular 1960s television series.

Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, the film centers on CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin. Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology.

The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. opens in IMAX and in theaters on August 14, 2015.

WAMG invites you to enter for a chance to win passes (Good for 2) to the advance screening of THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. on MONDAY, AUGUST 10TH at 7PM in the St. Louis area.

We will contact the winners by email.

Answer the following:

British composer Daniel Pemberton creates a bold, fresh sound for Guy Ritchie’s new film. With the movie set at the height of the cold war, Pemberton was able to channel ‘60s-era spy films while exploring contemporary world music for what he describes as a “kaleidoscope of international color.”

Who composed the score for the original TV show?

TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWERS AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.

3. No purchase necessary.

Rated PG-13 for action violence, some suggestive content, and partial nudity.

D4D_1901.DNG

Visit the film’s website: manfromuncle.com

https://twitter.com/ManFromUNCLE

https://www.facebook.com/manfromuncle

Photos: © 2015 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND RATPAC-DUNE ENTERTAINMENT LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

D3S_1254.DNG

60’s Cool Is Back In THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. High-Resolution Photos

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. is filled with everything that made the 1960s cool – from its art, fashion and music, to its attitudes and perspectives – into a spot-on but understated vibe that is both retro and undeniably 21st century.

It is espionage chic and Guy Ritchie’s movie proves what was sexy then, is sexy now.

In some ways, the 1960s depicted in THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. is a rare and enticing moment in time that only really existed on screen. The TV show enthralled mid-1960s viewers and spy-game aficionados on both sides of the Atlantic.

Warner Bros. Pictures has released new high-res photos from their stylish international adventure and origin story about the superspies – Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin – from the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.

D4D_1901.DNG

D3S_5573.dng

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. MAN FROM UNCLE D3S_1680.DNG D3S_1549.DNG D3S_1254.DNG D3S_0269.DNG  D3S_7408.DNG D3S_7293.DNG D4D_6423.dng D4D_5649.dng D3S_5086.dng D4D_4243.dng D4D_3845.dng D3S_3994.dng D4D_1085.DNG DAN_7789.DNG D3S_2026.DNG D4D_0712.DNG D3S_1223.DNG D3S_9482.DNG D4D_9237.DNG D4D_9232.DNG D4D_8376.DNG DSC_8067.DNG DSC_7619.DNG DSC_7086.DNG DSC_6763.dng DSC_6651.dng DSC_6513.dng DAN_4754.DNG DAN_4287.DNG DSC_6030.DNG DSC_4714.DNG DSC_4647.DNG

D3S_4854.dng

Ritchie captures the tone and authenticity of the 60’s through the various locations, the sophisticated palettes by production designer Oliver Scholl and the work of award-winning costume designer Joanna Johnston. All the costumes represent the highly polished fashion of the time.

Many will appreciate the exciting score from composer Daniel Pemberton. In keeping with the film’s tonal integrity, Pemberton brings a sound that combines the crispness and sophistication of today with a distinctly ’60s flavor.

Ritchie brings a classic concept and period to life in a contemporary and entertaining way, because saving the world, never goes out of style.

Henry Cavill (“Man of Steel”) stars as Napoleon Solo opposite Armie Hammer (THE Social NETWORK) as Illya Kuryakin in director Guy Ritchie’s action adventure THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., a fresh take on the hugely popular 1960s television series.

Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, the film centers on CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin. Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology.

The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. opens in IMAX and in theaters on August 14, 2015.

Visit the film’s website: manfromuncle.com

https://twitter.com/ManFromUNCLE

https://www.facebook.com/manfromuncle

Photos: © 2015 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND RATPAC-DUNE ENTERTAINMENT LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

315495id1e_TheManFromUncle_FinalRated_27x40_1Sheet.indd

Warner Bros. Comic-Con Panel Includes BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., SUICIDE SQUAD Trailers

batmanvsuperman comic con art

“Black and blue. God vs. man. Day vs. night.”

Here’s a first look at the Comic-Con trailer for BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE that was screened for the Comic-Con audience at Hall H on Saturday, July 11.

Director Zack Snyder and stars Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill took the main stage with BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE. They were joined by castmates Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Holly Hunter, Jeremy Irons and Gal Gadot for a sneak peek at the 2016 action adventure that brings the Super Heroes together on the big screen for the very first time.

Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.

Directed by Zack Snyder, the film stars Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter and Gal Gadot. Snyder directed from a screenplay written by Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer, based on characters from DC Comics, including Batman, created by Bob Kane, and Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE opens nationwide in 3D and 2D and in select IMAX theaters on March 25, 2016.

BatmanvSuperman Dawn of Justice

Warner Bros. Pictures also showcased several of its upcoming feature releases and offered up a SUICIDE SQUAD surprise with a teaser trailer and the cast. Currently in production in Toronto, the film bows in theaters August 5, 2016.

Warner Bros. also debuted a new trailer from THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

Henry Cavill stars as Napoleon Solo opposite Armie Hammer as Illya Kuryakin in director Guy Ritchie’s action adventure THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., a fresh take on the hugely popular 1960s television series. Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, the film centers on CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin. Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology.

The film also stars Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, with Jared Harris, and Hugh Grant. The screenplay was written by Guy Ritchie & Lionel Wigram, story by Jeff Kleeman & David Campbell Wilson and Guy Ritchie and Lionel Wigram, based on the TV series “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” The film opens nationwide in theaters and IMAX on August 14, 2015.

317803id1a_Pan_27x40_1Sheet.indd

Also on hand was director Joe Wright’s PAN, a live-action feature presenting a wholly original adventure about the beginnings of the beloved characters created by J.M. Barrie. Peter is a mischievous 12-year-old boy with an irrepressible rebellious streak, but in the bleak London orphanage where he has lived his whole life those qualities do not exactly fly. Then one incredible night, Peter is whisked away from the orphanage and spirited off to a fantastical world of pirates, warriors and fairies called Neverland.

There, he finds amazing adventures and fights life-or-death battles while trying to uncover the secret of his mother, who left him at the orphanage so long ago, and his rightful place in this magical land. Teamed with the warrior Tiger Lily and a new friend named James Hook, Peter must defeat the ruthless pirate Blackbeard to save Neverland and discover his true destiny—to become the hero who will forever be known as Peter Pan.

The film stars Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard; Garrett Hedlund as James Hook; Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily; newcomer Levi Miller as Peter; and Amanda Seyfried as Mary. The film is set for a worldwide release in 3D and 2D on October 9, 2015.

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. and PAN At Warner Bros. Pictures Comic-Con Panel

batman DOJ poster

Warner Bros. Pictures continues its tradition of delivering its most anticipated tentpole properties and their biggest stars to Comic-Con International: San Diego with this year’s Hall H presentation.

On Saturday, July 11, beginning at 10:30 a.m., Warner Bros. will showcase several of its upcoming feature releases and offer up a surprise or two as well.

Keen to deliver a taste of one of next year’s most eagerly awaited pairings, director Zack Snyder and stars Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill take the main stage with BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE.

They are joined by castmates Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter and Gal Gadot for a sneak peek at the 2016 action adventure that brings the Super Heroes together on the big screen for the very first time, from Warner Bros. Pictures and RatPac-Dune Entertainment.

superman DOJ poster

From PAN Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund and Peter himself, Levi Miller, together with director Joe Wright, soar into town with their high-flying adventure, coming to theaters this fall from Warner Bros. Pictures and RatPac-Dune Entertainment.

315205id1_Pan_REV_Teaser_27x40_1Sheet.indd

And Cavill once again takes the stage, this time with Armie Hammer, a duo with a very different dynamic in this summer’s fresh, über-stylish actioner from filmmaker Guy Ritchie, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., along with fellow stars Alicia Vikander and Elizabeth Debicki.

man from uncle poster

Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, stated, “Comic-Con provides us a fantastic opportunity to interact with the fans and this year, as with every year, our aim is to surpass their expectations. We’re also thrilled to give our filmmakers and talent a chance to experience the unique energy and enthusiasm of Comic-Con.”

With BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. and PAN headlining the bill, Warner Bros. will also present some unexpected offerings that are sure to delight the crowd.

Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.

Directed by Zack Snyder, the film stars Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter and Gal Gadot. Snyder directed from a screenplay written by Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer, based on characters from DC Comics, including Batman, created by Bob Kane, and Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film is produced by Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder, with Wesley Coller, Geoff Johns and David S. Goyer serving as executive producers.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, an Atlas Entertainment/Cruel and Unusual production, a Zack Snyder film, BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE. The film opens nationwide in 3D and 2D and in select IMAX theaters on March 25, 2016, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Henry Cavill stars as Napoleon Solo opposite Armie Hammer as Illya Kuryakin in director Guy Ritchie’s action adventure THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., a fresh take on the hugely popular 1960s television series. Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, the film centers on CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin. Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology.

The film also stars Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, with Jared Harris, and Hugh Grant. The screenplay was written by Guy Ritchie & Lionel Wigram, story by Jeff Kleeman & David Campbell Wilson and Guy Ritchie and Lionel Wigram, based on the TV series “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” John Davis, Steve Clark-Hall, Wigram and Ritchie produced the film, with David Dobkin executive producing.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, a Ritchie/Wigram production, a Davis Entertainment production, a Guy Ritchie film, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. The film opens nationwide in theaters and IMAX on August 14, 2015.

From director Joe Wright (“Atonement,” “Pride & Prejudice”) comes PAN, a live-action feature presenting a wholly original adventure about the beginnings of the beloved characters created by J.M. Barrie. Peter is a mischievous 12-year-old boy with an irrepressible rebellious streak, but in the bleak London orphanage where he has lived his whole life those qualities do not exactly fly. Then one incredible night, Peter is whisked away from the orphanage and spirited off to a fantastical world of pirates, warriors and fairies called Neverland. There, he finds amazing adventures and fights life-or-death battles while trying to uncover the secret of his mother, who left him at the orphanage so long ago, and his rightful place in this magical land. Teamed with the warrior Tiger Lily and a new friend named James Hook, Peter must defeat the ruthless pirate Blackbeard to save Neverland and discover his true destiny—to become the hero who will forever be known as Peter Pan.

The film stars Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard; Garrett Hedlund as James Hook; Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily; newcomer Levi Miller as Peter; and Amanda Seyfried as Mary. Wright directed “Pan” from a screenplay written by Jason Fuchs. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Paul Webster produced the film, with Tim Lewis serving as executive producer. Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, in Association with RatPac-Dune Entertainment, a Berlanti Production, a Joe Wright film, PAN. The film is set for a worldwide release in 3D and 2D on October 9, 2015. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Spies A New Poster And Trailer

man from uncle poster

SHERLOCK HOLMES director Guy Ritchie is back with a brand new spy movie. Only this time, it’s set during the Cold War with CIA and KGB agents.

Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer and Alicia Vikander star in the latest trailer for THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., a fresh take on the hugely popular 1960s television series.

Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. centers on CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer).

Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology.

The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

This film has been rated PG-13 for action violence, some suggestive content, and partial nudity.

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. hits theaters on August 14.

https://www.facebook.com/manfromuncle

D4D_3743.dng