No Crying “U.N.C.L.E.” in Spirited Reboot

Fortunately, much as he did with the two Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes films, director Guy Ritchie brings a sense of style and energy to this project, taking what was a moribund property and creating a vibrant piece of pop entertainment. With one foot planted firmly in the Cold War era, the other in the now, the director presents the spy game shenanigans of that time with an air of quaint nostalgia, making a lark of a movie in the process whose sole mission is to entertain.

The film makes no bones about being the first in what Warner Brothers hopes will be a profitable franchise, and Cavill and Hammer are so good together that I wouldn’t mind setting out on another adventure with them. Of course, that will be determined by a generation that might see this throwback to the early James Bond films as pass. Here’s hoping those who fondly remember the U.N.CL.E series will give this new version a shot as it captures the feel and look of Cold War espionage movies and programs of this sort with a reverence that’s surprising and welcome.

For a full review, go to: http://www.news-gazette.com/arts-entertainment/local/2015-08-13/chuck-koplinski-no-crying-uncle-one.html

Sleek “Machina” Hindered By Rusty Plot

Alex Garland’s Ex Machina is a film that revolves around appearances, all of them deceptive. But none more than the movie itself as its promise of the new is nothing but a lie. Sporting a high-tech sheen that’s impressive and containing a prescient premise that will likely be science-fact rather than science fiction before long, Garland’s script contains nothing novel as it attempts to give us a Frankenstein for the new century, a strategy that falls victim to predictability.

As for the story itself, while Nathan and Caleb are surprised by all that transpires, had they seen just one “science run amok” movie they would have known how this all would turn out. What Garland hopes will be surprising comes off as nothing more than inevitable. That being said, the film’s final moments are chilling and as they revolve around its most fascinating character, as well as hold the promise of something far more intriguing than what’s progressed before, viewers may find themselves hoping for a sequel that will never come.

For a full review, go to: http://illinoistimes.com/by-author-9-1.html