The Man from U.N.C.L.E (2015) Limited Edition 4K UHD Review

4 star expertly remastered origin story.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a 2015 big screen reimagining of the beloved 1960’s T.V. show of the same name, created by Norman Felton and Sam Rolfe. The screenplay was adapted by Lionel Wigram (Sherlock Holmes), Jeff Kleeman (Frankenstein) and the brilliant Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Wrath of Man). who also directs.

It is available on Limited Edition 4K UHD and Limited Edition Blu-ray from 29th July 2024, courtesy of Arrow Video.

“After the war, he came to work for us. He’d been enjoying the American dream, he had a great job working for the U.S. Nuclear Programme, a pleasant house in the suburbs, a new cadillac and a fat little dog called Schnitzel. Then, two years ago, he disappeared like steam from a tea kettle.”

The year is 1963 and master art thief turned C.I.A. agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill – Man of Steel, The Witcher) is tasked with the extraction of Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander – The Light Between Oceans, Tomb Raider 3D), estranged daughter of Hitler’s favourite rocket scientist Dr. Udo Teller (Christian Berkel – Downfall, Trumbo). The good doctor had been working for the Americans until he disappeared, only to be finally spotted in Rome.

Solo wants her help to find her mother’s brother Rudi (Sylvester Groth – Inglourious Basterds), but as they are making their escape, they are pursued by the enormous and tenacious K.G.B. agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer – Call Me By Your Name, Hotel Mumbai). To everyone’s surprise, Solo is instructed by his boss Sanders (Jared Harris – Brave the Dark, Carnival Row) to work with Kuryakin.

They are tasked with investigating the crime organisation run by Alexander Vinciguerra (Luca Calvani – The International, When in Rome) and his wife Victoria (Elizabeth Debicki – The Great Gatsby, Tenet), believed  to be attempting to create their own nuclear weapon. Can these unlikely partners learn how to work together to save the day?

“I’m told that if your father’s knowledge gets into the wrong hands, things could get a little messy, you know? End of the world, that kind of thing.”

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a very entertaining film. Guy Ritchie has done a grand job of maintaining that cold war spy feel, while bringing a slightly more modern edge to the action. Fast paced and slick, it keeps you on the edge of your seat right to the very end.

The actors also deal very well with filling the shoes of the extremely well known original cast. Henry Cavill is perfect for the part of Napoleon Solo, witty and charming yet ruthless, and while there is really no replacing the wonderful David McCallum, Armie Hammer does a good Illya Kuryakin and we had warmed up to the idea by the end of the film. Fans of the original will also appreciate the nod in the form of split screen action sequences. It’s a great origin story and a real shame that they didn’t make any more.

The 4K restoration is also excellent, the colours really pop and you feel as if you’re in the heart of the action. With lots of special features (see below), this Limited Edition release is well worth adding to your collection.

“My offer is, come with me now and be in a chic little hotel in West Berlin in less than an hour. Or, stay here and spend the night with the Russians, hanging from a pipe, having your toenails removed.”

The Man from Uncle Limited Edition 4K UHD and Limited Edition Blu-ray are available to own from 29th July 2024.

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10/compatible)
• Original lossless Dolby Atmos sound
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary by critics Bryan Reesman and Max Evry
• The Hollywood Way – brand new interview with co-writer/producer Lionel Wigram
• A Lineage of Bad Guys – brand new interview with actor Luca Calvani
• Legacy of U.N.C.L.E. – brand new featurette celebrating the original 1960s TV series and its influence on the 2015 movie, featuring Helen McCarthy, David Flint and Vic Pratt
• Cockneys and Robbers – brand new featurette exploring director Guy Ritchie’s oeuvre, featuring Kat Hughes, Hannah Strong and Josh Saco
• Spy Vision: Recreating 60s Cool, A Higher Class of Hero, Metisse Motorcycles: Proper and Very British, The Guys from U.N.C.L.E. and A Man of Extraordinary Talents – five archival featurettes exploring the making of the film
• U.N.C.L.E.: On-Set Spy – four archival, bite-sized featurettes going behind the scenes on the film set
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery
• Double-sided fold-out poster, featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dare Creative
• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Barry Forshaw, and a reprinted article from CODEX Magazine on the film’s cinematography
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dare Creative