Kattiera Nana I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Hottoceame The Age of Commercialism

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

raw5300 I completely agree that this is the best of the U.N.C.L.E. movies. I especially like the sequence when Napoleon Solo descends a rope ladder dangling from a helicopter onto a moving train to disconnect the freight car holding a rocket. It's actually two segments--Robert Vaughn hanging from a mock-up at the MGM studios and a stuntman (whose face is never seen) doing the actual stunts on a moving train in the Sierras. The sequence is so well photographed and edited that it's nigh-well impossible to tell that it was actually filmed in two different locations with two different actors. But my question is: how do U.N.C.L.E. fans rank the U.N.C.L.E. films? From best to worst?

jamesraeburn2003 Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuriyakin hire notorious safe cracker Luther Sebastian (Bradford Dillman) who helps them recover a Thermal Prism from a crazed scientist in Iran. However, Sebastian is the leader of a mystic cult called "The Third Way" who believe that they will inherit the Earth when their elderly leader (John Carradine) speaks for the first time in twenty years. Sebastian steals the weapon for himself along with a United States government rocket so that he can launch the prism into orbit and demand that the "Third Way" have control of the world. Solo and Kuriyakin race against time to prevent the megalomaniac Sebastian for fulfilling his evil designs.THE HELICOPTER SPIES is the seventh big-screen spin off from the popular MAN FROM UNCLE spy series. It was compiled from a season four two-part episode called THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS AFFAIR. However, in the countries where it was released theatrically, the TV version wasn't transmitted thus making it a completely new story for the overseas market.After the clumsy slapstick antics of THE KARATE KILLERS (see my review), THE HELICOPTER SPIES marked a welcome return to form with director Boris Sagal bringing a hard hitting approach to the nonsensical material. The pace is fast and entertaining and there are some fine action scenes including the theft of a rocket from a train involving some neat work with helicopters. Bradford Dillman makes a great villain while Robert Vaughn and David McCallam are their usual impressive selves as Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuriyakin. The only downside is that the low budget occasionally shows.

bob the moo UNCLE enlist safe cracker Luther Sebastian to steal a thermal prison from Dr Karmusi in exchange for immunity from all his crimes. However he himself steals the weapon and plans to use it to allow his brothers in the Cult of the Third Way to rule the world. UNCLE agents Solo and Kuryakin pursue Sebastian, closely followed by Annie whose partner was framed by Sebastian for a crime he didn't commit.After the mess of The Karate Killers this was a refreshing return to the spoof tradition of the UNCLE series. The plot is as ever, very unlikely and farfetched. But it's all done with a great deal of fun and doesn't take itself too seriously. The story is actually quite clever in some places, with a few nice twists to it but more than anything else, it is told with tongue in cheek throughout. This is much better than the Karate Killers which took itself far too seriously and lost all sense of fun.This has a great sense of fun around it that comes from several places. Firstly both McCallum and Vaughn seem to be enjoying themselves again and bring a lot more energy to the film. Secondly the TV series influence is back - with the theme music back in place throughout. Thirdly the villains are back on top form, previously Hebert Lom was terrible playing it straight. Here Bradford Dillman plays Sebastian really camp and gets plenty of good lines and even his henchmen have some too. For example Sebastian saying "my wife doesn't understand me" or a henchman telling his mom "someday I'll take you away from here", "but I like it here" only to dejectedly say "I know, I know". Or Solo being praised for his good work only to told "you'll have to ride in the back of the truck with the others - I can't show favouritism".This feeling of fun helps the film immensely and it's really enjoyable to watch. Other nice touches include the Cult's hideout having a service door and the old man who hasn't spoken for 20 years (played by a silent John Carradine!). The rest of the cast are all good. Vaughn and McCallum have equal roles by this stage and enjoy themselves in familiar roles. Dillman is fantastic as Sebastian - following Jack Palance's example of a good UNCLE villain. The women are a pretty non-descript bunch, all pretty blondes etc with no real characters. The best role/s of the film are taken by H.M. Wynant as the 4 circus brothers who help Annie hunt Sebastian down.One of the best of the UNCLE series - the rule is keep it fun, don't try to be a serious spy movie. Oh - and have a camp bad guy! However why do the vast majority of UNCLE titles have to be meaningless? The film is called the helicopter spies because it opens with Solo and Kuryakin landing a helicopter in a village.

Gary-161 This has got all my favourite bits and quotes in it. The disciples of The Third Way doing a mini-skirted dance to a psychedelic 60's back drop. Mr Waverly doing his usual stilted delivery probably from queue cards. The MFU series always had great villains. Who could forget Jack Palance yelling "Miss Diketon!" And constantly wiping everything with a hanky before use? Here the underrated Bradford Dillman (the 'legend in his own mind' Briggs in the Dirty Harry films) gives his all as Alexander. He's about to end the world when he gets an unctuous call from his wife. "I guess everybody knows now, my wife just doesn't understand me" he says. Another favourite is "I like the way you said that, it gives an air of efficiency. Keep it up!" Another villain in a top secret bunker is having women problems as well. "Never trust a women whose always on time, it's always a sign of a much deeper problem" he muses. Carol Lynley sums up the whole opus while about to be fiendishly drowned: "You know, you people are really strange!" But the minor serfs have their moments too. Napoleon Solo has his hair dyed white so as to infiltrate the disciples of The Third Way and the leader takes a shine to him. They are about to embark upon a crazed mission to steal a nuclear missile."You'll still have to ride in the back with the others, I can't show favouritism" he tells Solo. They are convened at a cafe owned by the leader's mother. "Ma, soon I'll be able to take you away from all this" he tells her tenderly. "But I like it here" the old rat bag protests. "Yeah, I know, ma" the leader replies, shaking his head wearily and walking off to his destiny leaving the camera to track into ma's face to deliver her immortal line:"Creeps!"