The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: A Thrilling Spy Action Adventure
War setting: World War II, ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’ focuses on a clandestine British agency in charge of assigning tasks involving assassination of high ranking Nazi officers. The story is a captivating and stirring one and concentrates on an unauthorized operation against the German war industry. With such a strong character as Gus March-Phillips as a team captain, the film reveals their incredible and unusual steps to eliminate the enemy while following hundreds of challenges and ensuring their own safety; All these aspects make the film as exciting as intense. The motifs of bravery, sacrifice, and cunning prevails all through the film. Morale amongst the soldiers feels high and most consistent on how soldiers work in teams especially in dangerous missions. The mood of the movie alternates between intensity and optimism, which is great for the viewer experience.
Henry Cavill did a great job portraying the main character and the leader of the group, Gus March-Phillips. Eiza González does a great job portraying Marjorie, she also does a good job as a talented and intelligent agent. The entire casting is superb, and the top-notch supporting characters are Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Babs Olusanmokun, Hero Fiennes Tiffin. All the actors do well in portraying their roles, making the characters as real people coming from different backgrounds in the team.
The direction by Guy Ritchie is very good, coming up with fast-paced, on-target action scenes, as well as detailed character moments. This has made it possible to introduce his traditonal movement and energy into the film making process that makes the condundrum interesting and different from other films. The vision Ritchie has given to the film is absolutely brilliant in depicting the adrenaline-fueled and tactfully planned out guerrilla attacks that these commandos engage in which makes this film a edge of the seat affair.
The music fits the movie as the overall themes, added to that the action- packed dramatic score makes it a great watch. The use of music underlines specific scenes and makes them more emotionally charged and visually appropriate.
The visuals depict the majesty as well as the peril that surrounded wartime. Although there are master shots that cover large areas of the set and location, viewers gets extreme close up shots in scenes of confrontation. The visuals are quite vivid and beautiful at the same time.
Everything from the costumes and the soldiers’ uniforms to the set design is historically accurate and engagingly recreated. The careful approach to the presentation of the events contributes to making the film’s story, in which the protagonists become giants, realistic.
The use of special effects is justified by the presence of the action sequences, which, however, do not dominate the film. Action sequences, such as explosions and gunfights, do not interfere with character development all while adding to the fast pace the movie has.
The pacing is tight, not a single scene feels out of place or left to drag. The directing also includes smooth continuity and captivating montage, which can create great interest to the audience throughout the movie. Such rhythm allows the audience keep an interest to the story plot and build the relation to the characters.
The conversations are witty, and the language reflects both the manners of speech in the given period, and the characters’ temperaments. It manages to convey the spirit of the film, and the character relations and close atmosphere are created through the witty dialogues.
Still, ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’ is intelligent and fun, but maybe too much for an audience that is not inclined toward history of the WWII. As common with many films belonging to the action-filled historical genre, there are moments when it all seems quite over-the-top and rather clichéd, though die-hard fans of such films would not necessarily find this quality to be off-putting. I would recommend the film to anyone interested in WWII, spy action and finally, many excellent performances as well supported by Ritchie fantastic directing. It has the thrilling heroic and self-sacrificial oppression it suggests and is a strong telling that does not leave you quite after the end credits.
