Labels: Stars: Sean Connery, The Avengers
posted by David at 9:15 PM
I take it you're not talking about the teddy bear suit?
Yeah, the evil Emma! I don’t know what to think about that? I guess the doppelganger is a commonly used plot device in spy movies, but most of them don’t work.
In one of the later episodes of ‘The Avengers’, ‘They Keep Killing Steed’, John Steed is kidnapped and an impostor is sent to a peace conference on his behalf to reek havoc. To complicate matters, the real Steed, also has arranged for another three clones to be at conference. That’s a total of five look-a-like Steeds to confuse viewers.
One entry in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. movie series, ‘The Spy With My Face’, has T.H.R.U.S.H. double for Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) trying to infiltrate U.N.C.L.E. so he can steal the combination to a powerful weapon.
The Bond movies have had their share of doubles as well. In ‘Thunderball’, a double is substituted for Nato Officer Francois Durvall by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. to assist in the hi-jacking of two nuclear weapons. ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ features multiple Blofelds.
‘The Assignment’ had Aidan Quinn’s family orientated naval officer substituting for Carlos the Jackal.
Let’s not forget the children; in ‘Spy Kids’, evil robot versions of Carmen and Juni Cortez are created by evil-doer Fegan Floop.
A common comedic variation is where one twin brother is a secret agent, unbeknownst to his sibling. Of course, the brother agent is killed off, leaving the second unexperienced brother to finish off the mission on his brother’s behalf. It’s the ‘fish out of water’ scenario with a spy touch. Two recent examples of the are ‘Bad Company’ with Chris Rock and Anthony Hopkins, and the child friendly ‘Double Agent’ with Michael McKean.
As you can see the genre is littered with as many dead ringers as dead bodies; some good, and some bad.
By David, At May 28, 2008 at 11:16 AM
I was indeed referring to Bad Emma's slinky, black leather catsuit. Although Uma in a bear suit is better than no Uma at all. I forgot to mention, Jeremiah Chechik only got the gig because he's the producer's son-in-law! A director's cut would be welcome, since rumours suggest it is better. Not great, but better.
So am I the only person who is endlessly mystified by the tendencies of big-budget film versions of TV shows to **completely discard the concept** of said TV show? Why did they have to include a meeting for Steed and Emma? Why not just roll with the stuff that works, or, ifthey can't do that, just make an original movie "influenced by..." ?
By At June 26, 2008 at 5:24 PM
,Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
Has it really been ten years? I was there on opening night, with all the good will in the world, but despite flashes of spirit, this is incoherent and uninvolving. Also the outfit worn by 'Bad Emma' is way sexier than that worn by the real Mrs. Peel. Surely, that can't be right?