6 Henry Cavill films to watch before Argylle

British actor Henry Cavill has endured a rollercoaster in his last few years as an actor. From being the face of three iconic characters such as Superman, the Witcher, and Sherlock Holmes at the same time, to moving on to other projects in the space of a few months, Cavill has become one of the most sought-after leading men in Hollywood. His next major release is the action comedy Argylle, the Apple TV+ film directed by Matthew Vaughn. The actor has been roped in to star in the Highlander remake as a live-action adaptation of Warhammer 40,000. He is also set to star in Guy Ritchie’s highly-anticipated World War II black comedy action film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, releasing on April 19, 2024. For today’s List Hai Toh Hit Hai podcast, we look at six Henry Cavill films you should watch before Argylle releases this weekend.

Man of Steel (Netflix, Prime Video, JioCinema)

The 2013 Superman reboot was met with mixed responses from critics, with criticism aimed at the darker tone of the film. However, more than a decade after its release the film has aged better than most superhero films released in that period, ironically films that garnered praise at the time of their releases. Zack Snyder’s visual flair, Hans Zimmer’s scintillating music, and Christopher Nolan’s thought-provoking script make Man of Steel one of the most compelling superhero origin stories of all time. Henry Cavill slips into the role as if he were born to bring Superman to life on the silver screen.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (Netflix Prime Video)

One of the most viral film clips on social media is an enraged Henry Cavill ‘reloads his arms’ for a feisty fistfight in the 2018 film Mission: Impossible - Fallout. Cavil essays the role of the antagonist, w rogue CIA agent, opposite Tom Cruise. The Christopher McQuarrie film garnered universal recognition for its gripping narrative as well as its scintillating action sequences, in which Cavill plays a vital part.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition (Prime Video, Apple TV)

Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, the sequel to Man of Steel, was panned by critics when it hit theatres in 2015. Critics argued that the Zack Snyder directorial lacked narrative cohesion and that it lacked light-hearted humour like the popular Marvel films. However, the three-hour director’s cut with the 30 minutes of extra footage, titled Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition, revealed a more coherent and nuanced exploration of Batman’s mission, Superman’s burden of being god-like being, and Lex Luther’s devious plot to pit the Earth’s mightiest heroes against each other. The film continues to divide opinion with certain sections labelling it a misunderstood masterpiece, and others calling it a convoluted superhero film. Cavill reprises his role as Superman in the film, with Ben Affleck taking over the mantle of Batman and Gal Gadot essaying the role of Wonder Woman.

Enola Holmes - Netflix

The Netflix original film Enola Holmes tells the story of young Enola Holmes, the sister of the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes. The plot follows Enola on her quest to find her missing mother, which eventually leads her down a path of investigating another intriguing mystery. Henry Cavill plays the role of Enola’s older brother Sherlock, while Sam Claflin plays the role of her other sibling Mycroft Holmes. Helen Bonham Carter, Louis Partridge, and Fiona Shaw among others essay other prominent roles in this Harry Bradbeer directorial. Cavill has a more pivotal role in the sequel Enola Holmes 2.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E (Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play)

There has been plenty of speculation surrounding the casting of the next James Bond, and Henry Cavill is among the top choices for several fans across the globe. The 2015 Guy Ritchie black-comedy action film The Man from U.N.C.L.E  is in many ways Cavill’s unofficial audition to play the role of the iconic MI6 agent. Cavill plays the role of a suave and sophisticated American spy, Napoleon Solo, who is forced to team up with a KGB agent to stop terrorists during the heights of the Cold War. Armie Hammer plays the role of the Soviet spy Illya Kuryakin, while Alicia Vikander slips into the role of the newly recruited Gaby Teller. Elizabeth Debicki, Jared Harris, and Hugh Grant round off a star-studded ensemble. Despite failing to meet expectations at the box office, the film has become a cult classic.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (Prime Video, Apple TV)

The 2017 theatrical cut of Justice League, which has now become referred to as the ‘Joss Whedon’ cut or the ‘Josstice League’  was met with significant backlash. After years of rumours surrounding a different version of the movie which Snyder had originally developed, a four-hour cut of the film was finally released in 2021. Much of the 2017 version’s ridicule was aimed at the amateurish CGI used to remove Cavill’s moustache for the scenes reshot by Whedon, as well as the cringe-worthy comedy scenes reportedly added by Geoff Johns. However, Snyder’s original film titled Zack Snyder’s Justice League, was released to much fan-fare in 2021 after a massive fan campaign. The film was devoid of the reshot scenes and Henry Cavill’s Superman, despite featuring only towards the final act of the film, received a more well-rounded character arc.

Well that's all we got for this episode, until the next one it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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Written by Ryan Gomez