Kingsman: The Secret Service Review

Last updated on March 16th, 2017 at 01:08 am

‘Manner maketh the man.’

Harry ‘Galahad’ Hart touted these words as he prepared to unleash a major beating on a group of British punks in a pub. Who knew that stylish British men could be so exciting and violent? Well, James Bond is the popular British action hero in most of our minds. So, think of James Bond…wait, think of a plethora of James Bonds with a healthy injection of Kick-Ass violence. That is what you get when you watch Kingsman: The Secret Service. The spy thriller, inspired by the comic book of the same name, was masterfully directed by Matthew Vaughn. He was also responsible for the direction of

The spy thriller, inspired by the comic book of the same name, was masterfully directed by Matthew Vaughn. He was also responsible for the direction of Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class, both great action-driven films. If you enjoyed those, you are going to absolutely love Kingsman.

The film exposes the inner workings of a secret British organization that recruits talented young men and women in order to sustain order and protect the world. Harry ‘Galahad’ Hart (Colin Firth) is one of the most lethal and cunning member of the Kingsman order. He finds himself seeking a replacement for a fallen comrade. Harry recruits a rebellious  juvenile named Gary Unwin (Taron Egerton), who prefers to go by the name Eggsy.

Trapped in an abusive home without a father figure, Eggsy seeks a chance to pave his own path and finds solace in Harry. Eggsy is taken under Harry’s wing, and enters the world of spies and assassins. There he must train and outwit his competition in order to bear the title of Kingsman. While Eggsy trains, evil tech-genius Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) seeks to use society’s  obsession with technology to cleanse the world through genocide. Harry, Eggsy and the rest of the Kingsmen must stop Valentine and save the world.

When I first saw the trailer for Kingsman: Secret Service, I was admittedly unimpressed. That changed after I saw a second, more engaging trailer, and decided to give the film a chance. I thoroughly enjoyed Kingsman: The Secret Service because it was unlike anything I have seen. Matthew Vaughn, who turned down the director’s chair for X-Men: Days of Future Past in order to direct this film, has proven himself worthy when it comes to comic book adaptations. He masterfully mixes various elements of elegance and violence to provide an engaging piece of action-packed cinema. Saying this film was violent is actually an understatement. Kingsman: The Secret Service is riddled with some of the most impressive action scenes I have seen in a while. As the film progresses, each scene gets completely out of hand and pushes the envelope for how much violence we can swallow. Colin Firth in particular was the center of one of the most memorable action sequences in recent memory involving a congregation. That is not a typo ladies and gents. Let’s just say it was eerily silent by the end of it. Samuel L. Jackson’s portrayal of the villain, Valentine, was equally as memorable as Colin Firth’s character. Richmond Valentine is a technologically savvy sociopath whose fear of blood and whose lisp connotate the exact opposite of what you would expect from a villain.

What makes Kingsman so fantastic is its ability to poke fun at itself and the British spy thriller genre. There are several hilarious moments where characters address how they should act in a certain situation, only for them to do the exact opposite. In a dialogue between Harry Hart and Valentine, Harry admits his distaste for spy movies because they are, “too serious for (his) taste.” Kingsman challenges the typical spy thriller and creates a world where anything goes. This satirical tone is what truly sets Kingsman apart and makes it entertaining and hilarious.

Kingsmans’s over the top violence and plot are in contrast to the overall aesthetic of a majority of the characters. The order of the Kingsman rely on a strict code of conduct that requires its members to be gentlemen.  Harry, Eggsy and Merlin (Mark Strong) all boast an air of sophistication and class as they conduct covert ops. The premise is intriguing and adds to the mounds of fun already thrown into this electrifying cinematic experience. I applaud Matthew Vaughn for delivering yet another thriller that I’ll want to see over and over again. With a visionary director, studded cast, and exhilarating story, Kingsman: The Secret Service is a definite winner.

View Trailer  Official Site