Kingsman: The Secret Service [MA]

Many years ago, Eggsy’s father was killed in action and his mentor, Harry ‘Galahad’ Hart made a promise to Eggsy and his mother that if they should ever need help, just call. After getting into a bar fight and ending up in jail, Eggsy takes Hart up on the offer, but gets more than he bargained for when Galahad takes him on as an apprentice to be a Kingsman, a gentleman spy in the Secret Service. Not as refined as some of the other recruits, Eggsy nonetheless puts his determination and street smarts to the task of stepping up and saving the world when a likeable millionaire with a lisp threatens it. 

This movie was great. Capital G-R-E-A-T great. Everything about it is done with a suaveness and sophistication that sometimes takes a turn for the most delightfully eccentric and weird. An action/comedy spy movie in the vein of classic Bond, but modernised and filled with enough off-centre quirks to just edge it into a league of its own, Kingsman: The Secret Service rocks like a hurricane and I think it’s a movie that will definitely make it into the collection when the DVD comes out! 

Many years ago, Eggsy’s father was killed in action and his mentor, Harry ‘Galahad’ Hart made a promise to Eggsy and his mother that if they should ever need help, just call. After getting into a bar fight and ending up in jail, Eggsy takes Hart up on the offer, but gets more than he bargained for when Galahad takes him on as an apprentice to be a Kingsman, a gentleman spy in the Secret Service. Not as refined as some of the other recruits, Eggsy nonetheless puts his determination and street smarts to the task of stepping up and saving the world when a likeable millionaire with a lisp threatens it. 

I think what is most exciting and significant about this movie is the fact that it never really gives you any indication of where in the world it is going. Around every corner there is some sort of delightful surprise, albeit sometimes nasty, that just completely displaces you for a bit; you actually feel that sick panic of when you miss a step in the dark and stumble. One half of the plot is predictable enough so as to completely blind you to what the other half of the plot is doing and when that twist comes into play it really throws you for a loop! I was sitting in the cinema, literally with my mouth hanging open and my eyes unblinking. I was stunned, just stunned and couldn’t kick my brain back to whirring. It’s good to see there are still films out there that have the power to do that! 

I don’t wish to prattle on about all the stuff that makes this movie really different and awesome because inevitably it’ll become overlaid and over-thickened so that you won’t want to go and see it, which I totally recommend you do. But I will draw your attention to some of the coolest parts of this flick. First, it establishes Colin Firth as a potential action star with the violence and veracity of Bruce Willis mingled with the deadly timing and sophistication of any great tailored English gentleman from Fiennes to Connery (take your pick). Firth is awesome! 

Second, there’s just enough recognisability and contrasting fusion in the plot as to make it captivating but not hard to grasp. Think Professor Higgins training Eliza Doolittle to be a lady of high society as well as James Bond and then you’re onto it! 

Third, the climactic scene in the final part where the villain’s plan comes head to head with the hero is possibly the most violent, yet irresistibly beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t want to give too much away but we’re talking fireworks, incredible intimated violence, and a disco soundtrack culminating in this strange but absolutely delightful Terry Gilliam-esque climax! Just… like… wow! 

Starring Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Jack Davenport, Mark Hamill, Sofia Boutella, Samuel L. Jackson, Taron Egerton, Sophie Cookson, and Michael Caine, Kingsman: The Secret Service is a brilliant movie: seriously, it’s so good even the opening credits kick arse! Filled with action, drama, romance, suspense, violence, seriously cool twists of the plot, and comedy, it’s got absolutely everything you could want it a movie! Right now, get up and go to your closest cinema and see it, it’s AWESOME!