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September 25, 2017

Kingsmen: The Secret Service (2014) ---- "Street Swag Meets Gentleman Class In This Crude Language Spy Comedy."

Copyright
Plot Summary
With their headquarters destroyed and the world held hostage, members of Kingsman find new allies when they discover a spy organization in the United States known as Statesman. In an adventure that tests their strength and wits, the elite secret agents from both sides of the pond band together to battle a ruthless enemy and save the day, something that's becoming a bit of a habit for Eggsy. (1) 




Review
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Rated R for sequences of strong Violence/Gore, strong Profanity, references of Sex & Nudity, Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking, and Frightening/Intense Scenes
Hello, Movie Buffs! 
     Once again director Matthew Vaughn has adapted a comic-book to film, with Kick-Ass (2010) and X-Men: First Class (2011) being his most recent films to date. Comic book and superhero films have a tendency to take themselves too seriously but Vaughn is able to combine serious drama and attentive character development with cartoonish humor and witty action. As a result, Kingsmen: The Secret Service (2014) is a unique, ultra violent, humorous, foul-mouthed piece of entertainment that is licensed to thrill audiences. Like an R-Rated version of a James Bond film, even Colin Firth’s (Mamma Mia) character mocks the idea by saying “Give me a far0fetched, theoretical plot any day…” It’s not so much a parody, like Austin Powers but rather pays homage to the famous franchise, like a James Bond meets Kick-Ass type film – where one film doesn’t dare to go the other ventures its untraveled roads joyfully.

     Spy films almost always get compared to James Bond films and The Kingsman is no exception. The film embraces its British heritage, cleverly acknowledges all of the stupid spy clichés, and ditches them unexpectedly. One example is the first opening scene, an individual is drinking a glass of whiskey and at the same time is killing a bunch of people without spilling a single drop of said whiskey, only for it to all change unexpectedly and from there Kingsmen becomes its own spy film that reinvents the typical spy film clichés. The villain, Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson), is a megalomaniac whose main goal is world domination, again another spy film cliché. But what makes this villain different from all the rest is that he is not overly scary or intimidating because of his lisp and hemophobia (fear of blood). This is one aspect that Kingsmen does really good, they start out with the standard clichés and then transform them into something unique. And amongst all the madness there is a certain heart to the film that brings to mind the phrase, “There is a method to their madness.”
     Overall, Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) is an action packed, unique, and humorous spy film that has a license to thrill just about any movie-goer. Despite all the madness the story has heart and does not follow the standard clichés that surround spy films. The cast was great not only does the film introduce newcomers Taron Egerton (plays Eggsy), Sophie Cookson (plays Roxy), and Sofia Boutella (plays Gazelle) but it also adds Oscar winners Colin Firth (plays Harry Hart), Mark Hamill (plays Professor Arnold), Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Caine (plays Arthur). If you’re a fan of James Bond films and Kick-Ass then you will most likely enjoy this film as well. Although keep in mind that this film is not for the easily offended. Yes, it’s a comedy but it’s a very violent comedy and the strong language will astonish even the MPAA. But if you like Kick-Ass or enjoy humorous spy-thrillers then you will like this film.



“’Manners maketh man.’ Do you know what that means? Then let me teach you a lesson.”
- Harry Hart


Final Vote
Worth Seeing:  3 of 5 star
Worth Buying:  3 of 5 stars

I hope you liked this post, subscribe to my blog via email HERE, send in your comments, and watch Kingsmen: The Secret Service (2014).


Movies Similar 
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)
Agent Cody Banks (2003)
Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004)
Charlie's Angels (2000)
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Deadpool (2016)
A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)
Jonah Hex (2010)
Kick-Ass (2010)
Kick-Ass 2 (2013)
Kingsmen 2: The Golden Circle (2017)
Killers (2010)
Knight & Day (2010)
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
Spy (2015)
This Means War (2012)
Wanted (2008) 


Cast & Crew
Directed by Matthew Vaughn      
Produced by 
     Adam Bohling           ...        producer
     Dave Gibbons            ...        executive producer
     Jane Goldman           ...        co-producer
     Pierre Lagrange        ...        executive producer
     Stephen Marks          ...        executive producer
     Mark Millar                ...        executive producer
     David Reid                 ...        producer
     Claudia Schiffer        ...        executive producer
     Matthew Vaughn      ...        producer
Music by Henry Jackman   and Matthew Margeson       
Cinematography by George Richmond 
Film Editing by Eddie Hamilton and Jon Harris           
Production Design by Paul Kirby           
Set Decoration by David Morison and Jennifer Williams
Costume Design by Arianne Phillips      

Cast:
Adrian Quinton                          ...     Terrorist
Colin Firth                                   ...     Harry Hart / Galahad
Mark Strong                               ...     Merlin
Jonno Davies                             ...     Lee
Jack Davenport                         ...     Lancelot
Alex Nikolov                               ...     Little Eggsy
Samantha Womack                  ...     Michelle Unwin
Mark Hamill                               ...     Professor Arnold
Velibor Topic                             ...     Big Goon
Sofia Boutella                            ...     Gazelle
Samuel L. Jackson                   ...     Valentine
Michael Caine                            ...     Arthur
Taron Egerton                           ...     Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin
Geoff Bell                                    ...     Dean
Jordan Long                               ...     Poodle
Theo Barklem-Biggs                ...     Ryan
Tobi Bakare                                ...     Jamal
Morgan Watkins                       ...     Rottweiler
Paul Kennington                       ...     Barman
Ralph Ineson                              ...     Policeman
Edward Holcroft                       ...     Charlie
Sophie Cookson                        ...     Roxy
Nicholas Banks                          ...     Digby
Jack Cutmore-Scott                 ...     Rufus
Nicholas Agnew                         ...     Nathaniel
Rowan Polonski                        ...     Piers
Tom Prior                                   ...     Hugo
Fiona Hampton                         ...     Amelia
Hanna Alström                          ...     Princess Tilde
Lily Travers                                ...     Lady Sophie
Andrew Bridgmont                  ...     Kingsman Tailor

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