KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE - updated

(2014) 129 Minutes, Rated R

Bean's Review: Quite enjoyed this movie.  Very reminiscent of the earlier “Bond” movies with the cool gadgetry, polished manners and great clothes.  Colin Firth plays a secret agent from a very secret spy organization known as the Kingsman.   Colin Firth’s role also reminded me of TV series, The Saint.  He recruits the son of one of the agents killed while on a training mission under Firth’s control.  The son, Eggsy, is played by Taron Egerton.  Samuel L. Jackson is the very egocentric “bad guy”  with a lisp and, ironically, a fear of seeing blood.  Jackson does a good job.  The prosthetic slashing, sling-blade type leg-prosthetics on Jackson’s sidekick, played by Sofia Boutella, are an unique feature.

Michael Caine, whom I always enjoy watching, is the head of the Kingsman, but ends up being in cahoots with Jackson.  The character I most liked was Merlin, played by Mark Strong.  He was the trainer of the recruits.

My brother pointed out that the Professor in the opening scene was played by Mark Hamill.   As the plot line was pretty sci-fi, it was good fit.

Overall, an interesting storyline with some very entertaining fight scenes.  However, the death of Firth’s character, was unexpected, but it was a catalyst for the remainder of the story.

Best scene:  the initial bar scene where Firth’s character meets with Eggsy and the ensuing battle

Bean’s rating:  matinee-it was a bit long and sometimes wandered off track

Mike's Review: Wow.  I almost completely agree with Bean's review.  It was an interesting movie, but I don't think they really needed to kill off Colin Firths' character. That one thing dropped this movie from a worth the price of the ticket rating down to a matinee.  I hate it when they kill off the good characters in movies.

Best scene:  I liked the exploding head sequence as well as the final bar fight scene.

Mike’s rating:  Matinee.

A.C.'s Review: As the trend of graphic novels turned movies continues unabated this winter we find the latest adaptation in KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE. The movie follows the exploits of a petty thief who is initiated into a secret private intelligence agency by a secret agent code named Galahad played by Colin Firth. It seems years early the young man’s father was also a Kingsman who gave his life to save Galahad on a mission gone bad. The story follows the young man nicknamed Eggy as he goes through the training while a parallel story deals with a Bond type megalomaniac villain played by Samuel L. Jackson as he prepares to save the world by purging most of its population.

This movie had probably some of the worst marketing I have ever seen. The first trailer was so bad that I had zero interest in seeing this. Then a second trailer came out that actually gave an idea of what the story would be about but it played up the more comical aspects of it and I was leery that it was going to be another almost Austin Powers like take on the world of spies.

This weekend I went to see it with no other alternatives and was pleasantly surprised by the film. It had a good story with likable characters and managed to blend the serious and the comedic elements together in just the right amount as for one not to detract from the other.

I really enjoyed the climax as dual stories play out at the edge of space and at the classic super villain underground lair. Very exciting.

The movie was made by some of the people behind KICK ASS and you can see it in the so over the top violence that well is as said over the top that it’s actually more entertaining than shocking.

After shying away from seeing this movie I now am hoping there will be a follow up as I would like to see more of this movie universe.

Best Scene: The Church Fight…nothing could probably top that other than the operatic exploding heads scene. And what happens immediately after the church scene was bold and shocking but I appreciate the movie actually went there.

A.C.'s Rating: Full Price Admission