MYST #2: Kingsman: The Secret Service (First Structured MYST)

From Matthew Vaughn: The English, action director who's not Edgar Wright, comes a James Bond movie with more cursing, blood and style in an action/spy/comedy/parody/satire that left audiences saying, "Man, I did not expect that movie to be as good as it was!"

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE

I don't know how Matthew Vaughn does it. He has released so many astonishing films that no one thought would be as successful as they were.  For example: 'Kick-Ass' and 'X-Men: First Class'. To me, he seems like the Anti - Shyamalan; whereas people hope his films turn out good but they don't.



The film revolves around our main character, Gary "Eggsy" Unwin played by Taron Egerton. Eggsy is your average London tough guy who's also a trained Marine, parkour expert, pick-pocket and stunt driver. Eggsy's father died during a raid in the Middle East, who was a probationary secret agent. Feeling guilty his colleague, Harry Hart (played by Colin Firth), code-named "Galahad", delivers a bravery medal to the agent's widow, and her young son, Gary "Eggsy", saying that if they ever need help, they should call the phone number on the back of the medal and deliver a coded message. 17 years later, Eggsy calls the number asking Galahad to get him out trouble. Galahad then offers Eggsy a chance to do something greater and be apart of The Kingsman, a secret intelligence agency. While Eggsy undergoes training, The Kingsman are out to stop an insane, charismatic, entrepreneur named Richmond Valentine played by Samuel L. Jackson.

 First off, I love how the Kingsman are organized. There are seemingly 9 field agents or "Knights", each code-named after a fabled knight of the round table (i.e. Agent Lancelot, Agent Galahad, etc.), lead by "Arthur" who is played by Michael Caine. When any Agent dies, their spot becomes vacant and the remaining 8 Agents each nominate a candidate to fill position. The 8 candidates go through training overseen by senior Kingsman/ Ops co-ordinator  named Merlin (Mark Strong). Isn't that great code name and the perfect role for it?

Another element I thought was done well was the cinematography during most of the fight sequences. The particular scene I'll be talking about is a fight in a pub consisting of Colin Firth and drunk thugs who bully Taron Egerton. The fight begins with Firth hooking a rum a glass with the handle of his umbrella and lets it fly towards one of the thugs. When the glass flies, you're moving with it when it leaves and when it hits the brute. Granted the fight scenes are shaky-cam but Matthew Vaughn is one of the few directors who can use shaky-cam well. Also an interesting thing I noticed is that when Colin Firth's character had a fight scene, it feels more smooth and flowing and when Taron Egerton's character has a fight scene, it's a little more clunky; simulating the differen't levels of experience each character has.

The comic book action mixes perfectly with the comic book plot, almost as if it was based off a comic book. . . Oh wait it was. There's a fun fact. Actually what's interesting it about it is that the film takes a ballsy move and badmouths the entire U.S. Senate by making them all in league with the villain, including Obama.

I should probably explain what makes this film considered a "satire". Throughout the film, the ensemble likes to point out that this movie is not 'James Bond'. They have lines such as. . .

"I always thought the old Bond films were only as good as the villain."

or

"Is this the part where you say some really bad pun?"

"This ain't that kind of movie bruh."

Frankly I'm not a huge fan of the Bond films so I never really think about them,  but this was a "smidge" annoying,

Taron Egerton , does a great job holding his character together who could've easily been portrayed as obnoxious, bratty and downright unlikeable. Also, this is Egerton's second film debut so I can't really compare this role to anything else he's done, but bottom line we're probably going to see a lot more of him

Colin Firth plays senior Kingsman: Harry Hart. a.k.a Galahad. Definitely an interesting role to see Firth in. I have not viewed any of his other films but I am aware of stellar performance in 'The King's Speech'. Firth plays Galahad with aloofness crowned with a kick-ass bite.

Samuel L. Jackson plays Richmond Valentine, a young-at-heart billionaire genius who gets queazy at the sight blood with a 2nd graders lisp. His master plan is so evil and so complex I dare not be able to explain it. Jackson plays Valentine with spunk and fire. Granted the lisp is a bit annoying at moments, it's interesting to see Jackson play a more comedic character than a complex veteran.

Overall Kingsman is definitely a fun ride to go on and I recommend anyone who's a fan of action films goes and see it.

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE (8.9/10)