Thursday, August 20, 2015

Kingsman: The Secret Service is everything you've been looking for in a spy action flick

I saw some stuff on tumblr about the 2014 movie Kingsman: The Secret Service, and without knowing anything about it other than it starred Colin Firth I watched it. And oh boy, I was in for a fantastic surprise.
 

The whole point of Kingsman is actually stated explicitly in the film, in a conversation between the secret agent Harry Hart (Firth) and the villain, Valentine (played brilliantly by Samuel L. Jackson). Over a... er... happy meal, they discuss spy movies. Harry says that he prefers the older ones; the new ones are too serious for his taste. Valentine agrees.

And that's really where this movie comes from. Don't go in expecting any semblance of a realistic plot or gritty action. This movie is all stylized, over the top action and completely ridiculous violence. And it's so much fun. The infamous church scene is probably the best in the whole movie, and even if you're not one for violence I think you might have some fun with it. I for one couldn't believe my eyes the first time I watched it.

Samuel L. Jackson puts on an amazing performance as the villainous Valentine. I would even go as far as to say he steals the show. It's hard to hate Valentine, really, even though his evil plot is one of the most maniacal I've seen in any movie. His scheme, the main conflict in the movie, is not fully known for most of the film, and yes it's completely ridiculous, but the movie doesn't let you get hung up on details. It's all good fun, and the resolution is just as ridiculous as the problem. (If you've seen the movie... Fireworks.)

Although Kingsman is cheeky and irreverent as all get out, there is still a lot of heart to it. The relationship between Harry and the main character, new recruit Eggsy, is heartwarming and (perhaps a spoiler here) eventually heartbreaking. But we might not have to dwell in pain forever; a sequel is apparently in the works, and I for one can't wait.

If you're looking for a fun movie that's a little different from the usual action flick and will keep you entertained for the whole running time, look no farther than Kingsman.

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