So tonight I ventured in to the world of spies at the Vue Cinema in Rhyl as I took to my seat for two hours to watch Kingsman: The Secret Service the film that is based on the acclaimed comic book and directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick Ass, X-Men First Class), Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency’s ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.

With its great cast including Michael Caine, Colin Firth, Mark Hamill and Samuel L. Jackson to name but a few the movie, Kingsman take the spy world that we maybe know from the likes of James Bond and Jason Bourne to a different level with its tongue-in-cheek humour and the gentlemen’s lifestyle of the Great British agent, but when a “knight” of the Kingsman, known as Lancelot falls, it’s time to bring in new recruits to take his place.

OK, so remember the scene in Men In Black, well imagine that with some rather well spoken young men and women, plus the rather loud mouthed and brash Eggsy (played by Taron Egerton), they are set tasks to complete to whittle the group down to that one key member that will take the place of the fallen comrade, Lancelot.

We follow the process as Kingsman Harry Hart’s (played by Colin Firth) recruit, Eggsy, goes through the same process that his father did before him, in an attempt to be Lancelot’s replacement, but as the recruitment process is moving along with some fantastic set tasks, the billionaire, Valentine, sets his sights on saving the planet, but not in the way that anyone would hope someone would save the planet.

It’s up to Harry to infiltrate Valentine’s world and find out what he is up to!

Kingman: The Secret Service, is a really enjoyable film, I found myself laughing during many parts of the film, with the witty banter between Eggsy and Harry and what also stood out for me, was the way that the action sequences were choreographed and edited together, they certainly have that Kick-Ass feel to them and this only heightened the fun factor while watching the film.

Yes the film may be violent, but it’s all done in a comic book style, that may look gratuitous at first but isn’t as a bad as you first think, suffice to say by the time you get near the end of the film the rather over the top way that the people are picked off in a crescendo of carnage is beautiful done, yes I know that sounds bad, but once you see the movie, you will know exactly what I mean.

Colin Firth is cast perfectly as Harry Hart aka Galahad, his swarve, dapper English gent look and sound is fantastic, it’s also worth point out that Firth did 80% of his own stunts in Kingsman, so credit where credit is due on that one and I have to say the stunt work throughout the film is brilliant, from the free running to the all out battle of one man against many, look out for the church sequence, it’s bloody, but brilliant!

Let’s not forget about Valentine’s bionic legged right hand, Gazelle (played by Sofia Boutella), those spring-loaded legs certainly steal the scenes as the sound of them sends shivers down your spin, special when you see the razor-sharp cutting precision she has with them!

It’s also pretty awesome to see Mark Hamill in the film as Dr James Arnold, which is quite ironic as in the comic series, Mark Hamill is the first celebrity that is kidnapped by Dr. Arnold. But really nice to see Hamill in this one, can’t wait to see in Star Wars: Episode VII at the end of this year.

Matthew Vaughan and writer Jane Goldman of “Kick-Ass”, have done a great job adapting the Mark Millar comic to the big screen and I thoroughly loved every moment of it, it’s certainly a brilliant film to start the year with for the return of the Blazing Minds film reviews.

Overall Thoughts For Kingsman: The Secret Service

The film is fun, comical and slightly violent (in a fun kind of way) at times, but if you love Kick-Ass and films in that genre or even want to see the lighter side of may be Bond, Bourne or Bauer, then Kingsman is certainly for you, I do like films like this and I would recommend it, on the viewing I had, the audience loved it, lots laughing through the film and the consensus from those leaving the screen was that they loved it.

Remember though, if you go to see the movie, don’t leave the screen as soon as the credit roll, yes there is an extra but after a few minutes, don’t miss it.

Kingsman: The Secret Service is out in UK cinemas on 29th January.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn

Writing Credits Jane Goldman … (screenplay) & Matthew Vaughn … (screenplay) and Mark Millar … (comic book “The Secret Service”) and Dave Gibbons … (comic book “The Secret Service”).

Starring Colin Firth, Mark Hamill, Samuel L. Jackson, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong and Michael Caine.

Karen Woodham

Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.

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