KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (2017)

Genre: Action / Thriller
Running Length: 2:21
Cast: Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, Pedro Pascal, Edward Holcroft, Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges, Halle Berry, Channing Tatum, Emily Watson, Bruce Greenwood, Hanna Alstrom
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Screenplay: Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn, based on the comic book “The Secret Service” by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons

I never really did enjoy the predecessor Kingsman: The Secret Service because of its wanton violence, excessive swearing and crude humour. However, there were some quiet tender moments between Firth's character being a father figure to Egerton's Eggsy, which was pretty powerful. The sequel KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE doesn't really do anything much different from the first film but just to make it bigger and louder, thanks to a bigger budget.

Everything just feels like a 'one-up'; more CGI-heavy action sequences, more characters, more swearing. As meh as the first film was to me, at least it had an element of surprise. But this latest outing just feels safe. As OTT as some of the action sequences were, I actually felt bored.

Thankfully, there are enough gags and humour to save this film from totally unwatchable. To be fair, there are more comedic moments in this sequel, especially the ones involving a British singer. And Egerton proves he's not a one-hit wonder but is indeed capable of playing the lead. Firth is OK but at times it feels like he's not really invested in this movie. The rest of the cast is serviceable (a big shout out to Mark Strong's emotional rendition of John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads).

RATING: 5.5/10

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE (2015)

 
Genre: Action/Comedy
Running Length: 2:08
Cast: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Mark Strong, Sophie Cookson, Sofia Boutella
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Screenplay: Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn, based on the comic book "The Secret Service" by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons

KINGSMAN is a fast-paced high energy action flick with a morbid sense of humour. The build-up is engaging especially the no holds barred last man standing recruitment contest to select a "kingsman" (modern day knights). But the last act was a little tiresome even though the action was pretty solid. The biggest highlight to me is Colin Firth, as he makes a surprisingly suave but down-to-earth action hero. It is said that Firth did 80% of his own stunts (and fight scenes) and this is very much evident in a wtf orgy of violence sequence set in a church. Samuel L. Jackson is serviceable as the main villain; OTT with a scarily but valid motivation. I think I would have enjoyed more if it was tighter as it suffers from some pacing issues; it felt repetitive during the training sequences. If only it was shorter, it may have resulted to a possibly much stronger and more focused film. Personally, I'm beginning to enjoy older method actors (above 50) dabbling into the whole action genre ie. cast against type; Liam Neeson, Kevin Costner, Sean Penn and now Colin Firth. That's just something very "jantan" (macho) about it. 

Rating: 6/10