KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE
UK, 2014, 129 minutes, Colour.
Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Mark Hamill, Sofia Boutella, Michael Caine, Sophie Cookson, Jack Davenport.
Directed by Matthew Vaughan.
A surprisingly popular film at the beginning of 2015, not only in the UK where it originated, but also in other English speaking countries, including the US.
Writer-director, Matthew Vaughan, and his co-writer, Jane Goodman, have worked on a number of films including Stardust as well as Kick Ass. They draw on graphic novels, finding cinematic equivalents both visually and verbally, hyper-real, colourful, and with touches of parody. This is certainly the same here.
The Kingsman Secret Service organisation allegedly originated at the time of the Napoleonic wars, with wealthy men gathering together and forming this agency for England and patriotism’s sake. As time went on, the organisation went underground, using a fashionable tailor’s store and service as a cover – and, covering quite a bit, as the lift goes down and the underground, as shuttles go through tunnels to open up on a vast arsenal and training facilities for this espionage elite.
As the film opens, and an agent is being held by a deranged scientist, Kingsman agents arrive to save confidently the day, only they don’t. But an apprentice saves the suave and gentlemanly agent, played by Colin Firth, falling into the hands of no, rather, the stiletto shoes of quite a vicious martial arts femme fatale.
The principal action takes place 17 years later, where it is revealed that the Kingsman group models itself on the Knights of the Round Table, with Michael Caine as the leader, Arthur, with Colin Firth’s Harry Hart’s codename, Galahad. Mark Strong, who has appeared so effectively in many films, often as the villain, is the instructor and trainer for Kingsman, codenamed, Merlin.
Harry is on the lookout for further recruits and has his eye on the sound of the agent who saved his life years earlier. The boy, who is called, of all names, Eggsy, (Tamsin Egerton) has had a pretty unhappy life, his slovenly mother taking up with a local brute, his opting out of education despite his intellectual and physical capabilities, running with the local gang. When Galahad arrives to save him, Colin Firth is doing an impersonation both of James Bond as well as John Steed, Patrick Macnee’s top-hatted and caned character in The Avengers from the 1960s. The local toughs are no match for him. Eggsy, meanwhile and his pals have been going around stealing cars, joyriding so Galahad has to rescue him from prison with the guarantee that Eggsy will train for Kingsman.
There is a lot of rivalry amongst the trainees, who really do have a strict regime, the toffs from British public schools looking down on Eggsy. But, they lose.
It is just as well that Eggsy has been recruited because there is our larger-and-life in the offing, a very insane type who might aspire to be a Bond villain, Valentine, who wants to control the population, giving away free Sim cards with implants to rouse anger so that everyone attacks each other and it won’t be too long before the apocalypse. Even world leaders play into his plans and Eggsy’s mother, along with millions of others, lines up for the free Sim card.He is played He is played for laughs and mockery by Samuel L.Jackson – and who should be one of his assistants but the stiletto shoes assailant!.
This leads to a whole series of surveillance sequences, Kingsman and the villain having the technology to spy on each other, a rather dramatic confrontation with unexpected ending in a revivalist church in the United States. But, it is finally up to Eggsy, now a suave personality, and James Bond Jr, to use his wits and the advice of Merlin to drum up a dramatic confrontation with Valentine.
Audiences seem to have enjoyed the paralleling of this film with the Bond films, the elements of parody and spoof, the drawing on the Knights of the Round Table imagery, the fact that so many people are mind-affected, the confrontations leading to potential disaster, and the young hero saving the day.
Lots of action, lots of special effects, lots of humorous dialogue – but, it is probably about time that screenwriters gave us a break from not intermittent, but incessant, crass language which is very weary and offputting to some of the audiences who might enjoy this kind of film – we need a break. And Colin Firth, despite his Oscar, seems very awkward in delivering four letter words!
1. The origins in a comic strip? Content, characters, style?
2. The role of parody, spoof? The tradition of Hero movies, James Bond films, heroes and villains? Expectations?
3. The title, the Secret Service, its history, the 19th century, the Napoleonic wars, the money to class, after World War I, the foundation, very secret? Kingsman, the tailor? The Knights, the Roundtable, presided over by Arthur? Missions, rescues, successes and failures?
4. The action sequences, the elaborate fights, choreography, the deaths? The special effects for each fight? The musical score – and the use of Pomp and Circumstances for the exploding heads?
5. 1997, the mission, the interrogation, the bomber, the agent giving his life, saving Harry? Harry and the visit to the wife, her grief, giving the medal to her son?
6. 2014, Argentina, the abducted Professor, the issue of climate change? Lancelot, arrival, killing the agents? Lancelot and his drink, his death? Gazelle killing Lancelot?
7. 2014, Harry and his life, Arthur and the Round Table, the toast to Lancelot, wearing the glasses for the other members to be visible?
8. Valentine, the movie about him, his announcement on stage, Sim cards for everyone, free Internet? The acclaim, the people queueing for the cards?
9. Valentine and the implants, their effect, the Professor, accosted by Harry, exploding?
10. Valentine, the Swedish Prime Minister, the Princess, accepting and refusing? The implants? The imprisonment and the disappearance of prominent people? Valentine and his wanting to take over the world? By the implants, the rousing of anger and mutual battles?
11. Eggsy, his life, his mother and Dean, the slovenly life? The gangs? Eggsy and his career, and after his mother, her baby, leaving the Marines? His gymnastics and the example from the roof? His studies? Stealing the car, the car chase? the police, jail, his ringing Harry, released, going to the pub, Harry’s explanations, wanting to recruit him? Dean, the attack, Harry in the fight and his finishing his beer?
12. Harry, indebted to Eggsy’s father, taking him to Kingsman, the lift down, the train, the vast plant and weapons and aircraft? The introduction to Merlin?
13. The training, the group, the snobs, Roxanne and her support? The variety of tests and training? Flooding the dormitory, the lack of teamwork, Eggsy and the door, breaking the glass? The shooting training? Choosing the dog and Eggsy choosing the pug? The parachute training, Roxanne and her being afraid, the jump, Eggsy holding Roxanne, landing? The test and the shooting of the dog? Harry stuffing his own pet dog?
14. Eggsy unable to kill the dog? Arthur and his disdain? The ousting of Eggsy?
15. Samuel L. Jackson as Valentine, his lisp, fear of blood? Gazelle? Doing his dirty work? Valentine as the mad villain? The meeting with Harry, putting the
tracer, each side having vision of the activities of the other? The joke about the McDonald’s? meal? Harry going to the church, the congregation all becoming bellicose and fighting, the mayhem? Harry killing everyone? Valentine and his confronting Harry? Killing him?
16. Eggsy and his revenge, working with Merlin, with Roxanne? The plan, to destroy the satellite, Roxanne and the space vehicle, the split-second timing, the exploding of the satellite? Landing on the mountains, in contact with Merlin, phoning Eggsy’s mother and advising her to protect the baby?
17. Merlin, the plane, Eggsy and infiltration, his dress suit, looking like Harry? The killing of all the guards? Merlin and his Control Panel and providing information?
18. The implants, the gathering, the exploding the satellite, phoning the billionaire and getting the neighbouring satellite? The importance about Valentine’s hand and his control? The countdown? Around the world, England, Rio, people fighting each other? Eggsy’s mother and her axing the door? The split-second moments?
19. Eggsy going back, the fight with Gazelle, throwing the weapon, killing Valentine?
20. The prisoners, the joke with the Princess, his return to her? Back in the pub, the confrontation with Dean, his locking the door as did Harry, victory?
21. The sending up of the James Bond films and the references? The British hero? The American villain? Exploitation and exaggeration for tongue-in-cheek entertainment?
