Kingsman: The Secret Service [DVD] [2015]

Kingsman: The Secret Service is a refreshingly good film. I knew it was a spy-based film but other than that, I wasn’t even sure on the rating to know what I was getting myself into. There were plenty of gadgets, plenty of moments of self-belief and its fair share of laugh out loud scenes to stop it from focusing too much on the mad-man trying to take over the world.The plot was somewhere between James Bond and Stormbreaker, with young adults facing impossible training in order to compete for the job. At the same time, gentleman spies are wandering around, people are literally exploding and there is a mad-man trying to kill most of the population while the rest of the world think he is a hero.The characters were fantastic. Eggsy was your typical underdog in regards to being thrown in over his head, but steps up to the challenge in a realistic way. Harry is just sarcastic enough that Eggsy takes him seriously, but is genuinely caring. Merlin is an enigma who ultimately wants his chosen candidates to succeed and Roxy is the character to keep the whole thing grounded. Then there is Valentine, who is just insane enough to make a fun villain.It’s hardly surprising the characters are so good when you consider the cast. Michael Cain, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Samuel L Jackson and Taron Egerton to name the main ones. All of these actors have proven themselves time and time again in various roles and they come together in an explosion of humour, violence and some crazy scenes that are so bizarre (such as a slow-motion massacre in a church) that the film is pure entertainment.The violence isn’t graphic but is a strong part of the film. As is swearing. If you are sensitive to either of these things, then I imagine the film would annoy you. But I found this film to be one of the best I have seen for a while. The fact it made me laugh out loud is proof of that! If you want something action packed but one you don’t have to take seriously in anyway, I thoroughly recommend Kingsman: The Secret Service.

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Director Matthew Vaughn scored a hit by adapting Mark Millar's comic 'Kick Ass' for the screen. Now he does the same with another graphic novel by the same writer. Mark Millar. Secret Service.Although the comic and movie both started development at roughly the same time. With two key ideas.What if one of the youth of today, written off by society and all around them, actually got a chance to be something?Also: remember spy movies when they had great action set pieces, meglomanical villains, weren't afraid not to take themselves entirely seriously, and didn't tone it all down to get a 12a certificate?Thus Kingsman was born.Those who have read the graphic novel will find it suprisingly different. It's not a straight adaptation, as it takes the main idea and roughly follows the same plot, but goes it's own way beyond that. But both do get Mark Hamill in.Eggsy [Taron Egerton] is living an aimless life in London. His mother lives with a nasty boyfriend. But Eggy's family are owed a favour by debonair spy Harry Hart [Colin Firth]. When that is called in, Harry sees potential in the young man to follow in his footsteps.But meanwhile, internet billionaire Richmond Valentine [Samuel L. Jackson] has a plan to save the world. With a cost...When it comes to delivering a fun spy film, this more than meets the mark. Harry Hart is a gentleman and a force to be reckoned with. Colin Firth delivering a hugely appealing performance in the role. But hithertho unknown Taron Egerton, who'd never been on a movie set before this, is a real find, carrying his portions of the film well and making a character who could have been charmless very sympathetic.Both are ably supported by Mark Strong as training officer/gadget guy Merlin, who adds great character to his part with a superb scottish accent.Samuel L. Jackson manages to stay just on the right side of going over the top, to create a very good and three dimensional villain. His sidekick Gazelle [Sofia Boutella] is a blade runner even deadlier than Oscar Pistorius. Just the kind of memorable sidekick every good villain should have.Exciting in the set pieces - particularly a superbly tense skydiving scene - and ending with just the kind of big assault on the base of a villain who has guards who can't shoot straight that they don't make anymore, Kingsman is superb escapism, and quite simply great fun. With a nice lesson in there as well about finding yourself and being comfortable with who you are.The violence is stylised such that it reminds you it's a movie and not to take it seriously. One scene of this doesn't quite come off. But one scene is so astonishly bravura that it's one of the best bits of direction you'll see in a while.It does try to out Bond Bond right at the end, with a moment that some weren't happy with, and perhaps doesn't quite manage to pull off. But that is possibly the only minor flaw in a really great piece of entertainment. They haven't been making them like this anymore. So thank goodness somebody did.Do keep watching when the end credits start. Because there is one more scene very early on during them.The dvd has the following language and subtitle options:Languages: English.Subtitles: English.It begins with a short anti piracy trailer then a generic blu ray one. Both can be skipped via the next button on the dvd remote.Extras are:Three galleries of stills. One set shots. Sets. And props.The cinema trailer for the film.Panel to screen: the education of a 21st century spy. A nine minute long featurette about the genesis of the comic and the film. As ever with featurettes these days, you wish for a full length making of documentary, but it is nonetheless a very good and detailed watch.

Four stars is for the DVD version only - the full cinema version film would have got five stars from me. This is a fantastic film, tongue in cheek fun and mayhem at it's best, with an underlying dark message which will get through to many people. Script, storyline and acting all brilliant, CGI of the best quality. So, why the four stars? It seems that the DVD producers have decided the adult DVD owning public are allowed to watch blood drenched violence and heads exploding (albeit mostly sanitised and colourfully); but a one line sexual reference (which in the cinema made the whole audience laugh uncontrollably) and later, a single naked bottom we are not allowed to see. Oh do grow up, this is an '18' isn't it?

I've never wrote a review before but I think this movie deserves one.I watched it a few weeks ago and I fell in love, wondering how come I didn't see it before, I HAD to buy the dvd.Kingsman is a combination of humour, wittiness and badass spies ! No unnecessary romance, lots of violence but not actually gory and the cast is just incredible : Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Michael Caine and Samuel L. Jackson. Plus we discover two young actors Taron Egerton and Sophie Cookson that stand by themselves in the middle of those huge names, I don't want to say more about the actors because it was a very nice surprise when I saw who was in there as well !I'm not going to say anything else beside : watch it ! It's awesome !