For those of us following the Kingsman series: it’s finally here! For those not following: Kingsman is amazing, and it’s here. Following in the steps of Austin Powers, Kingsman is a British spy comedy based on an original comic book series. The original instalment was way back in 2014, as Kingsman: The Secret Service. In the original film, Eggsy is a young unemployed man who, despite his intellect, has given up on life and become a stereotypical member of the British lower classes: a chav. However he learns that his real father was a secret agent who died in the Middle East, and that he is now a candidate for a curious position: a secret agency running out the back of the Kingsman Tailors shop. View the Kingsman The Golden Circle Trailers
Kingsman Agent Galahad
Too many spy films have taken a field of employment which is ninety nine percent following adulterers and finding missing dogs, and tried to turn it into something serious and ideal. But it isn’t. The best spy writers of all time have famously had little to no involvement in the actual industry, the field is admitted to be dull and difficult to turn a profit in by most people in it, and everything is just overhyped and imagined. So why should we be expecting seriousness, realism, and romance? The whole premise of the spy genre is comical, and we need more films which acknowledge this.
Some people felt that it overstepped too many boundaries. For example, many felt that a comedy film should not be so graphic in its violence. Others felt that neither a comedy nor a spy film should have such blatant conservative leanings, especially not in the sociopolitical climate at the time. However from our perspective, difference is not a bad thing. As a comedy film with elaborate violence it is exactly what paved the way for the likes of Deadpool. And in the current sociopolitical climate, the idea of a film needing to stick to an echo chamber doesn’t sit right any more. By defying expectations and conventions, and doing it well, Kingsman: The Secret Service innovated.
Which means we naturally have high expectations of the next film. Again, it is based on the comics so we have a pretty good idea of what the plot will entail. In this film, Eggsy and Merlin are going to cross the pond and join forces with “Statesman”, the American equivalent to Kingsman, now that the British original secret service has been destroyed. The agents from both agencies are joining forces to bring down Poppy, a common enemy hellbent on bringing an end to secret services around the world.
We’re already excited for the introduction of new premises, new scenes, and new characters. The original film gave us premises, situations, and characters so far outside the usual repertoire of any film that we need to see more of what they have to offer. The trailers have been promising even more action, plenty of gratuitous violence, awkward tensions between characters and slightly more subtle, but still ever present drama and humour. Most of the original cast will be back on the scenes too, which we’re glad of, as they did an excellent job last time. What is more, with an even bigger budget the American cast will be featuring Channing Tatum and Halle Berry, which, from what we’ve seen so far, is going to be brilliant. And there’s not much time left until we can find out for sure!