KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE [2017 / 2018] [Blu-ray + Digital HD] [UK Release]
It’s James Bond On Laughing Gas! Awesome Terrific Rollercoaster Action!
‘KINGSMAN: The Secret Service’ introduced the world to Kingsman – an independent, international intelligence agency operating at the highest level of discretion, whose ultimate goal is to keep the world safe. In ‘KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE,’ our heroes face a new challenge. When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, their journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the U.S. called Statesman, dating back to the day they were both founded. In a new adventure that tests their agents' strength and wits to the limit, these two elite secret organizations band together to defeat a ruthless common enemy, in order to save the world, something that's becoming a bit of a habit for Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin. ‘KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE’ stars Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, and Halle Berry, with Sir Elton John, Channing Tatum, and Jeff Bridges.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2017 British Film Designers Guild Awards: Win: Best Production Design International Studio Feature – Contemporary for Darren Gilford (Production Designer), Grant Armstrong (Supervising Art Director) and Rosemary Brandenburg (Set Decorator). 2018 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Action/Adventure Film. 2018 Costume Designers Guild Awards: Nominated: Excellence in Contemporary Film for Arianne Phillips. 2018 Empire Awards, UK: Win: Best Thriller. 2018 Hawaii Film Critics Society: Nominated: Worst Film of the Year. 2018 Online Film & Television Association: Nominated: OFTA Film Award for Best Musicfor an Adapted Song for Bill Danoff, John Denver and Taffy Nivert for the song "Take Me Home, Country Roads."
FILM FACT No.2: Principal photography on the film began on 15th May, 2016 in Birmingham. Filming also took place in Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden. The cable car and antidote factory scenes were shot on Skyway Monte Bianco and Pointe Helbronner, located in Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, in northern Italy and Sri Lanka. On 13th September, 2016, ‘KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE’ completed initial filming. Additional footage was filmed on location in London in December 2016. Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson reunited to compose the music for the film. The soundtrack was released on iTunes on 22 September 2017 by Fox Music and was released on CD in October 2017 by La-La Land Records.
Cast: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Halle Berry, Elton John, Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges, Pedro Pascal, Edward Holcroft, Hanna Alström, Poppy Angela Delevingne, Bruce Greenwood, Emily Watson, Michael Gambon, Sophie Cookson, Samuel L. Jackson, Sofia Boutella, Tobias Bakare, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Thomas Turgoose, Calvin Demba, Samantha Womack, Michelle Unwin, Keith Allen, Tom Benedict, Mark Arnold, Björn Granath, Lena Endre, Shannon Bream, Bill Hemmer, Kenny-Lee Mbanefo, Feizal Mowlabocus, Alessandro Ananasso (uncredited), Paulina Boneva (uncredited), Ross Carter (uncredited), Jonathan Cass (uncredited), Gianpiero Cognoli (uncredited), Tony Cook (uncredited), Richard Cooper (uncredited), Nesba Crenshaw (uncredited), Leigh Dent (uncredited), Mark Holden (uncredited), Cristina Dohmen (uncredited), Gary Fannin (uncredited), Al Fenderico (uncredited), Lati Gbaja (uncredited), Pete Buzzsaw Holland (uncredited), Ty Hurley (uncredited), Solomon Taiwo Justified (uncredited), Stefan Kopiecki (uncredited), Jorge Leon Martinez (uncredited), Anthony Milton (uncredited), Yuriri Naka (uncredited), Christopher Painter (uncredited), Jessica Jill Partridge (uncredited), Yuha Pihanen (uncredited), Laurence Possa (uncredited), Ivana Radjenovic (uncredited), Michael Redmond (uncredited), Douglas Robson (uncredited), Rahji Shrinarine (uncredited), Michael Thyx (uncredited), Tony Paul West (uncredited), Stuart Whelan (uncredited), David John William Williams (uncredited) and Richard Stephenson Winter (uncredited)
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Producers: Adam Bohling, Claudia Schiffer, Darren Goldberg, Dave Gibbons, David Reid, Gianluca Leurini, Jane Goldman, Mark Millar, Matthew Vaughn, Pierre Lagrange, and Stephen Marks
Screenplay: Jane Goldman (screenplay), Matthew Vaughn (screenplay), Dave Gibbons (based on the comic book "The Secret Service") and Mark Millar (based on the comic book "The Secret Service")
Composers: Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson
Cinematography: George Richmond, B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Audio: English: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 5.1 Audio Descriptive Service
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH
Running Time: 141 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: With the film ‘KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE’ [2017], the opening sequence harkens back to the original James Bond films; it had to be good, snappy, a premonition of things to come. I definitely feel you will love this film, especially as this is the follow up to the original brilliant and over the top inventive film ‘KINGSMAN: The Secret Service.’ Matthew Vaughn screenplay/director/producer sequel to 2014's stylish spy spoof film, and definitely delivers what fans of the first instalment were looking for, a terrific cast, entertaining and physical mind-bending fight scenes, extremely funny dialogue, and especially the most enjoyable awesome soundtrack ever.
The original story of Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin, was that he was a petty criminal and teenage ne'er-do-well who looked all set for a life of petty crime until he was offered the chance to try out to become a Kingsman, a highly secretive, but extremely badass set of super spies, who step in to prevent international calamities around the world, and won plenty of plaudits and of course had a massive box office success way back in 2015, making it a good deal of sense for there to be a second adventure, which arrives in the shape of film ‘KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE.’
This follow up second film stars a returning Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Mark Strong and a new plethora of actors that consist of Julianne Moore, Poppy Angela Delevingne, Pedro Pascal, Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges, Elton John and Halle Berry joining the cast. Matthew Vaughn directs once again and has adapted Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons comic characters for the screen presentation. But of course the start of the film is totally a homage to James Bond, as it has all the tricks of the trade, as well of course the awesome special effects to really set the bar high, especially with the first 10 minutes of totally over the top action packed sequences that keeps you on the edge of your seat. In fact ‘KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE’ is definitely a bespoke James Bond pastiche, tailored to amplify to maximum comic effect the franchise series so far, especially preposterous plots, snobbish undercurrents, cold-blooded violence and some very tongue cheek smutty sexism thrown in for good measure, and of course because of the success of the first film, it was only natural that a sequel was positively demanded, especially for all the fans around the world.
The sequel finds the Kingsman heading to the United States to join forces with Statesman, Kingsman's American counterpart after their headquarters are destroyed by “The Golden Circle,” a drug cartel with eyes firmly trained on global domination. The action in this follow up film is taken onto the next level, especially as the first film was not exactly shy of over the top action, but things are taken way, way up for the sequel, there is a barnstorming mountain chase and a breath-taking car chase through London to kick things off.
It is even more outrageous than the original film, where it spent the entire film of its running time with its tongue firmly in its cheek and that’s very much the case here too. Things get particularly naughty when Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin is sent to Glastonbury with instructions to seduce a target and implant a tracking device in a very personal delicate manner.
Julianne Moore is a sinister marvel and plays Poppy Adams, an international drugs baron, who has built her own personal all-American paradise in the middle of Cambodia. She’s all smiles on the surface, but its' barely covering something very dark indeed. A world away from Samuel L. Jackson's Richmond Valentine, but just as eccentric and just as much fun. The other new additions are great too and especially Channing Tatum and Pedro Pascal are both a whole lot of ass-kicking fun as Statesmen agents while Halle Berry and Jeff Bridges are also excellently cast and Matthew Vaughn has put together a fantastic and great ensemble cast.
There is plenty of room for more action packed information, but if I did it would totally spoil your fun and enjoyment with any spoilers, but let us just say there is plenty more life in this franchise yet. Matthew Vaughn has revealed he is already got the treatment written for the next action packed film and I cannot wait to see what he delivers, and sounds like this is going to rival the James Bond franchise, so watch out 007, Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin is on your coat tails.
We get a great extended cameo appearance of Sir Elton John, and we also get the involvement with really nasty killer robot dogs to add to the action of the film. But with the appearance of Elton John, basically it is an excuse to dust off his most flamboyant costume and made to perform his famous appropriate song “The Bitch Is Back” that Poppy’s feels is her theme song, and when we eventually get round to the over-the-top action scenes, it is only natural that Elton John performs “Saturday Night’s All Right for Fighting” really go well together. There is also Charlie with his bionic arm, a Statesman agent named Whiskey [Pedro Pascal] with an electric lasso and quite a few scenes in which people have something nasty happens to them and is not for the squeamish or the faint hearted. There is one other extremely heart stopping edge of your seat scene in the ski resort of Courmayeur, Aosta, Valle d'Aosta, Italy, where a Ski Cable Car Lift goes out of control and nearly crashes into an old people’s retirement home, and a pensioner says a really very funny line, that will make you laugh out loud, well it did me.
It is all aggressively stylized, abusively fast-paced and ear shattering loud, which I really love, which adds to the ambience to the film genre in many ways, but also relying heavily on CGI special effects, which is only to be expected. But as you also expect this film is too right on borderline anti-American sentiment and Matthew Vaughn wants you to know exactly what he thinks about the state of the world and will not let something like subtlety impede his telling you and this second film will not disappoint people or even the fans of the first film franchise. If nothing else, it is definitely a well worth a watch for the surprise cameo of appearance of Elton John and who knew he could fly or even do martial arts in his over the top costume that we saw him wear on The Muppet Show? But all in all, I really loved this film, despite all the very pompous critics who condemned it, because it is a film that is not aimed at the intellectual, but it is just a good solid old fashioned tongue in cheek spoof James Bond film and people should not take the film so seriously and I am now really looking forward to the third franchise film release in great anticipation.
KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE MUSIC RACK LIST
TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS (Written by Taffy Danoff, William Danoff and John Denver) [Performed by Matthew Margeson]
LET’S GO CRAZY (Written Prince Rogers Nelson) [Performed by Prince]
DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY (Written by Kenny Gamble, Cary Grant Gilbert and Leon Huff) [Performed by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes]
UN BAL (from Symphonie fantastique) (Written by Hector Berlioz) [Performed by The London Harp Sound and Conductor Geoffrey Simon]
PIZZICATI (Written by Léo Delibes) [Performed by Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Neeme Järvi]
VOICES OF SPRING Op.410 (Frühlingsstimmen) (Written by Johann Strauss Jr.) [Performed by Wiener Philharmoniker and Conductor Lorin Maazel]
ASHES (Written by Daniel McNamara and Richard McNamara) [Performed by Embrace]
RAINING IN MY HEART (Written by Felice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant) [Performed by Buddy Holly]
QUICKSAND (Written by Thomas Chaplin and Matthew Hales) [Performed by Tom Chaplin]
ANNIE’S SONG (Written by John Denver) [Performed by John Denver]
DANIEL (Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin) [Performed by Sir Elton John]
SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT (For Fighting) (Written by Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin) [Performed by Elton John] (Studio version 1973) (Live At The Royal Festival Hall 1974) (Live at Wembley 1975)
ROCKET MAN (Written by Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin) [Performed by Sir Elton John]
WORD UP (Written by Larry Blackmon and Tomi Jenkins) [Performed by The BossHoss]
ANNIE’S SONG (Reprise) (Written by John Denver) [Recorded by John Denver]
Blu-ray Image Quality – 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has once again brought out this fantastic Blu-ray with a very impressive 1080p image presentation and is helped with a an equally impressive 2.39:1 aspect ratio. On top of all that, the high definition image transfer is beautiful with spot-on contrast, and also providing a presentation with a very buoyant and high-spirited feel especially during the most intensely action-packed sequences. The picture also displays totally brilliant, crisp whites throughout, and facial complexions are highly revealing, especially in close-ups, exposing every negligible blemish, and black levels remain accurate and richly rendered with outstanding visibility within the darkest shadows, providing the image with a welcomed cinematic filmic look. Based on the colourful graphic novel series, the filmmakers went with vibrant colours and dynamic array of secondary hues while favouring the yellow and golden amber colours, so matching the action packed scenario throughout the film. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment brings you with this Blu-ray disc a stunning and energetic 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience. You also get to experience a plethora of exploding surround sounds, throughout the film. When seeing the London cab fight scene, provides some brilliant and incredible panning effects that give your speakers a really good workout. There are some extremely more forceful sounds at key junctures in the film, including the explosions that take out worldwide Kingsman agents. The spoken dialogue and film music score by Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson is also rendered with awesome clarity, really excellent audio fidelity and extremely wide dynamic range throughout the films presentation. What is also really excellent is the low-frequency effects occasionally deliver a thunderous, commanding mid-bass, giving those same action sequences and bumping music a great sense of presence with a decidedly good rattling oomph. So all in all a terrific sound experience to match what happens with this awesome action packed film.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: KINGSMAN: Inside the Golden Circle [2017] [1080p] [1.78:1 / 2.39:1] [117:13] Here we get to view a whopping and stunning special feature, that is just under a two hour long multi-chaptered documentary broken out into the following 9 different segments. There may not be an engaging audio commentary on this extra special feature, but you cannot say they have not skimped in this department; in fact they have exceeded all expectations. We get to view a lot of in-depth behind-the-scene filming. We get lots of comments from the cast, the crew and the people involved in the special effects departments. They were all very excited of having Sir Elton John join in the fun and they found him a great sport, who was also very keen to appear in the film, but sadly he was not interviewed, and what you view is as follows: Distilling The Story: Kingsman Returns; Trafficker, Tailor, Southerner, Spy; Poppy’s Special Guest: Sir Elton John; Nefarious Lairs and High-Falutin’ Headquarters; Suited and Booted; Weapons of Choice; Brothers In Arms; Doomsday Protocol: Visual Effects and End Game. Contributors include: Matthew Vaughn [Director/Producer/Writer], Eddie Hamilton, A.S.E. [Film Editor], Mark Strong [Merlin], Halle Berry [Ginger], Julianne Moore [Poppy], Colin Firth [Harry hart], Taron Egerton [Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin], Edward Holcroft [Charlie], Channing Tatum [Tequila], Pedro Pascal [Whiskey], Jeff Bridges [Champ], Darren Gilford [Production Designer], Arianne Phillips [Costume Desiger], Lisa Tomblin [Hair Designer], Amanda Knight [Make-up Designer], Michael ‘Loop’ Rawlins [Whiskey Trick Double], Steven Warner [Special Effects Supervisor], John Dykstra, A.S.C. [VFX Supervisor], Angus Bickerton [Senior VFX Supervisor], Mark Breakspear [VFX Supervisor for SONY Pictures Imageworks], Jim McLean [CGI Supervisor for SONY Pictures Imageworks], Max Tyrie [Animation Supervisor for SONY Pictures Imageworks], Chris Zeh [Compositing Supervisor for Framestore], Fabio Zangla [CGI Supervisor for Framestore], Chris Lawrence [VFX Supervisor for Framestore], Richard Graham [Capture Supervisor for Framestore], Matthew Collinge [Sound Supervisor/Sound Design], Eddie Hamilton, A.C.E. [Film Editor], Adam Bohling [Producer], Matthew Margeson [Co-Composer], Henry Jackman [Co-Composer] and Jack Dolman [Supervising Music Editor].
Special Feature: Black Cab Chaos: Anatomy of a Killer Chase [2017] [1080p] [1.78:1 / 2.39:1] [12:49] This has to be a real show stopper of a special feature, because it has the combination of the fantastic and totally heart pounding of the main start of the film, where you get to see how they got to do the dramatic scenes with the black taxi that is being chased by gun-toting villains, where we get to see how the stuntmen were also involved in dramatic car chase scenes for Kingsman sequel in Birmingham and London, especially where roads had to be closed in the area for several hours for the overnight shoot as film-maker and director Matthew Vaughn we see directing the action scenes. We also see how they had to dismantle several of the same type of black cab to get the different shots inside and out of the cab and it took over a week to get these spectacular scenes we view at the start of the film, and we also get see how they got to get Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin fight in the black cab with Charlie and also how they filmed him riding on the black cab door with the special effects team, it was really amazing how professional all the stunts were filmed with several stripped down black cabs. Take notice filmmakers, this is how you open an action packed film that is shown in this special feature and it certainly has the wow factor! Contributors include: Brad Allan [2nd Unit Director/Key Stunt Coordinator], Matthew Vaughan [Director/Producer/Writer], Taron Egerton [Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin], Edward Holcroft [Charlie], James Morrall [Art Director], Angus Bickerton [Senior VFX Supervisor], George Richmond, B.S.C. [Director of Photography], Steven Warner [Special Effects Supervisor], James Ferguson [Special Effects Senior Technician], Chris Lawrence [VFX Supervisor of Framestore], Fabio Zangla [CGI Supervisor of Framestore], Joe Geary [1st Assistant Director of 2nd Unit] and David Reid [Producer].
Special Feature: KINGSMAN Archives: Here we get to view two separate special features of stunning photo images that includes items from the production and promotional aspect of the film, which consist of: CONCEPT ART: Sets [18 images] and Costumes [18 images]. STILLS: Behind The Scenes [9 images]; Sets [16 images]; Props [4 images] and The Cast [23 images]. As usual you have a choice of viewing each image shown either via Auto Advance or Manual Advance.
Finally, ‘KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE’ is an awesome, amazing, and is in top form and is also lots of over the top fun and frolics all at the same time, and will also guarantee you lots of action packed entertainment and is also a great escapism that we have come to expect from this film franchise. Plus the novelty factor of having Colin Firth back onscreen is worth the purchase of this Blu-ray alone. I am always a bit wary when it comes to seeing cameos of celebrities, but Sir Elton John’s appearance is absolutely amazing and truly wonderful over the top stuff. Again this second film is packed with 100% more explosions, chases and totally stunning spectacular visuals, but most importantly it is often very witty and very much at the same time with its own style of tongue-in-cheek humour, but it also has a plethora of expletives, so if that would offend you, then this film is not for you. With a rumour of a third chapter in the Kingsman’s film franchise in the pipeline, and I am definitely looking forward to a lot more of the excitement and innovative storyline of the first Kingsman film scenario to hopefully explore much further. Ultimately, ‘KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE’ can be easily summed up, and that of course is lots of fun and excitement. The film is pure unadulterated, high-octane fun that retains the laughs throughout the film, while at the same time ramping up the action. The film starts with a fight, then the chase scene that really has you on the edge of your seat, and keeps it running throughout the rest of the film. Director Matthew Vaughn has given us characters that are built to last and action set-pieces that know how to throw punches, as well as carry fantastic music throughout the film. But most importantly, it is easily one of the most enjoyable sequels and action pictures of 2017. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
