KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE [2014 / 2015] [Blu-ray + Digital HD ULTRAVIOLET] [UK Release] More Badass than Bond! It’s Hard to Wipe the Big Fat Smile off Your Face!
A SUPER-SECRET ORGANISATION recruits an unrefined, but promising street kid into the agency’s ultra-competitive training programme, just as a dire global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius. A phenomenal cast, including Academy Award® Winners Colin Forth [2010 ‘King’s Speech’], Sir Michael Caine [1986 ‘Hannah and Her Sisters’ and 1999 ‘The Cider House Rules’] and Samuel L. Jackson [1996 ‘Pulp Fiction’]. Leads this action-packed spy-thriller, and directed by Mathew Vaughn [‘Kick-Ass’ and X-Men: First Class’].
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2015 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards: Win: Top Box Office Film for Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson. 2015 Empire Awards, UK: Win: Best British Film. Win: Best Male Newcomer for Taron Egerton. Nominated: Best Thriller. Nominated: Best Female Newcomer for Sophie Cookson. 2015 Golden Schmoes Awards: Win: Most Underrated Movie of the Year. Win: Best Action Sequence of the Year for “Church Fight” scene. Nominated: Biggest Surprise of the Year. Nominated: Breakthrough Performance of the Year for Taron Egerton. Nominated: Coolest Character of the Year for “Galahad/Harry Hart.” Nominated: Most Memorable Scene in a Movie for “Church Fight” scene. Nominated: Best Line of the Year for "Manners maketh man." 2015 IGN Summer Movie Awards: Win: IGN Award for Best Comic Book Adaptation Movie. Win: IGN People's Choice Award for Best Comic Book Adaptation Movie. Nominated: IGN Award for Best Action Movie. 2015 Teen Choice Awards: Nominated: Choice Movie: Action. Nominated: Choice Movie: Breakout Star for Taron Egerton. 2016 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Comic-to-Film Motion Picture. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Writing for Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Actor for Taron Egerton. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Editing for Eddie Hamilton and Jon Harris. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Costume Design for Arianne Phillips. 2016 Awards of the Japanese Academy: Nominated: Best Foreign Film. 2016 Costume Designers Guild Awards: Nominated: Excellence in Contemporary Film for Arianne Phillips. 2016 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards: Nominated: Best Music Supervision for Films Budgeted Over $25 Million Dollars for Ian Neil. 2016 Huading Award: Nominated: Best Global Actor in a Motion Picture for Colin Firth. 2016 International Film Music Critics Award: Nominated: Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure/Thriller Film for Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson. 2016 MTV Movie + TV Awards: Nominated: MTV Movie Award for Best Villain for Samuel L. Jackson. 2016 World Stunt Awards: Win: Taurus World Stunt Award for Best Fight for Damien Walters, Greg Townley, James Harris, Rick English and Rudolf Vrba. Nominated: Taurus World Stunt Award for Best Stunt Coordinator and/or 2nd Unit Director for Bradley James Allan and Marv Films. Nominated: Taurus World Stunt Award for Best Fight for Cali Nelle, James Harris, Rick English, Rory Mulroe and Sebastian Zaniesienko.
FILM FACT No.2: Principal photography began 6 October 2013 in Deepcut, Surrey, on a budget reported to be one-third of the $200 million budget. The Alexandra Road Estate in Camden was used for Gary “Eggsy” Unwin's home area, and some scenes were filmed at Imperial College London. The Black Prince Pub in Kennington, South London, was used for various fight scenes and the car chase. Savile Row in Mayfair was also employed as a location and the exterior of tailors Huntsman at No. 12, which provided the clothes, and James Lock & Co. in St James's, which provided the hats. While rumours of several celebrity cameo parts were published, including Adele, Sir Elton John, Lady Gaga, and David Beckham, none of these rumours proved to be true. In May 2014, it was reported that Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson would be composing the music for the film, while in July it was announced that Gary Barlow would be writing the music for the film. Additionally, a song from Take That's seventh studio album III, "Get Ready for It," was played during the end credits.
Cast: Adrian Quinton, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Jonno Davies, Jack Davenport, Alex Nikolov, Samantha Womack, Mark Hamill, Velibor Topic, Sofia Boutella, Samuel L. Jackson, Sir Michael Caine, Taron Egerton, Geoff Bell, Jordan Long, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Tobi Bakare, Morgan Watkins, Paul Kennington, Ralph Ineson, Edward Holcroft, Sophie Cookson, Nicholas Banks, Jack Cutmore-Scott, Nicholas Agnew, Rowan Polonski, Tom Prior, Fiona Hampton, Bjørn Floberg, Hanna Alström, Johanna Taylor, Lily Travers, Richard Brake, Andrew Bridgmont, Corey Johnson, Anne Wittman, Andrei Lenart, Simon Green, Lazara Storm, Sarah Hewson, Jayne Secker, Lukwesa Burak, James Clayton, Nick English, Charles Filmer, Bimbo Hart, Chester King, Alastair MacIntosh, Carlos Peres, Talin Agon (uncredited), Adil Akram (uncredited), Nathan Aldous (uncredited), Mohammed Ali (uncredited), David Olawale Ayinde (uncredited), Mark Baxter (uncredited), Roy Beck (uncredited), Tom Bell (uncredited), Francesca Bennett (uncredited), Paul Biddiss (uncredited), Paulina Boneva (uncredited), Alexander Bracq (uncredited), Jay E. Brown (uncredited), Jaymes Butler (uncredited), Jamie Ben Chambers (uncredited), James Michael Rankin (uncredited), Daniel Chapple (uncredited), Alan Chimes (uncredited), Bern Collaço (uncredited), Christoph Cordell (uncredited), Justin Cosh (uncredited), Graham Curry (uncredited), Maryam Soumare Dahan (uncredited), Leigh Dent (uncredited), Ben Dilloway (uncredited), Erica Emm (uncredited), David Few-Cooper (uncredited), Yolandi Franken (uncredited), Demeko Frazer (uncredited), Kevin Fyfe (uncredited), Neve Gachev (uncredited), Alex Gillison (uncredited), Dave Goshorn (uncredited), Claire Greasley (uncredited), James Harris (uncredited), Lee Nicholas Harris (uncredited), Matt Harris (uncredited), Stefanie Harris (uncredited), John Hiorns (uncredited), Leigh Holland (uncredited), Matt Hookings (uncredited), Laura Hydari (uncredited), Tobias James-Samuels (uncredited), Rajesh Kalhan (uncredited), Rodion Kilinc (uncredited), Jefferson King (uncredited), Anna Krippa (uncredited), Jorge Leon Martinez (uncredited), Marian Lorencik (uncredited), Stuart Matthews (uncredited), Matthew David McCarthy (uncredited), Stephen McDade (uncredited), Allistair McNab (uncredited), Rory Mulroe (uncredited), Cali Nelle (uncredited), Michael Nicolae (uncredited), Emeson Nwolie (uncredited), Richard Ochampaugh (uncredited), Tatsujiro Oto (uncredited), Oliver Price (uncredited), Milan Pulvermacher (uncredited), Diezel Ramos (uncredited), James Michael Rankin (uncredited), Caroline Guy Roberta (uncredited), Steve Saunders (uncredited), Kelly Schembri (uncredited), Stuart Shepherd-Garner (uncredited), Tina Simmons (uncredited), Clem So (uncredited), Richard Stanley (uncredited), Kierran Stevenson (uncredited), Leon Symnz (uncredited), David Terry (uncredited), Phillip Ray Tommy (uncredited), Damien Walters (uncredited), Naomi Westerman (uncredited), Daniel Westwood (uncredited), Nadav Yoni (uncredited), Ryan Young (uncredited), Miroslav Zaruba (uncredited) and Tatiana Zarubova (uncredited)
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Producers: Adam Bohling, Claudia Schiffer, Dave Gibbons, David Reid, 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")
Composer: Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson
Cinematography: George Richmond (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Audio: English: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio Description Service
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH
Running Time: 129 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE’ is a slam-bang action film about British Secret Agents that is deliriously shaken, but not stirred and has fantastic spy gadgets via the super sophisticate suave Harry Hart [Colin Firth] and his best role in years, who is unleashed in this super awesome spy thriller film. Caught between straight-up James Bond and the silly stupid pathetic Austin Powers parody version. ‘KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE’ is an awesome super adrenaline high-octane combo of action and comedy, that breathes sweet and surreal new life into the big-screen spy game where James Bond meets Jason Bourne and Jack Bauer. Adapted from Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons' 2012 comic book series and directed by Matthew Vaughn with the same anything-goes ingenuity, that brought us ‘Kick Ass,’ Kingsman is all over the place that is to be expected in high octane action film. But you won’t want to miss the surprises it delights in springing you forth before your eyes.
In a role that fits him like a bespoke suit, Colin Firth is everything you want in an international man of mystery. He is a suave British agent Harry Hart, code-named Galahad, and plays by the rules of a company, headed by Arthur [Sir Michael Caine], that names its agents after Knights of the Round Table. Since Lancelot [Jack Davenport] died saving Galahad's ass 17 years ago, Galahad resolves to return the favour by recruiting Lance’s now grown up son, Gary “Eggsy” Unwin [Taron Egerton], gets recruited into the secret service. The thing is Gary “Eggsy” Unwin is a bit of an uncouth lout, a street kid who seems destined for prison, instead of the elegant environs of the Kingsman, where a swank tailoring shop on Saville Row that fronts for the Secret Service.
Got that? Now add the posh young recruits that include Gary “Eggsy” Unwin who must vie to achieve a place at the table. My advice is to just jump into the action and go with it. That's what Matthew Vaughn does. And with the opening scene, a flashback, introduces Richmond Valentine, a big-bucks super-villain played to the hilt and beyond by a lisping hammed up gloriously Samuel L. Jackson with a cruel streak Goldfinger would envy. Richmond Valentine has a gal Friday named Gazelle [Sofia Boutella] whose prosthetic legs are tipped with lethal blades and the film is loaded with lots of in [British] jokes, and amazingly we get a cameo performance from an unrecognisable Mark Hamill [Star Wars] and also a brilliant Bond villain from Samuel L. Jackson. Newbie Taron Egerton who really holds his own with a cast of professional actors and I loved his twist on a 007 martini gin poured while glancing at an unopened bottle of vermouth, I could go on. The awesome film sure lets hell ride the waves, with Matthew Vaughn and co-writer Jane Goldman throwing grenades into the plot every chance they get. The big set piece, and it's a wowzer, involves a church massacre provoked by lethal SIM cards that Valentine [Samuel L. Jackson] installs in all mobile phones around the world.
With its Camelot references and James Bond parallels, the film pays lavish homage to British mythology, although Galahad’s immaculate tailoring and furled (but lethal) umbrella reminded me even more of another fictional hero: Patrick Macnee’s John Steed, of TV series The Avengers. And if a shaken-not-stirred cocktail of Bond, The Avengers and the Knights of the Round Table weren’t enough, there is also a nod to Harry Potter, as Gary “Eggsy” Unwin goes to spy school to see which of he and his fellow pupils, all frightfully posh, is good enough to be anointed the new Lancelot. There are lots of sound reasons to see this film, not least Colin Firth, who embraces the parody with huge relish while showing us that he might just be the best Bond we never had. And young Taron Egerton is absolutely totally brilliant and terrific. Several scenes I really loved are and one of them is the orgiastic melee of killing in a U.S. church and the other was when everyone’s heads blow up with the rousing British music of “Land of Hope and Glory,” which is definitely made for over-excited pleasure in my estimation and I gather was actually toned down to gain a British and Irish 15 certificate, and there is also in the film there is lots of cleverly choreographed set-pieces, dagger-sharp dialogue, and even the odd nugget of philosophy. Becoming a gentleman, Harry Hart, code-named Galahad [Colin Firth] tells Gary “Eggsy” Unwin [Taron Egerton], it is not about which school you went to or how you hold your cutlery: “It is about being at ease in one’s own skin.” Even when everything stops making sense, ‘KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE’ is unstoppable lots of gratuitous over the top violent fun.
KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE MUSIC TRACK LIST
MONEY FOR NOTHING (Written by Mark Knopfler and Sting) [Performed by Dire Straits]
BONKERS (Written by Dizzee Rascal and Armand Van Helden) [Performed by Dizzee Rascal and Armand Van Helden]
FEEL THE LOVE (Written by Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden, Amir Izadkhah and John Newman) [Performed by Rudimental]
FREE BIRD (Written by Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant) [Performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd]
POMP & CIRCUMSTANCES (Written by Edward Elgar)
GIVE IT UP (Written by Deborah Carter and Harry Wayne Casey) [Performed by KC & The Sunshine Band]
SLAVE TO LOVE (Written by Bryan Ferry) [Performed by Bryan Ferry]
GET READY FOR IT (Written by Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Steve Robson) [Performed by Take That]
HEAVY CROWN (Written by Iggy Azalea, Jon Turner, Jon Shave, George Astasio, Jason Pebworth, Ellie Goulding and Salt Wives) [Performed by Iggy Azalea and Ellie Goulding]
Blu-ray Image Quality – The film’s 2.40:1 theatrical aspect ratio is offered with an awesome gorgeous reference quality 1080p transfer image. Sharpness remains consistently brilliant throughout with hair textures and those handsome costumes by Arianne Phillips showing a remarkable amount of detail. The colour is rich and solid with believable and appealing skin tones. Contrast has been consistently applied to get the most out of the exquisite photography while black levels are quite inky with startling shadow detail. 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 – The awesome 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound mix is totally perfect for this kind of over the top action-filled extravaganza with split effects appearing throughout which maximize gunfire, fighting, explosions and the like in every quadrant of the sound field. Both Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson have provided awesome music, which gets the full surround experience, and there’s directional led dialogue sprinkled throughout, though most of the well-recorded dialogue has been placed in the centre channel.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: ‘KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE’ Revealed [2015] [1080p] [2.39:1 / 1.78:1] With this awesome and amazing 6-part Look Behind-the-Scenes of ‘KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE’ where you will get to hear some very interesting intimate views from the actors and people who worked on the film, that is totally fascinating and they are as follows: “Panel to Screen: The Education of a 21st Century Super-Spy” [1080p] [2.39:1 / 1.78:1] [10:19]. “Heroes and Rogues” [1080p] [2.39:1 / 1.78:1] [23:09]. “Style All His Own” [1080p] [2.39:1 / 1.78:1] [10:49]. Tools of the Trade [1080p] [2.39:1 / 1.78:1] [15:21]. “Breathtakingly Brutal” [1080p] [2.39:1 / 1.78:1] [17:27]. “Culture Clash: The Comic Book Origins of the Secret Service” [1080p] [1.78:1] [15:21].
Special Feature: Galleries: The following individual sections, is composed of a series of awesome still images from the film ‘KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE’ where you can view three separate section and they are as follows: “Behind the Scenes” [4:18] Here you get to view a total of 51 images. “Sets” [2:03] Here you get to view a total of 24 images. “Props” [3:18] Here you get to view a total of 39 images. You can either AUTO ADVANCE [which I prefer] to launch an awesome slideshow, where images will change every five seconds. Press on your remote to pause on a selected image.
Theatrical Trailer [2015] [1080p] [2.39:1] [2:22] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE.’
Finally, in the film ‘KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE’ the cast are all totally superb and with Colin Firth leading the line exceptionally well. It’s hard to imagine that anyone could have tackled this role with quite the same levels of stiff-upper-lipped awesomeness. Colin Firth also shares a wonderful chemistry with up-and-comer Taron Egerton as Gary “Eggsy” Unwin, a young man who has super-stardom beckoning. After a strong side role in Testament of Youth, Egerton handles his first major lead role with all the charisma and style you could hope for. Taron Egerton and Colin Firth make an excellent on-screen duo, but what a shame Colin Firth would not appear if there was a follow up film, as he was brilliant and I hope there will be a follow up film. The rest of the film is full of remarkable supporting actors too. Mark Strong, Jack Davenport and Sophie Cookson delight whilst Samuel L. Jackson and Sofia Boutella serve up some truly fresh, original villains. And of course a very surprising performance from ‘Star Wars’ legend Mark Hamill has a pivotal cameo and who else could play the head of the Kingsman quite like our national treasure Sir Michael Caine. Kingsman: The Secret Service guarantees a perfect night in. It entertains throughout and proves that big budget action-adventures can be made in the UK. Colin Firth and Taron Egerton are totally sublime together, with the story playfully paying homage to the legacy of James Bond. It is very stylish, funny and quintessentially English. ‘KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE’ was the first must-see action film of 2015, so much so I watched a second viewing the same evening, that is how good it is and gets a brilliant 5 star rating from me. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
