From Mission: Impossible to James Bond, the spy genre of filmmaking has captivated audiences for decades. When Kingsman: The Secret Service first hit theaters in 2014, the genre was quite literally turned on its head. Featuring quick-paced camera work almost reminiscent of first-person-style video games, hilarious and witty dialogue and a powerhouse cast, this initial outing for the proposed Kingsman trilogy took audiences and critics by storm, with some hailing it as one of the greatest spy films of all time. With its sequel, Kingsman: The Golden Circle delivering the same punch as its predecessor, many fans have secured the Kingsman series into their personal movie vaults as some of the most entertaining spy films ever made.
Part of what makes the Kingsman series so interesting is its new take and direction on a typical spy flick. James Bond was notorious for being an overly-sexualized, suave and dangerous secret agent, with no real knowledge of his backstory and how exactly he became the most famous agent in the British Secret Intelligence Service. The Kingsman films really succeeded in creating a backstory for their titular character, Gary "Eggsy" Unwin, portrayed by relative newcomer Taron Egerton. Eggsy does not begin as an established, sophisticated secret agent, though after rigorous Kingsman training, he evolves into a truly modern version of a secret agent, and his journey to becoming a super-spy is what hooks audiences from the beginning.
Kingsman: The Secret Service, based on the comic series The Secret Service by Mark Miller and Dave Gibbons, begins with Eggsy's father and his future mentor Harry (Colin Firth) in the thick of a heated exchange with some foes where ultimately, Eggsy's father loses his life. Harry ultimately resolves to help watch over the infant son left behind as a result of the Kingsman's dangerous dealings, and the story ultimately begins with Eggsy down on his luck, poverty-stricken and often getting into serious trouble with his peers and eventually facing prison time if not for him calling Harry via a secret phone number in his final hour of need.
The remainder of the film follows Eggsy and a group of similarly-aged individuals from vastly different upbringings as they embark on life-threatening Kingsman training in the hopes to ultimately fill a seat at the elite spy organization's table. While things might not be as they initially seem, Eggsy does indeed become a secret agent one way or another.
Boasting a star-studded cast featuring Michael Caine, Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Firth and Mark Strong, The Secret Service wildly succeeded in producing a high-energy, action-packed spy feature that never dragged or lost momentum. There were many noteworthy camera takes and angles that made this first outing of the series a truly entertaining visual experience that is hard to take your eyes off of. With numerous scenes done in one take, and varying degrees of slow and sped-up motion, the unique cinematography sets this offering apart from previous spy features.
The second film of the Kingsman franchise was The Golden Circle. Boasting an even bigger cast, featuring stars like Pedro Pascal, Julianne Moore and Channing Tatum, and even a cameo by Sir Elton John himself, The Golden Circle took the titular Brits across the pond to the United States. Naturally, while in the states they were faced with yet another conspiracy that held the very fate of the world at stake. This offering was a similar version to the first, with the same camera work and borderline vulgar, yet ultimately hilarious dialogue. It also introduced the Statesman, the American counterpart to the British Kingsman. This outing was just as colorful and fast-paced as the first, though some fans felt it delivered more of the same delights with less of the initial spark.
With a third addition to the Kingsman series having released in December, the latest installment takes viewers back to where the Kingsman first began. The King's Man, available in theaters now, takes place before the previous two films, beginning at the start of the Kingsman franchise both literally and figuratively. Featuring heavy-hitter Ralph Fiennes, as well as beloved stars Stanley Tucci and Rhys Ifans, this offering promises to provide context for any and all unanswered questions about the Kingsman after the first two installments.
The Kingsman franchise has always been a celebration, albeit at times a mockery, of the classic spy genre, and has successfully changed the way audiences view these kinds of films. Using camera work akin to the same style used within video games, the cinematography alone is enough to catapult these films into a new style of filmmaking altogether. Providing context about the main characters, showing how they actually become super spies instead of being just thrust into the action also makes these films a refreshing and interesting option when fans are hoping to get their spy fix. The Kingsman have the formula for great movies already laid within their foundations: a smart cast, interesting film design, fast-paced action and plot make the journey through these stories a ride audiences thoroughly enjoy time and time again.