The Kings Man is a prequel to 2014’s Kingsman: The Secret Service, a film based on the Mark Millar & Dave Gibbons comic The Secret Service (later the series was rebranded as Kingsman following the film franchises success). If you need your memory jogged as to which comic book movie that is, it’s the one that had Colin Firth go on an extended action sequence inside a Westboro-esque church and had an ending involving people’s heads exploding into fireworks.
In the hands of a more “paint by numbers” studio director, Kingsman might have just been a hollow action movie. Fortunately, critically acclaimed director Matthew Vaughn is specifically gifted at fusing over-the-top violence and subversive content with genuine style and a surprising amount of heart and humanity. I’m personally not a fan of Mark Millar as a comic writer, but somehow Vaughn manages to take his books and sand off their bitter nature while adding in some genuine joy and wit.
That said, the previous Kingsman movie The Golden Circle was simply not good. A very so-so sequel that felt obligatory. Upon hearing that the franchise was getting a prequel, I let out a good long sigh. But, the premise seems like a lot of fun to me, “secret service agents have to stop Rasputin” sounds like a good time.
While the trailer itself is the same “big action movie” trailer you’ve seen before, the presence of an all-star cast (Ralph Fiennes, Djimon Hounsou, and Daniel Brühl are in the trailer. Charles Dance, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Stanley Tucci are also confirmed to appear) and the faith I have in the director lift my expectations a bit.
I can’t say I’m particularly interested in seeing the origins of the Kingsman organization, or the time period, or the founders of the… okay maybe I’m not that excited to see this. Still, I think it looks like a good time, and I’ve seen every other movie this guy’s directed so I see no reason to stop my streak now.
To hear further thoughts on The King’s Man, hosted above is our latest episode of Trailer Talk! Listen to Melvin and me banter about The King’s Man and several other movie trailers!
Description: As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them.
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Matthew Goode, Ralph Fienness, Harris Dickinson, Rhys Ifans, and Charles Dance
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: September 18, 2020
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Daniel Braindead is a Producer and Cohost of Cinematic Doctrine. Combining his BA of Biblical Studies, brief study in Journalism, and an overdose of film trivia and film history, Daniel brings clarity and comedy to every episode of the Cinematic Doctrine podcast! His prowess for cultural understanding and biblical application always brings something new to the table.
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