Review of ‘Kingsman; The Golden Circle’

                  

The world spoke and I didn't listen; I went to see Kingsman at the weekend and here's what I have to say. The opening scene with Eggsy back on the field having a death defying fight in a black cab was quite entertaining and I thought to myself; how could this fun action spy movie possibly ruin my evening? Well, lots of things actually. The films starts to remorselessly kill of characters just as recklessly as it brings one of them back. The deaths at the start feel cold and unjustified and I started to loose heart from that point on. It seems the logic of the Kingsman sequel is that if you ditch the original fondly crafted premise by blowing everything up that somehow the stakes will be higher and we'll follow the story with heightened attention. WRONG. It feels like I went to buy a second pair of leather oxfords and came  back with some jelly shoes. Everything in this film including most of the plot direction felt plastic and clumsy. The film clearly aims to achieve an artistic juxtaposition with its antagonist as she has an idilic 50s American diner aesthetic yet she is a baddie! How original! The problem is I didn't believe her as a villain nor did I believe her sugary general persona.

There is a moment in this that has caused a ripple of offence among audiences and I have to say that as a woman I felt violated just watching it. I don't think it was as harmless as the people involved in the film have suggested I think it sends a leery backward message about woman and sex. This film needs to stop its reign of terror before the charm of the original is well and truly lost.