Great spy movie, cool action and funny comedy in one

Rating: 8/10 (21 February 2015)

17 years after the sacrifice of his friend Lee and welcoming Lancelot into the secret spy organization Kingsman, Galahad/Harry finds Lancelot killed in a solo rescue attempt, and Lee's son Eggsy arrested. Harry then have a chat with Eggsy where he dismisses the thugs who had a quarrel with Eggsy. Soon Eggsy comes to the tailor shop, which has the secret entrance to the Kingsman HQ. Harry offers to recruit him and Eggsy accepts. In boot camp Eggsy quickly gains a friend in Roxy, and an enemy in Charlie. Meanwhile, Harry investigates on leads from Lancelot's death and gets thrown into a coma by an explosion. At night Eggsy and the other recruits find their room full with water. Roxy finds a way to get air, while Eggsy breaks the two-way mirror to their rescue. Eggsy visits the recovered Harry and they learn that the leads all lead to Valentine, who's sharing free SIM cards.
Harry visits Valentine under guise and finds only information about a hate group in Kentucky. Eggsy and the recruits are tested to parachute with one of them having no chute. Only Eggsy, Roxy and Charlie passes this stage. Eggsy meets Harry back in the tailor shop and to their surprise Valentine is also there trying a suit. The three youngsters have another test to sweet talk a girl. But actually it's a test to endure interrogation, in which Charlie fails. The final test has Eggsy and Roxy to shoot their pet dogs, in which Eggsy fails, thus Roxy becomes the new Lancelot. Harry dragged the angry Eggst and revealed that the bullet for the dog is a blank. Harry goes to Kentucky to investigate. But Valentine activates a signal through his shared free SIM cards, which makes everyone kills each other, from which Harry is the only survivor. But Valentine waits for him at the exit and kills him. Eggsy meets Arthur about Harry, but he learns that Arthur had gained a scar like the professor Valentine kidnapped. Thus Eggsy evaded Arthur's murder attempt by switching his drinks.
Eggsy meets Merlin and Roxy to stop Valentine. Roxy wears a special suit to go into orbit and take out a satellite to inhibit the signal while Eggsy and Merlin goes to Valentine's base. Eggsy manages to sneak in and help Merlin hack Valentine's signal. Eggsy goes back to Merlin as Roxy nails her target. But Valentine gets another satellite and uses his biometric security, preventing any hacks as long as his hand is on the scanner. Eggsy arrives and fights Valentine's hench-woman Gazelle, and finally throws one of Gazelle's bladed prosthetic leg to Valentine.
The story is very nice. It's reminiscent of oldies Bond movies yet it's even more. At first I thought the movie's edge is the combination of the comedy into it. But after I see it, the movie very much like a great nostalgia as it also looks very lively to the younger generations. The elements paying homage to old Bond, and spy movies in general is a great thing to refresh the spy movie sub genre. spy movies get to be varied now; as some rely on the sly gadgetry like Bond movies, while other focus on the intrigues like Spy Game, action like Bourne movies. Or even humor like Austin Power movies. But this movie definitely states that a spy movie can have all of that and still be great without losing focus.
The action is very nice. You get to see classy action and fighting, using the classic spy gadgets like the poison-bladed shoe, lighter grenade and bulletproof umbrella. Don't expect to see efficient fight moves like the ones in Bourne movies. The fight moves are flamboyant with flips, somersaults, and also has a Kill Bill feel to it with close up blood and gore.
The comedy is also very nice. Overall they are funny and well paced. They even get to be very funny at some spots. I couldn't stop laughing at the scene where Eggsy takes JB for a walk. Matthew Vaughn really used his Snatch and Lock Stock experiences to a good way in making some of the fights, particularly the fights with the local gangsters, look funny at times.
The acting is decently good. Having Colin Firth as the focus gentleman spy is a great thing since he has the roots and the face to create the authentic Bristish gentleman aura. He did play as the British king George after all. Taron Egerton didn't disappoint in his performance. Samuel L. Jackson adds a thing to the villain that makes the character easy to remember. Having Michael Caine really adds to the British feel.
MY say is that Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) really deserves an 8 out of 10 score, and a must-see recommendation. Entertainment is guaranteed for me from this movie, and a sequel is a yes for my wish list.