A review of Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: 20TH CENTURY FOX/ MARV FILMS/ CLOUDY PRODUCTIONS
Kingsman: The Golden Circle, the sequel in the franchise's history is a pleasant film to watch. Having been released on Sept. 22, it's a must see for those whose enjoyed the first film.

On Sept. 22, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, the second installment in the Kingsman film franchise, arrived at Canadian box offices. Boasting a much larger and renowned group of actors, including Jeff Bridges and Channing Tatum, The Golden Circle manages to capitalize on the theatrical elements that made the first film an enjoyable experience. The film revolves around a secret agent named Eggsy who is attempting to avenge his fallen comrades and save the world after his agency is destroyed by the film's antagonist, Poppy and her group of elite terrorists. Incorporating impressive aesthetics, exciting actions sequences and a quick pace, the film is the epitome of a summer blockbuster.

As mentioned previously, The Golden Circle does a fantastic job creating an interesting visual style. By incorporating retro elements from the 1950s with futuristic gadgets, there is rarely a moment where the screen appears dull. This foundation acts as a catalyst, which amplifies the potential of the film's other components. The fight scenes during the climax are the most notable examples. Without spoiling the film's conclusion, the aesthetic allows the film creators to incorporate ferocious mechanical beasts and weaponized appendages within locations like diners and bowling alleys without any trouble getting the audience to suspend their disbelief.

These fight scenes are arguably The Golden Circle's strongest element. The choreography is brilliant as individuals duke it out using impactful blows and fast paced acrobatic maneuvers. These battles are accompanied by fluid camera movements and interesting angles resembling the sequences within The Matrix film trilogy.

The Golden Circle's cast does an adequate job portraying their characters. No performances stand out as poor, as each of the characters come together to create a believable and cohesive narrative despite the many futuristic and fictional plot devices within the film. The one exception is Mark Strong's character Merlin, who does a lovely job generating a true sense of sorrow and emotion within the audience.

The film's worst element revolves around its lack of narrative depth. There are very few twists and turns to keep the audience engaged with The Golden Circle's storyline. The story is not bad; however, it is the weakest part of the experience. Fortunately the high level of action will likely distract most people from the poor character development and lack of suspense. The plot's only redeeming factor is its social commentary on the state of global drug use and abuse. Drug use plays a large role in the film's narrative, and the creators implore the audience to introspectively examine their understanding of illicit drug users. The Golden Circle promotes the idea that drug users are not the scum of society. Instead, these users come from all walks of life and are not solely linked to delinquency and criminality. Users are just ordinary people who are trying to fight their own battles.

While there are various positive and negative elements within The Golden Circle, the sound design does a good job binding these elements together. The soundtrack in particular is an impressive amalgamation of classic country songs and enthralling orchestral pieces that pleasure the ears and complement the various sequences within the film.

Fans of the original should definitely watch The Golden Circle, as well as any others looking to wet their apatite with an exciting, albeit shallow, foray into the action/spy genre.