Kingsman: The Secret Service

I knew from the first minute that this film was going to be a five-star affair, but I had no idea that after watching it, it would become an instant favourite and the best film ever made, on par with The Dark Knight and The Raid 2. A brilliant, precise and high quality film in every aspect, yes every single cinematic part here is pedaling at 150%. The highlights: attractive and original visuals, an excellent idea, authentic and original cinematography that draws the viewer into the story, perfect acting (Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Hamil and that irresistible evil babe with very sharp high heels), polished dialogues that are witty, blackly humorous, intelligent with lots of interesting wisdom, lessons and moral principles, and, above all, absolutely TOP NOTCH classy action that is breathtaking, ass-clenching, heart-jumping and erection-inducing! I must also praise the very well chosen soundtrack for every single scene, the amazing gradual build-up of tension, the literally heart attack inducing moments (the countdown to the end of humanity, the parachute jump, the perfect training), and most of all the originality. The film is bursting with one idea after another; it’s unbelievable that in this day and age someone can make a film where every scene, every invention, every single action set-piece is brand new, original, distinctive... and for horror buffs, there's plenty of blood and violence. I must urge all my friends to go to the cinema. Unless you are a curmudgeon, a nerd, a rabble, a universally hated entity and a village scum you will be as satisfied as I am. There hasn't been a more entertaining movie in years. Seen twice already and soon for the third time. 1000%!!! (23/02/2015)

Matthew Vaughn again shot an almost perfect entertainment which has everything a funny gangster movie needs. A villain with a lisp, portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson, macho agent Colin Firth or a really likeable muddler Taron Egerton. Add in a rather classic story, but with a truly excellent interpretation, which is most apparent in the rather brutal, but all the more fun action scene in the church. I don’t know if Matthew Vaughn is a genius, but he is one of the few directors whose films I keep revisiting and after watching them again I rate them even higher. After Stardust, this flick is the best he managed to entertain me with so far. And I hope it was not the last time. (02/06/2015)

A bit of a sucker punch from Matthew, because he plays exactly those strings that a shameful and overripe Bond fan has to love in his post-nerdy nature (well-known superspy choruses acted with a mixture of irony and fanboy love). When you take this world too seriously, you come to the harsh condemnation of its hidden conservatism and aristocratic stiffness (just like certain British critics), but what else is JB's (the only real one) world based on, if not its return to the suit, fireplace, mahogany, and expensive booze? Kingsman is an amusing paraphrase of genre rules, their reflections, distortions and resurrections in all their glory and dignity. The boy gets a suit, the aristocracy enjoys anal, the viewer enjoys Matthew's kinetic tomfoolery, the seamless transitions from scene to scene and the striking catchphrases... we add a bit of honest social drama and we’re home. Being that I am distanced from it, the only objection I have is that Vaughn's inclination to ultimate "coolness" at all costs is already on the verge of self-parody and emotional blackmail. But let’s not be distanced. Kingsman amused me because it had to amuse me. It's that kind of a movie... [80%] (04/02/2015)

Kick-Ass made in a style of classic Bond movies. And it is done so consistently and one to one (again, it is genre conscious as much as subversive, furious, with a considerable portion of meta exaggeration, it emphasizes being cool in all circumstances and the resembles in clearly seen also in the course, the type of roles, allusions, etc.) that is clearly to its detriment, because the Vaughn/Millar duo are undoubtedly capable of doing more than just copying themselves. However, if (and as long as) it is such a thoroughly likeable incorrect fun, who would mind it? PS: Too bad the official subtitles, which are not very imaginative are not very good. At least Valentine's speech impediment directly calls for a playful approach. (05/02/2015)

Manners, not clothes, make a gentleman. Even though Vaughn works visually outside all pigeonholes (the church massacre is something so unholy I'm surprised American churches aren’t screaming loudly) and sprinkles adolescent quips with the mischievousness of a 16-year-old class brat, which is then perfectly matched by the dream cast, obviously he and Goldman got embarrassed by superficial Bond jokes. You just end up wanting more happy meals and lines about "other movies"; four stars is actually a slight disappointment in the context of Vaughn's output, but he is still far ahead of his genre contemporaries. (04/03/2015)