The film Kingsman was released in 2015 and gained popularity. The concept of mixing spy action with British gentleman culture became a hot topic, so it was decided to make it into a series. The sequel to “Kingsman” was released in 2018 as the movie Kingsman: The Golden Circle. We wrote about what makes this sequel so appealing, which satisfied fans of the first film.
The return of familiar characters
The movie Kingsman: The Golden Circle surprised fans by showing the faces of some of the most unexpected characters from the first film. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the return of Harry Hart, who was supposed to have died in the first film. Fans were concerned because there were reports for a while that Colin Firth, who plays Harry Hart, would not appear in the sequel, but in the end, he made a splendid and complete comeback. It was also a surprise that Charlie, who was an enemy of Eggsy in the previous film, appeared in this film as a full-fledged member of the villain’s gang. It may also be the return of Princess Tilde. In the last movie, she appeared only briefly as a hostage to be rescued by Eggsy. Still, in this film, she reappeared in the heroine slot as Eggsy’s lover. It was an unexpected reappearance.
Of course, the reappearance of Merlin, who became the hero, Eggsy, and somehow Eggsy’s good friend, reassured fans. Conversely, Lancelot, who was expected to play an active role in the future, had only a brief appearance, which was also a surprise. In terms of characters, this was a shocking sequel.
The English Gentleman and the American Cowboy
Speaking of Kingsman, the use of English gentleman culture attracted many fans. In particular, the line Manners maketh man, a quote from William of Wycombe, resonated with many people; some may have even imitated it.
As if in contrast to this British gentleman culture, the new American intelligence organization, the Statesmen, appeared in the movie Kingsman: The Golden Circle. While the King’s code name was based on the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the Statesman’s code name is based on the name of Sake. Unlike the Kingsman, who wears a suit, the Statesman wears boots and a ten-gallon hat. The weapons used in the film, such as a lasso and guns, were easily recognizable as American, and the contrast between the two was fascinating. I was surprised that tequila was not used as much as I expected. It is like Japanese people carrying the Samurai sword when everyone thinks of Japan.
The contrast between the British gentleman culture and the cowboy culture of the American West was fascinating. Still, unfortunately, the Statesman’s gadgets were not as intriguing as the Kingsman’s. I think the appeal of Kingsman was that its gadgets, which look like gentlemen and are far removed from violence, are weapons in unexpected ways. On the other hand, in the case of the Statesman, there were relatively many things that looked like they could be used as weapons. In that sense, it suited Statesman to appear from the sequel.
Humor, Violence, and Gorgeous Guests
Like its predecessor, the movie Kingsman: The Golden Circle features many humorous and violent scenes. The scale of the action scenes was larger than that of the previous film. And, after all, the singer Elton John played a significant role in this film. He appeared in the movie as himself, perhaps as a guest, but it was not a cameo but a long appearance. Since he is a leading British legend, he was a perfect fit for this series. Incidentally, Taron Egerton, who played Eggsy, later played his part in the Elton biopic.
Also, there was more female presence in this film than in the previous films. In particular, the villain of this film, Poppy, played by Julianne Moore, was interesting and cringe-worthy in her pretense of being a homely American woman, contrasting with the English gentleman and the American cowboy.
Summary
Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a movie with a plot that lasts about two and a half hours, but you will enjoy it all the way through without getting bored. The new humor related to the difference between gentlemen and cowboys is a highlight of the movie. In addition, the humorous aspects and violent action from the previous film will keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. The unexpected development of unexpected characters and farewells to characters are also film highlights. I hope you will enjoy this film together with the previous one.
