Kingsman: The Golden Circle Blu-ray Review

"Kingsman: The Golden Circle" dazzles on Blu-ray with an impressive 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Captured digitally using Arri Alexa cameras and processed from a 2K digital intermediate, this transfer showcases the film in exquisite clarity and vibrant colors. The meticulous attention to fine detailing is evident, particularly in close-ups of characters' facial features and the intricately stitched suits worn by the protagonists. The visual presentation is marked by strong primary colors, which enhance key scenes while maintaining consistent visibility even in the film’s darker moments, thanks to accurate black levels.

The film's bright, almost overly shiny aesthetic works wonderfully with the robust color saturation that brings Elton John's vivid wardrobe, and Poppy's 50s-themed sets to life. Architectural elements, signage, and other background items appear distinct and well-defined regardless of location—be it London, Kentucky, or Cambodia. However, some CGI-heavy scenes and certain explosions reveal a bit of softness that contrasts with the otherwise crisp detail across the board.

While the overall viewing experience benefits greatly from the precise contrast and radiant color palette, it's worth noting minor imperfections such as hotter-than-normal highlights that can obscure finer details. Additionally, the transfer's digital polish may seem sterile to some, with occasional mild aliasing along sharp edges. Despite these issues, the high-definition visuals maintain a buoyant, high-spirited feel throughout even the most action-packed sequences. This results in a beautifully rendered presentation that remains true to the dynamic and vibrant essence of its graphic novel origins.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track on the Blu-ray of "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" offers an exhilarating sonic experience that leaves little room for improvement. Dialogue and softer elements are seamlessly interwoven with the frenetic action sequences, providing a balanced auditory journey. Whether it's the explosive scenes in Poppy's jungle abode or the aerial dynamics during the antidote lab's escape, the mix is impressive. LFE delivers clean, deeply impactful bass notes that judiciously complement the unfolding action without overpowering quieter moments, maintaining a natural auditory rhythm throughout.

Dynamic range is notably wide, allowing for crystal-clear dialogue and music that fills the room with vibrant energy. Surround activity is executed with precision, as evidenced in the cab fight scene where panning effects and discrete placement of individual sound elements enhance immersion. Explosions and other high-octane effects are supported by forceful LFE, which adds to the visceral impact. While some quieter scenes could benefit from richer ambient sounds to match the vivacity of action-packed moments, the overall fidelity and balance of the track are exceptional.

Front soundstage activity is expansive, maintaining a spacious and enveloping auditory field. Background atmospherics convincingly occupy off-screen space, ensuring a comprehensive auditory experience. Even amid intense action sequences, the mid-range remains extensive and dynamic, providing distinct separation and clarity. Vocals remain precisely prioritized amid the mayhem, ensuring they stand out against the intricate soundscape. Low-frequency effects contribute a thunderous presence, lending scenes a sense of tactile weight that heightens engagement. Overall, this track offers a robust and meticulously crafted audio experience for viewers.

The Blu-ray extras for "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" feature an in-depth exploration of the film's creative process, from inception to post-production. The comprehensive content includes a multi-chapter documentary, action-packed scene breakdowns, and extensive visual galleries. The featurettes deliver a thorough behind-the-scenes look at conceptualization, set design, costuming, special effects, and notable cameos. Detailed galleries with concept art and stills offer fans an engaging visual insight into the film's making.

Extras included in this disc:

• KINGSMAN: INSIDE THE GOLDEN CIRCLE: An extensive multi-chaptered documentary covering all aspects of the film’s creation.
  • Distilling The Story: Kingsman Returns
  • Trafficker, Tailor, Southerner, Spy
  • Poppy's Special Guest: Elton John
  • Nefarious Lairs & High-Falutin' Headquarters
  • Suited And Booted
  • Weapons of Choice
  • Brothers In Arms
  • Doomsday Protocol: Visual Effects
  • End Game
• Black Cab Chaos: Anatomy of a Killer Chase: A detailed look at the filming of the opening action sequence.
• Kingsman Archives: Concept Art and Stills galleries featuring sets, costumes, behind-the-scenes shots, props, and cast images.

Matthew Vaughn’s "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" builds on the hyper-stylized formula that made its predecessor, "Kingsman: The Secret Service," a success, but with mixed results. Following Eggsy (Taron Egerton), who has now matured into a senior Kingsman agent, the film kicks off with an adrenaline-pumping action sequence involving a bionic-armed former Kingsman recruit. Vaughn continues to lampoon the spy genre, heightening the absurdity to an extreme level. However, this unrestrained excess hampers the film's cohesiveness, leading to fragmented storytelling and a sense of forced spectacle.

The narrative takes a globe-trotting turn as Eggsy, alongside Merlin (Mark Strong), aligns with Statesman, the American counterpart to Kingsman, headquartered under a Kentucky whiskey distillery. The inclusion of Channing Tatum’s Tequila, Jeff Bridges’s Champagne, and Halle Berry’s Ginger Ale adds flair, though Tatum’s screen time is notably limited. Julianne Moore as the cheery yet diabolical drug lord Poppy Adams commands attention with her kitschy 1950s-inspired lair and bizarre plot to gain legitimacy by poisoning her own drug supply. Despite the impressive star power and high-octane set pieces, the film often feels structurally disjointed and emotionally hollow.

Technically, "The Golden Circle" dazzles with state-of-the-art CGI and elaborate stunt choreography, ensuring each action scene is visually spectacular. Yet, this emphasis on visual flash skirts the satirical edge that defined the original film. Where "The Secret Service" balanced humor and homage with pointed critique, the sequel leans heavily into absurdity without the same incisive wit. Ultimately, for all its explosions, fight scenes, and star performances, "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" offers a lot of spectacle but falls short on substance.

"Kingsman: The Golden Circle" continues the zany, high-octane escapades of Eggsy and the Kingsmen with a film that amplifies its predecessor's flair for the extravagant. Taron Egerton and Mark Strong return with gusto, now joined by a stellar cast including Channing Tatum, Pedro Pascal, Halle Berry, and Jeff Bridges, who add new layers of absurdity to the already gleefully over-the-top narrative. Julianne Moore's portrayal of the sinister Poppy is equally charming and devious. The film's structure, however, is somewhat haphazard, often bouncing erratically between plotlines with little regard for coherence. This disjointed narrative might detract from the overall experience, yet the film's stylish presentation and electrifying action sequences compensate substantially.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray edition of "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" is outstanding. The video quality is exceptional, showcasing the movie's lavish production design and elaborate set pieces with crisp clarity in its 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio. The audio presentation is equally impressive, particularly the English DTS-HD MA 7.1 track which engulfs viewers in an immersive sonic experience. Although the supplementary materials might initially appear to be sparse, they include a comprehensive documentary that provides an in-depth look into the making of the film.

With that being said, the movie is very stylish and the action IS a lot of fun. It’s just that the depth of the first movie (as much depth as there was) is replaced with more traditional guns, knives, explosions and beautiful women. I guess you could say, the sequel gave up what made its predecessor “special” and gave it the good old “style over substance” upgrade in an effort to outdo itself. The movie is vacuous, dumb, but gleefully over the top and full of some fun fight sequences with a killer audio and video track no matter if you choose the 4K UHD or the Blu-ray to watch (although I would give the 4K the upper hand by a decent margin due to the inclusion of Atmos and the uptick in quality in the video encode). Recommended as a fun watch for those who like over-the-top action movies.

Technical Specifications:

• Starring: Taron Egerton, Channing Tatum, Mark Strong, Colin Firth
• Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
• Written by: Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 AVC
• Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 7.1; Spanish, French DD 5.1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• Rated: R
• Runtime: 141 Minutes
• Blu-ray Release Date: December 12th, 2017