“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” was released in theaters in September.  It takes place in the UK after the events of the first movie. The movie is about the fall of a Secret Service, known as “Kingsman” to an unknown drug lord that has a monopoly on the international drug trade.  The people who are associated with the kingpin are referred to as the “Golden Circle.”  Only two people in Kingsman survive the attack on the organization and then go to the USA to what is later learned to be Kingsman’s cousin service, “Statesman.”  

At Statesmen, they learn that Harry Hart, who was shot in the eye in the first film is alive, but does not recall his affiliation with Kingsman.  They try to make him remember, but fail in doing so until later.  They instead focus on finding out more about the anonymous organization of the Golden Circle.  While this is happening, there is a huge breakout that makes veins all over their body to turn blue, mostly around the face and neck. They find a lead to one of the members- his ex girlfriend.  By using a risqué method, they plant a tracking device on her and track her to a mountain in Italy where they ended up locating a cure to the breakout.  They get one of the vials of the cure in hopes of replicating it, but is lost on their way out.  Then Harry shoots one of their allies who he believes to be working against them.  The Kingsman would soon go on their own on their fight against the Golden Circle.

First off, I would highly recommend watching the first film before  this one. The movie is a great follow up to “Kingsman: The Secret Service.” All of the main characters from the first film are present at the beginning.  The same style is present in the film; it serves as a less-censored and more funny version of James Bond.  It still retains the serious and gritty nature of films of this genre.  There are times in the film that some people would probably deem unnecessary, like the scene in the tent, but due to the R rating of the film they are acceptable and do have some value.

The film carries over some of the characters from the first film, and then turns that on its head by killing off many of them, but still leaving two of the most important characters  alive. Then it adds characters that are just as likable as the ones from the first film.

The most surprising part to the film to me, is the inclusion of Sir Elton John as his own character, and he is has a decent-sized role in the story.  It was a nice touch that didn’t take away from the theme of the film.

The ending of the film set up a third film rather well, which is said to be released during the fall of 2019.  Overall, the film is worth seeing if you are a fan of the spy movie genre.