4K Digital Review: The King's Man

 

The first two Kingsman movies were action spy comedies that never took themselves too seriously. The King's Man, while being a prequel, is more a traditional spy thriller that doesn't live up to the expectations set forth by the previous two movies. 

The cast is solid with the likes of Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Djimon Hounsou, Rhys Ifans, and more that all stand out. Unfortunately, the film tries to do too much. While I enjoyed the historical references of World War 1, it seems like director Matthew Vaughn is trying to set up another Kingsman franchise within the timeline of this movie.  

The action sequences are far and few between but all of them will leave a solid impression on you. After all action sequences are what Vaughn is known for. But in the end, all the action and comedy of the previous Kingsman films make way for a more serious movie closely tied into the actual events of World War 1, making for a much more serious movie than the previous two. 

  

Video

The 4K video is crisp and clean. The black levels are dark and inky. The details on clothing and even the beard on Rasputin are crystal clear. In fact, the video clarity is almost too clean and there is no evidence of film grain.  

Audio

The Dolby Atmos 5.1 audio track is wonderful and makes full use of all the surround sound speakers. The World War 1 battle scenes are the best examples of this as the sounds of war envelope you into the scene. The score makes incredible use of all the speakers available to it and dialogue is crystal clear. 

Bonus Features*

• The King's Man: The Great Game Begins Documentary
• A Generation Lost – Discover how the filmmakers created a richly textured story that explores the origins of the Kingsman spy organization.
• Oxfords and Rogues – Meet the phenomenal new cast of characters Matthew Vaughn has assembled.
• All the World's a Stage – Delve into the meticulous world-building of THE KING’S MAN with interviews, on-location footage, artwork, and details of on-set construction and design.
• Instruments of War – Experience the analog spy tech and early 20th century weaponry utilized in THE KING’S MAN and see a breakdown of the precise execution and evolution of the major stunts and combat in the film.
• Fortune Favors the Bold – Join Matthew Vaughn and his team for music scoring and sound design.
• Long Live the Kingsman – Cast and crew reveal their thoughts about their collective journey through the very special experience of making THE KING’S MAN.

• Featurettes
• No Man's Land – Experience the creative process behind the harrowing knife battle sequence in several stages: rehearsals, storyboards, interviews and on-set footage, culminating with the atmospheric VFX.
• Remembrance and Finding Purpose – Learn about amazing organizations such as The Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes, two U.K.-based resources for recovery, well-being and employment for military veterans. Also hear why Matthew Vaughn strongly supports their mission.

Conclusion

The King's Man is a decent prequel to the Kingsman franchise but might be setting up more stories for future movies. The video and audio are exceptional and the bonus features are top notch. 

*disclaimer: The digital download was provided by Walt Disney Home Entertainment but the review is strictly my opinion*