Set during WWI, The King’s Man tells the exhilarating origin story of Kingsman, the world’s very first independent intelligence agency. As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions across the globe, one man must race against time to stop them.
For more in-depth thoughts on The King’s Man, please see my colleague Cassie Brown’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
The King’s Man comes to Blu-Ray in an AVC encoded transfer in 2.39:1 courtesy of 20th Century Studios featuring shining cinematography from Ben Davis. This is a film with a very intentional visual aesthetic bathed in natural or cooler colors depending on the scenario. This presentation is quite gorgeous and offers a stable image quality throughout. The visual majesty of the film translates well on disc with most shots looking stable and breathtaking. The color spectrum does sometimes make certain locales look a bit murkier than similar productions, but these are minor moments lacking supreme sharpness.
Davis captures some awe-inspiring imagery that really pops in high definition. Not only do the textural details render cleanly, but the distinct hues really radiate off the screen. Those expecting vivid colors such as the green of the vegetation to pop off the screen will be thrilled by the intensity of certain shots. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances outside a very minor bit of noise in the darkest sections. Skin tones look natural to the color grading throughout the runtime. There is a 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc that was not made available to me for review which likely tightens up any fleeting issues. Within the technical limitations of the format, The King’s Man is simply beautiful.
Audio Quality
This disc comes equipped with an incredibly effective DTS-HD 7.1 Master Audio presentation that fully immerses you in this world. There are elements in this track that are truly unnerving, such as the ferocity with which a bomb explodes. Sounds are appropriately rendered with precise directionality from the more kinetic scenes to the quieter dialogue-driven scenes filled with subtle whispers. The score brings to life a truly thrilling soundscape that you will not soon forget. Dialogue is presented perfectly clear without ever being overwhelmed by any of the competing sonic elements. The low end is engaged well when the scene calls for it and there are a lot of sonic elements at play. The sound design of this film is quite specific, and the implementation of environmental sounds are executed very effectively. The mix here is very well done with nice engagement of all the channels, which makes this track more than satisfactory for fans of the film. Those who purchase the 4K UHD Blu-Ray will be treated to Dolby Atmos audio.
Special Features
- The King’s Man – The Great Game Begins: An outstanding 90-minute documentary which delves deep into all of the various aspects of producing this film.
-
- A Generation Lost: Director Matthew Vaughn discusses the origins of this story from a reference in the initial film to the look back at this time period as we see how the organization evolved into what we know in the modern setting. There are also insights about the characters, the inspiration from real-life history and more.
-
- Oxfords and Rogues: This section delves more into the new characters and the performers who bring them to life. One of the best aspects of this one is hearing about all of the real-life friendships between the actors.
-
- All The World’s A Stage: We now delve into the precise world-building of the film with great interviews, on-location footage, artwork, and details of on-set construction and design, and more. It is enlightening to hear how the professional relationships have developed between everyone involved over their years of working with one another.
-
- Instruments Of War: A look at the rudimentary spy tech and weaponry utilized in the story and a look at the planning, execution and evolution of the major stunts and combat in the film. One of the hallmarks of a Kingsman film is thoughtful action set pieces, and you can tell they are always trying to top themselves.
-
- Fortune Favors The Bold: A look at the development of the score and sound design of the film and how it differs from a normal Matthew Vaughn narrative.
-
- Long Live The Kingsman: A brief closing segment in which the cast and crew reveal their thoughts about the experience of making the film.
- No Man’s Land – Silent Knife Fight Sequence Breakdown: A 16-minute exploration of the creative process behind the harrowing knife battle sequence as shown through rehearsals, storyboards, interviews and on-set footage, culminating with the atmospheric VFX. There are some really intriguing insights into how everything was brought to life.
- Remembrance And Finding Purpose: A nearly 27-minute look at The Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes, two U.K.-based resources for recovery, well-being and employment for military veterans. Matthew Vaughn expresses why he strongly supports their mission and all the good they do.
- Official Red Band Trailer: The two-minute red band trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
The King’s Man finds the franchise shaking things up a bit in its third outing as it goes back to the beginning of the organization that has brought us such unhinged chaos for the previous two films. The results are a bit inconsistent, but for the most part the sense of fun remains intact. When the script exhibits some deficiencies, the committed performances from the entire ensemble typically make up for it. While none of the films have achieved the glorious heights of the first one, this series still remains a fun one where you can check your brain at the door. 20th Century Studios has released a Blu-Ray featuring an excellent A/V presentation and a pretty fantastic assortment of supplemental features. This is a film worth checking out, and if you are equipped it would probably be worth it to spring for the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. Recommended
The King’s Man is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: 20th Century Studios and Disney Home Entertainment have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
