Rocketman is an epic musical fantasy about the incredible human story of Elton John’s (Taron Egerton) breakthrough years.The film follows the fantastical journey of transformation from shy piano prodigy Reginald Dwight into international superstar Elton John.

Cinema adaptations documenting the lives of musical artists are nothing new, but Rocketman is a whole new different type of fabulous as it takes audiences behind the life of one Reginald Dwight, who is reborn on stage behind his piano as Elton John (Taron Egerton) and the rest, as they say, is history. Noted actor turned director Dexter Fletcher (Eddie the Eagle, Bohemian Rhapsody) is on hand to guide the fantastical tale that is Rocketman and it’s the music that leads the way here into a path and life of unfiltered fantasy. Taking their cues from John’s eclectic collection of music, Fletcher and his team use the musician’s songs to tell his life story in a way where it’s the music that speaks for John, and this combined with a sharp sense of magical-fantasy makes for a very appealing watch.

Taking on the role of John Elton is one of Hollywood’s brightest young stars in the form of Welsh actor Taron Egerton, and while he’s become a solid box office draw, Egerton really sets himself a challenge with Rocketman and he delivers totally and absolutely here. As John, his role is lived rather than just performed and with every passing frame on the screen, you feel as if you are watching Elton himself expressed through Egerton. This is no mere performance, but a fantastical mirrored self that we see on stage wrapped up in some fantastical musically charged dream. The young actor doesn’t hold back on anything here, and he really lets himself open to a broad range of emotions and experiences that chronicles the breathtaking highs, crushing lows and miraculous redemption of John’s life and career. It’s a completely sincere and brave performance and you’ll be hooked by Egerton’s flamboyance on screen in what is his personal love letter to a man he idolizes.

Joining Egerton in Rocketman are Jaime Bell as John’s best friend and lyrical composer Bernie Taupin and Richard Madden as the charismatic, yet dangerous music manager John Reid and both actors bring plenty to this fantastical film. As Taupin Bell acts the part as John’s conscience, and the guy who is constantly on his side. Taupin is the one steady person that John has in his life and together they set out to the conquer the world and discover through their shared passion a life that truly goes far beyond their dreams. Bell has great chemistry alongside Egerton, and you completely buy into the friendship and life long trust that these platonic soul mates share together.

On the other side of this is Richard Madden as the devilishly charming John Reid, a young music manager who takes an interest in John, both professionally and privately and their’s is a complicated and frenzied love affair. Madden excels at portraying this wolf in a tailored suit who uses his cunning and charisma to take John to the top, but who at the same time also uses the artist to suit his own needs. It’s a challenging part for the young actor and Madden seriously smashes it out of the park. He may be the villain, but he’s very, very good at it.

Fletcher and his cast really don’t shy away from the extremes of John’s life, and the way this grand personage is expressed on screen is a fabulous feast for your senses. Every force truly comes together here for something that is utterly fabulous to behold and the screen sparkles in every corner. With fantastic set design, costuming, make-up and hair, and a beautifully directed sense of cinematography, courtesy of the eye of George Richmond, Rocketman makes for an exquisite production. It shines with a fantastical Baroque quality and it’s rich details certainly pull you in deeper. In terms of my own favourite set piece I’d have to choose Elton’s first performances at the Troubadour in Los Angeles and the slick cool of the 1960s, as my highlight and when he slams down on the keys of his piano to ‘Crocodile Rock’ and ‘Tiny Dancer’ truly lift off.

Added to the fantastical images is the film’s marvellous soundtrack and it’s here that Egerton really shines. While audiences have long known that he was a talented songbird, the young star is allowed immense freedom of expression here as he reinterprets John’s revered collection of tunes and the results are enchanting. ‘Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)’, ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’, ‘Pinball Wizard’ and the titular ‘Rocketman’ light up the screen and your soul, and with Egerton’s interpretative vocals you’ll be sure to be grooving in your seat.

But while the film certainly captures your senses and enchants your eyes and ears, it’s central theme of self-love and acceptance is what will really touch your heart. Rocketman is essentially the story of a man learning to love himself for who he is, and allowing himself to believe that he is worthy of this most cherished human emotion. In a world that moves so fast and where it can sometimes be difficult to stop and concentrate on yourself, it’s a heartwarming thing to see and as Egerton’s Elton comes to accept that he can be loved and that he will love in return, well, it’ll certainly bring a smile to your face and fill your heart up with a profound sense of joy.

Rocketman is a magical, marvellous and musical adventure of a truly amazing performer and life and it is packed together with astounding colour and a very important message. It’s a film that will make you feel alive and leave you burning with passion and a keen sense to get up and groove, so make sure you climb aboard this spaceship and fly off into the stratosphere with Elton.

Image: Paramount Pictures

The post ‘Rocketman’ – Review appeared first on SpicyPulp.

Set after the events of Kingsman: The Secret Service, Kingsman: The Golden Circle picks up with Eggsy having become the golden agent of the elite spy service known as the Kingsman, and well life is pretty good for him. But that all comes crashing down in a surprise attack that decimates the Kingsman. Devastated from the attack, Eggsy and his trusty advisor Merlin (Mark Strong), head to America and partner up with their new found allies The Statesman. Together the Kingsman and the Statesman have to combat a new and extremely dangerous villainous named Poppy who has her eyes set on world domination, and who is willing to sacrifice millions of lives to achieve her grand schemes.

I’m going to come out and say it: Kingsman: The Golden Circle IS SO MUCH FUN!!!

From its opening titles to its closing credits, it’s an absolute riot that plays on what came before in the original film and cranks it up one thousand percent. With his first ever sequel director Matthew Vaughn is able to dig deeper into this fantastically crazy spy world that he conceived and the result is something truly amazing.

While he played upon the traditional gentleman spy archetype with the original Kingsman, here in The Golden Circle he gets to take a crack at the cowboy country manner of the American based Statesman. Here the wardrobe is denim and Stetsons and just like their English counterparts these cowboy agents have their own unique ways of doing things. This juxtaposition of two worlds leads to some great moments up on screen and makes this second outing a thoroughly fresh take.

One of the things I also love about Vaughn as a director is that he also injects his own personality into the project. While Kingsman: The Golden Circle is undoubtedly a lavishly big budgeted Hollywood action film Vaughn really makes it his own with subtle injections of his own personality. These come in the form of the likes of Eggsy’s distinctive spy glasses that are based upon Vaughn’s own signature eyewear, along with a killer robotic beauty therapist who resembles his wife Claudia Schiffer all too well. As a film fan I love seeing this kind of stuff, and these little nuances make all the difference.

The cast, oh where to begin. Well first off their amazing. Taron Egerton returns in dapper form as Eggsy, and while he may have some serious skills in saving the world, he’s still the cheeky, up-start estate kid we know and love. Life has changed quite a bit for Eggsy, and he’s now in a committed relationship with Princess Tilde, who, um ‘rewarded’ him for saving the world in the previous film. While I can’t say much it’s this relationship that really makes things personal for Eggsy and makes him committed to saving the world this time around.

The always dependable Mark Strong really steps up this time as well. As Eggsy’s trustee trainer and advisor Merlin he has a far larger role in the sequel, and you get to see a different side to him, such as his particular love for John Denver.

But it wouldn’t be a Kingsman film without the one and only Colin Firth as Harry Hart, and in a miraculous situation, the previously fallen spy makes a full return. While I can’t say much without drifting into spoiler territory, let’s just say Firth’s return as Hart is a welcome relief and leads to some very interesting sequences up on screen.

Then there are the bourbon slinging cowboys of the Statesman. Stepping up to the plate is Pedro Pascal as the aptly named Jack Daniels, codenamed Agent Whiskey, who pairs up with Eggsy to save the world. Pascal is channelling his inner Burt Reynolds here with a perfectly groomed moustache and cocky southern charisma. He’s also pretty adept with a lasso and bullwhip, and these unique skills provide some seriously cool action scenes.

While Whiskey might be the Statesman’s All-American boy, it’s Channing Tatum who dances to his own tune as resident statesman bad boy Agent Tequila. Brandishing a Winchester rifle and one serious Stetson, Tequila loves his liquor and is ready to party. He goes toe-to-toe with Eggsy and Merlin in one hell of an intense action scene and has plenty of fun doing it.

Rounding out the Statesman cast are Halle Berry as resident tech Ginger Ale who is a little bit flirty with Merlin and who is on point with her computer wizardry and the legendary Jeff Bridges is his super cool self as Statesman head Champ.

While Samuel L. Jackson’s Richmond Valentine was one seriously deranged and quirky villain, Oscar winner Julianne Moore takes it up a notch this time. Moore’s resident baddie Poppy Adams is best described as a psychopathic Martha Stewart who is altogether kooky and whose affinity for small-town Americana matches her love for diabolical ways to dispatch those who cross her. Poppy is totally coo coo and her nefarious plan to bring the world to its knees is original and makes her one dangerous adversary for the combined Kingsman/Statesman task force who are dispatched to stop her.

And finally, in a surprise and smashing cameo appearance, Sir Elton John steps out onto The Golden Circle’s stage. Celebrity cameos don’t get much better than this and well Elton is just utterly brilliant.

If you want action you’ve really come to the right place. While the infamous ‘church massacre’ from the original Kingsman is an altogether classic piece of cinema, Kingsman: The Golden Circle adds to this with some seriously crazy stunt sequences. Again I can’t really go there without straddling the spoiler line, but Kingsman: The Golden Circle has some pretty epic moments that include its adrenaline-charged opening car chase, and the impressively crazy showdown at Poppy Land which has lead flying left, right and centre and see’s both Eggsy and Hart kicking some serious ass!

I shouldn’t have to convince you to want to watch Kingsman: The Golden Circle, it’s simply brilliant and what do they say “you can’t get enough of a good thing.’ Kingsman: The Golden Circle is that good thing and if you’re looking for a good time in the cinema then you need to buy a ticket and take this ride. Spy’s, gadgets, perfect suits, good whiskey and a do or die mission to save the world and rescue the girl. Yep, Kingsman: The Golden Circle has it all!

Image: 20th Century Fox

The post ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ – Review appeared first on SpicyPulp.