The Digest
Xander (pronounced Zander) Cage (Vin Diesel) is an adrenaline junkie. He's always living on the edge and thumbing his nose at authority. Not really a criminal, but more of an anarchist thug, he has a loyal following of fans who wait with baited breath to see what his next death-defying stunt is going to be. Meanwhile Agent Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) is having trouble keeping his NSA agents alive. He decides that perhaps it's time to try something new. Hire a few low-lifes, train and send them in on a spy mission. If they get the job done, their record is cleaned. If they are killed in the process, then oh well, they were criminals to begin with. The NSA is getting a little more than they bargained for with Xander.
After Xander proves that he can handle just about anything thrown his way, he is sent to Prague to infiltrate a group called Anarchy 99. They have money and technology and they hate the government - combination that sure to cause chaos. Xander must find out their Secret! Diabolical! Plan! (TM Bams) and foil the bad guys before the world is put at risk.
The Dish
What can I say? First, y'all know that I'm a big SUCKER for summer movies and "things that go BOOM." So much so, that my husband calls me a "special effects 'ho" and my male best friend insists that I'm really a post-op transsexual who used to be named Karl. Let me set the record straight. My husband is right, my best friend is wrong
- My name was actually Kristoff. All kidding aside, I really do like movies that are teeming over with explosions and car chases. And XXX does not disappoint. It was a flurry of activity and excitement. From start to finish there was always something going on and keep this chick out the edge of her seat.
While I'm sure the filmmakers wish their movie could stand on its own, I can't help but compare it to the 007 series. XXX is 007 meets Extreme Sports. It's the 007 for my generation. I dig 007 and don't wish for the series to go away, but sometimes I tire of watching a never aging white British guy globetrotting and getting booty in every port. Xander, I can identify with - from the music to the clothes to the attitude. I think Vin
Diesel was born to play this part and I would like nothing more than to see it blossom into a 007-ish franchise. Speaking of born to play a part... how cool was Samuel L. Jackson? The best way I can describe his approach to Gibbons is that he massaged the character. He was rough and tough when he needed to be and smooth and gentle when
that was needed. Or better yet, he was parental. As Gibbons, he knew just how far to push Xander and when to back off and each time he instinctively knew he had made the right the decision. And while I know that this movie was about Xander, I would kill to see Gibbons have a more active role in the next outing. Maybe see a little bit of his
background. Have him kick a little booty. Maybe even rescue Xander when he gets in trouble. That would be really cool. I also really dug Virg - the weapons/toy guy for NSA. He was hilarious.
Alas, I did have a few problems - I just wasn't feeling Ylena (Asia Argento). It was almost as if the role swallowed her up. I just felt she was over her head and didn't bring much to the table. Vin is a good actor, not great or awesome, - good. But because his character was so busy blowing up stuff; wisecracking; and doing stunts - you are distracted from the fact that he is good - not great. Asia, didn't have such distractions. Whenever she was on the screen, I wanted her off. If she's in the next one, maybe they'll utilize her a bit better.
I look forward to seeing the next XXX just to see if he can out do his stunts. And man were they some awesome stunts. I swear with Vin Diesel did most of the stunt himself or his stunt man is his twin, because they had some close-up's in the middle of those stunts and it sure did look like him.
Oh and the next time I want more Sam Jackson! I really enjoyed him in this role. This ranks up there with Mitch Henessey for me.
The Directive
Some plot holes and corny lines - as to be expected. That's never stopped Bond. Just go and enjoy yourself.
XXX is 3 times more fun than any 007 flick.
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Copyright Kamal "The Diva" Larsuel-Ulbricht, 2002
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