Product: xXx (2002)
Rating: 5.0
Shockingly good Updating of James Bond
Imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, and yes, this is modeled heavily on the James Bond series of films. But imitation can be done badly, or it can be done well, and this film manages to do an exceptional job. A lot of people are going to dismiss this film out of hand, either because they don't like the premise, or because they are offended that any film attempts to copy James Bond, or because they didn't like Vin Diesel/Rob Cohen's last film, THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS. If it helps, however, I didn't like premise, didn't like the fact that it was in one way a James Bond [copy], and didn't like THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS. But, I loved this film. I think a lot of folks are going to be amazed at how much they enjoy this film.The James Bond parallel is so precise that if you know that series, you know pretty much what to expect in this one. The differences are all a question of personal style. Instead of an Aston Martin, Xander Cage, Vin's character, drives a vintage GTO. Instead of a tux, Xander sports tattoos and a shaved head. Instead of snow skies, he uses a snowboard. Instead of a martini, he drinks a number of different concoctions in amazingly interesting glassware.Like the James Bond series, the film features a beautiful woman who serves as Xander's love interest and foil. Like Bond, the film features some absolutely stunning scenery. The film is set in Prague, and one comes away from the film dying to visit. Unless all the photography is heavily doctored, one can only imagine (as someone who has never visited) that it is easily one of the most beautiful cities not only in Europe, but the world. Samuel L. Jackson, the "M" equivalent, does his usual rock solid job. The soundtrack was amazingly effective, and there are several moments with songs that on one level you know are bad do a great job of enhancing the overall effect of the action, such as early in the film, when the bad guys kill a secret agent in an impossibly stylish punk club, and he falls into the audience as if stage diving, his corpse being carried by the crowd while the band spit fire from their mouths.Not everything is perfect in this film. Many of the stunts are so spectacular as to border on silly, and the multiple-angle cuts only serve to emphasize this. They could learn a lot from Jackie Chan, who, when he does a truly amazing stunt, simplifies the camera work to the greatest degree possible so as to call attention solely to the stunt. With the constant shifting of camera angle, one feels that they were concocting the stunt with smoke and mirrors. Also, Vin really, really needs to take some onscreen kissing lessons. I have never, ever seen someone who seemed less at ease in an onscreen embrace. But with all the sequels that will follow this one, I am sure he will have plenty of time to practice.