Product: xXx [VHS] (2002)
Rating: 4.0
The Modern-Day James Bond, Just More Sporty
"XXX" stars Vin Diesel as the " Bond" character with a slick attitude. The writers have put together a script that steals the crucial pieces of the 007 series. Diesel plays Xander "XXX" Cage, who is an extreme sports vigilante. In it's own way, "XXX" is just as gooDiesel is the big tough guy with a shaved head and tattoos. After he's caught for stealing a car and driving it off a bridge, all he has to say is, "It was only a corvette." Pretty soon he's hunted down by Augustus Gibbons(Jackson), an NSA secret agent with a deformed face. His role is more or less the same role as M, in the 007 series.Gibbons threatens to send Xander to jail, unless he goes to the Czech Republic to stop a crazy man who wants to demolish and take over the world. This man named Yorgi (Marton Csokas) is an officer for the bad side of the Czech Secret Service. He lives in the Prague Castle and apparently the film was shot in Prague so obviously the scenery is excellent.Director Rob Cohen and producer Neal H. Moritz, who also made "The Fast and the Furious", follow the 007 ways so carefully that you really think that you are watching a James Bond movie. (1) There is an evil man who wants to take over the world and will stop at nothing. (2) There is a love interest. (3) Xander has many cool gadgets and weapons. And (4) The last scene of the film is Xander with the girl in a bikini and is asked to take on another mission.And he will definitely take on another assignment. Xander Cage is a new franchise and Vin Diesel, said he would be famous some day. Well he was definitely right.The special effects in the film are amazing. There are many explosions that appear through the film. Seeing Diesel run a car off a bridge blew me away. Diesel also snowboarding down a snowy cliff with an avalanche coming fast behind him was entertaining to watch.The few love scenes between Xander and Yelena are ok, which only consist of one or two kisses because Xander has to save the world. The music is very upbeat and keeps you pumped for what's about to happen next. There are scenes when you think, is this unrealistic. But you seem to loose the feeling because it's Hollywood and that this movie is so damn cool.Is this movie a threat to the 007 movies? No. But I enjoyed it a little more than a James Bond movie because it is more of an extreme sports action film as opposed to just plain action. "XXX" is a great action flick, but all Vin Diesel has to work on is kissing.