Product: xXx (2002)
Rating: 1.0
Bond Had the Last Laugh
Back to a more blatant Bond imitator, this 2002 stunt and gadget laden spy adventure boasted how it was going to usurp 007's throne by providing "a new breed of hero" in the form of shaven headed, tattoed extreme sports star, Xander Cage, played by Vin Diesel. It laboured this claim by opening with a Bond style agent being killed in embarrassing circumstances. As it turned out, few people were tired with the "old style" agent, as box office profits for that year's Bond, Die Another Day, soon put paid to Vin Diesal's crowing about 007 being old hat.The problem with Xander Cage was that his grunge image was never going to win over the female following that 007's more refined but dark persona commanded; I mean, ladies, Vin Diesal or Piece Brosnan? Which one would you prefer to share the duvet with? Also the film itself lacked the classy, expert construction that even the bad Bond films like Moonraker could at least boast.That apart, XXX is enjoyable action and did well enough to prompt further missions for Mr Cage. However, its failure to live up to its stated mission of ousting Mr. Bond left Vin Diesal rather egg faced and he tactfully withdrew to concentrate on the proposed Chronicles of Riddick trilogy. This proved another egg facing experience; the first film flopped and the remaining two have been shelved.Having burnt is bridges, Vin Diesal's Xander Cage was killed off for XXX2 - The Next Level and replaced by Ice Cube as Darius Stone (Vin Diesal? Ice Cube? What is with the names?) Bond director Lee Tamahori was drafted in to oversee proceedings with the new agent playing out a Die Hard style storyline. It was universally panned and XXX has gone Ex-Ex-Ex!