Movie Review by Nigel A. Messenger
Starring: Vin Diesel, Samuel L Jackson, Asia Argento, Marton Csokas, Joe Bucaro
Director: Rob Cohen
Question: What would happen if the Terminator were to play Bond?
Answer: You would get XXX.
Yes its true, XXX is a Bond clone or at least the storyline is but definitely not XXX himself. Vin Diesel plays agent XXX like the Terminator and no matter how crazy that scenario sounds, it really works.
Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) is an extreme action sports star living on the edge of the law and on the edge of the extreme. After unwittingly being tested by NSA Agent Gibbons (Samuel L Jackson) he is recruited to work as an American secret agent – Agent XXX – with a mission to infiltrate an international crime syndicate based in Prague. After a run in with the Czech secret police and winning the trust of the syndicate’s leader Yorgi (Marton Csokas), he discovers their goal is world domination by unleashing a deadly gas on a number of the world’s major cities wiping out their population and turning governments against each other. XXX must stop this evil madman and save the world.
No matter how unbelievable it appears XXX has the Bond plot, its own version of ‘M’, its own ‘Q’ the eccentric guy with the secret gadgets, its own super gadget filled car, glamorous girls in the background, European locations, its equivalent of the Bond girl, a Russian secret agent Yelena played by the gorgeous Asia Argento and even it’s own parachute stunt but with a Stars and Stripes parachute instead of the Union Jack as in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. XXX even has a Bond-type ending!
The difference is where Bond has been trying to update its style to suite today’s audience. XXX is very much born out of today’s generation of fast moving action, there’s even some heavy rock music in the soundtrack courtesy of bands like the excellent Rammstein. Also the Bond style babe doesn’t have a corny name and doesn’t have to try to break out of a bimbo mould. She’s tough, intelligent, gorgeous and wears sexy boots!
Vin Diesel is made for the role of XXX; he does deliver some one-liners and is licensed to kill but there the similarity to the Bond character ends. He’s tough, rugged and has his own unique style, not quite as menacing as his character in PITCH BLACK, but perfect for the part.
There is so much action in XXX you need to see it twice to take it all in and yes XXX will be back in XXX 2.
It’s Bond Jim – but not as we know it!
