Talking To The Screen
XXX :2002
Vin Diesel has emerged out of nowhere to become the next big action star. Arnold Schwarzenegger just turned 55. Sylvester Stallone is 56. Bruce Willis is 47, and starting to be respected as an actor (whoa). Don?t even get me started about Nicholas Cage. In short, it?s about time for something new. I?ve heard a lot of people question why Vin Diesel is so popular. He?s so popular because there?s no one else. The only other actors poised to fill the obvious gap in the action film genre are Marky Mark and Josh Hartnett. Marky could do it, but he made a terrible decision in taking on Planet of the Apes. Josh Hartnett isn?t beefy enough to pull it off. America wants a muscle man to root for; the sensitive, wistful look doesn?t fight terrorism.
In ?XXX?, Vin Diesel (born Mark Vincent) plays Xander Cage extreme sport icon, adrenaline junkie extraordinaire. The ?sweet spot? for action film success is the male 18-34 demographic. And what do we like? Video games and extreme sports. In the opening minutes of the film, Xander is firmly established on ?our side?. The opening sequence is perfectly executed. Xander makes a political statement against out of touch lawmakers through stunt work. I?m not kidding. Xander, or Triple X, steals a senator?s car, and drives it off a bridge and finishes with a BASE jump. This senator has been trying to legislate video games on the grounds that they cause violent behavior. In celebration, his party guests include extreme sport demigods, Mat Hoffman and Tony Hawk. Bam. Everything a young American male looks for in a hero: antiestablishment irreverence, love for video games, and extreme sports. He?s basically Bart Simpson kicking ass.
?XXX? is another James Bond knock-off. There are differences, sure?but in all, it?s just another spy movie, copying the godfather of all spy movies. All the main players are the same. 007 has his main contact, M, and his gadget man, Q. XXX has Sam Jackson as Augustus Gibbons for his NSA contact. His gadget man is an overachieving fratboy from MIT. The plot is derivative, but palatable. The gizmos are for the most part standard spy fare: sneaky explosives, x-ray goggles, etc. On paper, ?XXX? is terribly unoriginal. However, it?s been a few years since the last 007 flick came out. ?XXX? is a fine appetizer until the king returns this winter in ?Die Another Day?.
I have a long fuse with action movies. If the action kicks ass, and the basic plot holds water, I?m happy. That being said, the script for ?XXX? is atrocious. Even Sam Jackson, perpetual bad mother fucker, is stifled by cheese-ball lines. Character development? No, none. Nevertheless, if you?re looking for a wild extreme ride through a formulaic spy movie ?XXX? is well worth it. If you thought ?XXX? was porno, you?ll be VERY disappointed, it?s rated PG-13.
In ?XXX?, Vin Diesel (born Mark Vincent) plays Xander Cage extreme sport icon, adrenaline junkie extraordinaire. The ?sweet spot? for action film success is the male 18-34 demographic. And what do we like? Video games and extreme sports. In the opening minutes of the film, Xander is firmly established on ?our side?. The opening sequence is perfectly executed. Xander makes a political statement against out of touch lawmakers through stunt work. I?m not kidding. Xander, or Triple X, steals a senator?s car, and drives it off a bridge and finishes with a BASE jump. This senator has been trying to legislate video games on the grounds that they cause violent behavior. In celebration, his party guests include extreme sport demigods, Mat Hoffman and Tony Hawk. Bam. Everything a young American male looks for in a hero: antiestablishment irreverence, love for video games, and extreme sports. He?s basically Bart Simpson kicking ass.
?XXX? is another James Bond knock-off. There are differences, sure?but in all, it?s just another spy movie, copying the godfather of all spy movies. All the main players are the same. 007 has his main contact, M, and his gadget man, Q. XXX has Sam Jackson as Augustus Gibbons for his NSA contact. His gadget man is an overachieving fratboy from MIT. The plot is derivative, but palatable. The gizmos are for the most part standard spy fare: sneaky explosives, x-ray goggles, etc. On paper, ?XXX? is terribly unoriginal. However, it?s been a few years since the last 007 flick came out. ?XXX? is a fine appetizer until the king returns this winter in ?Die Another Day?.
I have a long fuse with action movies. If the action kicks ass, and the basic plot holds water, I?m happy. That being said, the script for ?XXX? is atrocious. Even Sam Jackson, perpetual bad mother fucker, is stifled by cheese-ball lines. Character development? No, none. Nevertheless, if you?re looking for a wild extreme ride through a formulaic spy movie ?XXX? is well worth it. If you thought ?XXX? was porno, you?ll be VERY disappointed, it?s rated PG-13.