All of the action-packed fun and excitement of a James Bond film and more is waiting for you within the adrenaline pumping “xXx.” Vin Diesel, who may just be one of the coolest guys around, should also be the new man for the 007 gig. Luckily enough, Diesel knows this and instead has opted for a pumped up version of our favorite super spy. Teaming up again with “The Fast and the Furious” director Rob Cohen, this blockbuster team is back with an incomparable supply of more action than all the Bond films combined.
Vin Diesel stars as Xander Cage, an extreme sports enthusiast who tapes his wild stunts for rebroadcast over the Internet. He is the ultimate in sports entertainment, but unfortunately for Xander there’s a hefty price to pay for his insane stunts: jail. And the only chance he has of escaping solitary confinement is to work for NSA Agent Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) as an undercover agent to retrieve information about a secret anti-government group that calls itself Anarchy 99. Led by the bullheaded Yorgi (Marton Csokas), who plans to use a biochemical weapon called Silent Night, the terrorist-like group is given a new challenge in the outspoken American Xander, who goes undercover as himself to undoubtedly learn more of the fatal plan.
“xXx” takes all of the right elements used in the Bond series and beefs them up, adding some more explosions here, some new technology there and don’t forget, a completely amazing leading man in Vin Diesel, whose Xander character is cockier than any Bond will ever be, even using his real name while mingling with the heavies. All in all, “xXx” is a win-win situation. If you like Vin Diesel, action, spies, or even rocking cameos by German rock band Rammstein, then you’ll love “XXX.” With all the stimulating action sequences you can ask for, a touch of class and some fine comedic moments, you’ll leave the theater wanting more.
3.5 / 5 Stars
Starring: Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, Asia Argento
Director: Rob Cohen
DVD Features:
It would be nice to think that the reasoning behind the re-release of “XXX” on to a special edition DVD is anything else other than the obvious marketing ploy to plug the latest “XXX’ film. Regardless, the studio has done a pretty succinct job of making the newest DVD version worth the money with an array of special features ranging from audio commentaries, deleted scenes and pointless featurettes. Spread across two discs, the first disc houses eight minutes of never-before-seen footage, a commentary track with director Rob Cohen, multi-angle stunt views and a making-of featurette. Disc two includes a short film bridging the first and second films together, entitled “The Death of Xander,” storyboard-to-film comparisons, an inside look at XXX’s gadgets, and a music video for Hatebreed’s “I Will Be Heard.” All in all, not too shabby of a re-release for the new form of secret agent who definitely won’t be taking over for 007.
