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Vin Diesel - Xander Cage
Asia Argento - Yelena
Marton Csokas - Yorgi
Samuel L. Jackson - NSA Agent Gibbons
Director - Rob Cohen
Producers - Rob Cohen and Vin Diesel
Generation X and beyond created a James Bond for the new millennium in Xander Cage aka xXx. James Bond gets an upgrade as the tag line from the new film from Revolution Studios and Sony Pictures suggests Cage is "A New Breed Of Secret Agent".
Following in the footsteps of the 007 franchise it takes one man to save the world. The man in question is Vin Diesel as Xander Cage. Rough, rugged, mean, and extremely well built; Xander is the perfect pick for an unlikely agent that can penetrate the newest version of the underground world of scum and villainy. Extreme underground stunt man Xander Cage is picked up and thrown into the NSA (National Security Agency), literally.
His job: To do what the other agents can’t and that’s to get close to the hard rocking, hard playing, extreme living group known as Anarchy 99.
Marton Csokas plays Yorgi, the Leader of Anarchy 99. Csokas plays his part to perfection with the arrogance, cold attitude, and the insanity of a megalomaniac whose idea of Utopia is anarchy. With an always-exceptional performance from Samuel L. Jackson as Agent Gibbons, Csokas’s performance helps to drive this movie on the fun thrill ride that it is.
That leaves our unlikely hero Xander Cage in the driver's seat. Vin Diesel plays his part with a mix of humor, bravado, and seriousness. Sir Anthony Hopkins he is not, but if Keanu Reeves can have an acting career despite the fact that his Bill and Ted accent or mannerisms always seems to pop up then why can’t Diesel? I believe Diesel has a lot more potential than people want to give him credit for. I know because I was one of them. I had no desire to see this movie and I actually love action movies but visions of "Speed" on X-Games kept popping into my head. So I was a bit opposed to seeing this movie. (Really the train scene was a touch too much in Speed.) Overruled by my companion I reluctantly saw xXx and was pleasantly surprised. So for those of us who have a hankering for seeing a well executed head butt and very cool gadgets ala 007 style; xXx delivers on both fronts.
Even with its predictable one-liners and its series of impossible stunts. xXx is a fun 2 hours and 4 minutes for those who like action/spy movies. Especially when it’s heavy on the action. The script is well written and doesn’t fall short in ways that insult the viewer with its supreme simplicity. The story does take large doses of dramatic poetic license especially in setting up Yorgi’s empire and these incredible stunts. Instead of detracting from the movie it just adds to the surrealistic feel of the movie.
If you didn't make it to your favorite roller coaster for the summer not to worry grab a ticket for xXx hop in a seat, strap in, grab on and enjoy the ride.
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