Matt Greene
Within the first half hour, we get 5 zoomed-in shots of Diesel's xXx neck tattoo, usually right after he's been captured by someone. That, along with a soundtrack consisting of Drowning Pool & Hatebreed, captures this glistening collection of testosterone pretty succinctly. It's certainly not as bad as it could (impressive stunts, upbeat attitude), but it's also not very good (sloppy editing, corny dialogue, ridiculous lead character). Put a more confident, funny actor in the lead, & you may have something.
Harrison Tweed (Top Dawg)
If you want to see a crazy action film with amazing stunts and great visual effects, this is the film to see. Sure it was a little off the wall, but Vin Diesel fit this role perfectly. Rob Cohen's directing was outstanding as was the cinematography/VFX and editing. The sound was also great as was the writing. It's an 8/10 from me!
Python Hyena
XXX (2002): Dir: Rob Cohen / Cast: Vin Diesel, Asia Argento, Samuel L. Jackson, Eve, Danny Trejo: Vin Diesel has three X's tattooed on the back of his neck as if he could actually read them back there. He is a daredevil stunt person of impressionable ability who commits illegal acts. Once caught he is visited by Samuel L. Jackson who is scarred on one side of his face. Why this information is needed is beyond me but Diesel is sent on a mission in return for a pardon. Lame plot consists of numerous action scenes to place violence throughout as much of the film as possible. Directed by Rob Cohen who previously directed Diesel in the equally stupid The Fast and the Furious. The production is fine but that is about as far as compliments go with this sh*t. Diesel is typecast as this implausible hero who makes narrow escapes and kicks the crap out of everyone. Asia Argento is lifeless as his potential sidekick and romantic interest who can also kick the crap out of everyone. Jackson is perhaps the most laughable appearing with that stupid scar on his face. Eve also makes an appearance although it can be assured that it will likely do nothing to further her acting career. Action and violence at its most over the top render this one of the stupidest action films of the year. The only purpose this film serves is to reveal that filmmakers have too much money to waste. It should be met with a big black X. Score: 2 / 10
Al_The_Strange
Contrary to the typical connotations associated with these three letters, this is not a porn movie, nor is it any kind of high-strength beer. In 2002, it was a film that promised a new breed of action hero: Xander Cage, the US answer to James Bond, in a film that takes a typical spy movie and shakes it up a little.The film plays into all the same conventions as a typical Bond movie, complete with gadgets, a car with weapons, and maniac villains in secret lairs with elaborate plots to release some kind of elaborate superweapon. Right from the start, xXx blatantly takes all these tropes and jazzes them up with a hard rock veneer (literally, the film kicks off with an actual Bond lookalike that gets whacked in the middle of a Rammstein concert). In Xander Cage's world, the stunts are more extreme and sporty, the parties are harder, the girls are sluttier, the locations are scuzzier, and there's absolutely no civility. Also in Cage's world, it's completely possible to make motorcycles jump in the air and flip around in impossible ways, you can start an avalanche with grenades and survive, and a GTO can be decked-out with every weapon imaginable. Despite all the dirt and toughness that goes into the character and his world, there's no masking the film's absurdities, with all its unbelievable stuntwork and silly turn of events. But, the film never makes a pretense to be anything but silly, juvenile fun. The film moves at a fast pace, has plenty of cool scenes, and it is every bit as fun of a movie as other guilty pleasure favorites in the genre (such as Charlie's Angels or Die Another Day).The plot is pretty tight and it feels complete, but it doesn't necessarily feel all that original, despite the unique premise of hiring a hardened criminal as a spy. The story has a lot of twists, which can strain believability even further, and become rather predictable. The characters are a fun bunch that are easy to watch and understand, but they are ultimately thin cardboard cutouts standing in for familiar archetypes. There is a hint of characterization around Xander, the man who starts off as a deviant and ends as a true good guy. Overall though, the film is safe, familiar, and outright derivative.The film has some really neat camera-work with a lot of good angles. Some scenes are pretty fast-cut and some are poorly shot, but by today's standards, it looks sharp and punchy. Acting is a bit over-the-top, but Vin Diesel is a lot of fun to watch as the main character, the villains are really good, the love interest isn't bad, and everybody else is okay. Writing is okay. This movie uses some really good-looking locales (mostly in Prague), as well as some okay-looking sets, props, and costumes. Special effects are pretty bad (especially the avalanche scene). The music score is decent; the film does tend to bust out with a lot of obnoxious rock and metal, but it fits.xXx is one silly action flick that can't really be taken too seriously, but as an absurd guilty pleasure, it is quite entertaining and fulfilling. There might even be some alternate universe where xXx is a halfway decent franchise; the roots for one are laid down pretty well in this film. Action movie fans should give this a rent at least once; you might think it's stupid, but you're bound to have plenty of fun with it.On home video, this movie is available with an unrated cut that inserts a few new scenes, which really aren't necessary at all. One scene is also altered to show more naked girls lying around, which is nice, but also unnecessary. I prefer the theatrical cut.3.5/5 (Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Average | Film: Marginal)
