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Vin Diesel: the next James Bond?
Cool gizmos, babes, XXX has it all
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Som Chivukula
With action stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone well into their 50's, the search is on for the next larger-than-life hero. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have had their chance, admirably headlining The Bourne Identity and The Sum of All Fears, respectively, this summer.
Now, Vin Diesel, the tall, chiseled, gravelly-voiced actor, who was a bouncer in a New York bar, threatens to take over the lead. He stars in the much-hyped XXX, a spy film, which may threaten the James Bond dynasty, presenting an alternative to the young generation of moviegoers --- the ones who could not connect with the suave Bond. Like the Bond movies, the plot is secondary to the stunts, beautiful women and exotic locales.
But as soon as XXX opens, you are immediately aware that this is a different kind of spy film. Heavy metal music greets the viewer's ears without any let up. The first time we see Diesel is when he is about to steal a car from a politician who has introduced legislation to control the violence in video games.
The camera shows Diesel's neck, tattooed XXX. Then we see his chiseled arms laced with designs and colour. Immediately, we are aware that this film is all about attitude and the birth of a hero.
Diesel is Xander Cage, a common thief and extreme sports enthusiast. He parties with friends and when necessary, takes the law into his hands. His exploits draw the eye of Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L Jackson), a scar-faced senior official with the NSA. Gibbons offers Cage a deal: help the government track down a terrorist in Prague and become an agent or go to
prison for his wrongdoings.
Xander is a gifted individual and loves the idea of a challenge. He takes the job and soon the action shifts to Prague where Yorgi (Marton Csokas) is building up his weapons to create havoc. His girlfriend, Yelena (Asia Argento), is apparently there to help him.
XXX may be billed as an alternative to Bond but, in many ways, it copies the popular British spy. The Gibbons character is the equivalent of M from the Bond series. An agent, who happens to be an MIT graduate, supplies Cage his gadgets. This character is clearly based on the Bond character Q, played most recently by John Cleese. And to no one's surprise in XXX, Argento's character is an undercover agent --- another Bond takeoff.
Yet XXX definitely has its merits, beginning with Diesel. His persona and voice are perfect for the character, exuding attitude from the first frame. There are plenty of exciting action sequences, skillfully directed by Rob Cohen (who made last year's The Fast and the Furious with Diesel). One scene towards the climax has Cage snowboarding at high speeds escaping an avalanche, one of the best sequences in movies this summer.
The supporting roles are okay as they are merely fillers for the main act. This is the movie that signals the arrival of Diesel, who has credits such as Pitch Black. This is the first big role for him and he does the job effortlessly. Like his predecessors Stallone and Schwarzenegger, Diesel is an actor whose voice and acting skill take a backseat to his image. The less he speaks the better, and it is among the movie's pluses.
Argento, an Italian actress, whose looks are a combination of Winona Ryder and Helena Bonham Carter, does not do much more than look pretty and participate in some PG-13 love scenes. Some of the scenes were edited to get the friendly rating. Viewers can expect a more explicit version on DVD.
Bond fans do not have to worry about their character phasing out. Like the saying, 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery', XXX is just that, with Gen-X attitude.
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