This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.
Triple X
Plot Overview
Due to the proliferation of Bond™ flicks and life imitating art, NSA's agents had become too easily recognizable by seasoned opposition Anarchy 99, and the former lost one agent too many. NSA agent Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) has a plan: pick candidates from “the scum of the earth” who are “expendable, programmable, and … work[able].” One such low life is Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) an extreme sports enthusiast who enjoys the occasional criminal prank. With three strikes against him, he has limited options.
Cage passes his first test and comes out head of the class in the second. He's given a dangerous infiltration assignment in Prague, Czech Republic where his personal initiative results in him getting closer than expected. Gibbons tells him to “Go deeper.” He does. Then rather than allowing himself to be extracted to let the military take over, he singlehandedly chases a doomsday machine with an American muscle car.
Ideology
As this movie involves a new kind of spy it relates in an allegorical fashion to Christianity that's a matter not of reformation but of regeneration: (Eph. 4:24) “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
(Eph. 4:25) “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” At one point Xander connects up with Yelena (Asia Argento) a stranded Russian infiltrator who'd been forgotten by her own agency. It's in their best interests to be honest with each other.
(Eph. 4:26) “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” Xander gets angry (‘You ever get punched in the face’) with his armorer (‘for talking too much?’) Toby Lee Shavers (Michael Roof,) but the next day he graciously grants him a field promotion.
(Eph. 4:27) “Neither give place to the devil.” The devil is represented graphically by a slithering dragon during the end credits, and theatrically by a night club band featuring Gavin Rossdale and crew in Mohawks with background pyrotechnics. They're performing a fiery number “Adrenaline.” Their hot music in turn relates to Senator Dick Hotchkiss (Tom Everett) wanting “to ban rap music because he feels the lyrics promote violence … video games banned because he believes that they diminish the intelligence of our youth.” Seems the devil is in our entertainment.
(Eph. 4:28)
“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour,
working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to
give to him that needeth.” Xander was “looking at three
strikes: Grand theft auto, reckless endangerment, and that little
bridge stunt.” He has to give that up and turn over a new leaf
(“The things I'm gonna do for my country.”) America is
the good guy here as Xander sings during a deleted scene:
America, America,
God shed his grace on thee.
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
(Eph. 4:29) “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” As stated above the movie is uplifting with a patriotic message while an attempted negotiation for a sexual conquest in Bora Bora is deleted limiting our exposure to nothing racier than sensuality.
Production Values
“” (2002) was directed by Rob Cohen and its (hopelessly derivative) screenplay written by Rich Wilkes. It stars Vin Diesel, Asia Argento, Marton Csokas, Samuel L. Jackson, and William Hope. The actors seemed to be having fun more than doing serious acting, but it worked. Also starring were Michael Roof as Agent Toby Lee Shavers, Danny Trejo as bad guy El Jefe, Richy Müller as Czech cop Milan Sova, Tom Everett as Senator Dick Hotchkiss, Thomas Ian Griffith as Agent Jim McGrath, and rapper Eve as J.J.
MPAA rated it PG–13 for violence, non-stop action sequences, sensuality, drug content and language. It's shot mostly in Prague. Dean Semler is the photographer and Randy Edelman took care of the music. It's got great locations and a budget able to convincingly integrate the special effects.
Review Conclusion w/ Christian Recommendation
“xXx” is a decent action film with a rather lame script and unmemorable characters who take up a lot of screen time. It's hardly going to displace other spy fare, but it adds a little variety. The stunts are realistic and the Xander girl a beauty. It will work for those with modest expectations or a taste for unremitting action.
Movie Ratings
Action factor: Edge of your seat action-packed fun. Suitability for Children: Suitable for children 13+ years with guidance. Special effects: Absolutely amazing special effects. Video Occasion: Better than watching TV. Suspense: Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Overall movie rating: Three stars out of five.
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