xXx: 15th Anniversary Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Samuel Jackson, Vin Diesel, Asia Argento, Marton Csokas
• Director: Rob Cohen
• Film Format: AC-3, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Czech, Croatian, Polish, Arabic, Italian, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Dutch, Slovene, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Romanian, Icelandic, Thai, English, Spanish, Turkish, Greek, Serbian
• Dubbed: Russian, Portuguese, Czech, French, German, Italian, Hungarian, Thai, Spanish
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Rated:
  PG-13
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: January 10, 2017
• Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2019
• Run Time: 124 minutes

            When I first reviewed xXx upon its theatrical release just under fifteen years ago, I viewed the film as a cheap attempt to cash in on Vin Diesel’s limited fame from The Fast and the Furious. I pointed out that the extreme sports spy film was “the perfect example of a summer film: it's got tons of non-stop action, bad one-liners, and about as much sex and violence as can be crammed into a PG-13 film.” I also remarked that it was the kind of film that made me glad summer was almost over. At the time this subversive James Bond rip-off felt mindless and derivative, which is a feeling that has only been enhanced by numerous other entries into this field since its release, including the sophomoric Kingsman: The Secret Service and an even worse xXx sequel starring Ice Cube as Diesel’s replacement.

        Directed by The Fast and the Furious’ Rob Cohen, xXx carries over many of the elements from that franchise into a spy film. Xander Cage is an underground extreme sports enthusiast who uses his abilities to punish politicians and create content for online programming. Before the film has time to explain his motivation for these extreme stunts of social justice, Cage is snatched up by the NSA to become a top secret undercover agent. Though the logic of hiring a minor internet celebrity to be a secret agent is slightly flawed, we’re not meant to care, so long as it comes from Samuel L. Jackson as his scarred superior.

        After a lengthy series of tests, Cage is sent on a mission to Russia to infiltrate a crime ring with plans of major international terrorism. This group is headed up by a man named Yorgi (Marton Csokas), who kills a James Bond type secret agent in the opening scenes, seemingly suggesting that the world needs a less polished hero. Yorgi’s plans are a mystery, but Cage is not the only one trying to figure them out. Also undercover is Yorgi’s girlfriend, Yelena (Asia Argento), whose distrust of Cage is a dead giveaway about her actual identity.

        None of this plot or character development really matters, however, and when the action begins, neither do the laws of gravity. The main focus of the film is the set pieces and absurdly over-the-top action sequences. In one of the more ridiculous sequences, Cage sets off a couple of grenades as he snowboards down a mountain, creating an avalanche for him to ride down like a wave. In another, Cage jumps a motorcycle through (that’s right; not over, but through) a barbed wire fence, despite having no ramp to make the jump. He merely jumps and the motorcycle flies up with him, defying all logic and common sense for sake of spectacle.

        xXx marked Diesel’s first starring role following his success in The Fast and the Furious, the sequel of which he declined to participate in. But this Blu-ray is being released prior to the actual 15^th Anniversary in order to help promote the January 20^th release of xXx: Return of Xander Cage. Just as Diesel eventually revisited the Fast and Furious franchise, the one-dimensional action star has also returned to this film series. Although this Blu-ray release doesn’t have a free movie ticket to see the new film, it does offer a sneak peak of it within the special features, just for the fans unable to wait mere weeks for the release.

        Along with footage from the upcoming sequel, the new extras include interviews with Diesel. Older extras are also added to the Blu-ray, from the original director’s commentary track to the 10 featurettes, two music videos, and a handful of deleted scenes.

Entertainment Value: 7.5/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 6/10

Historical Significance:  5/10

Special Features: 6.5/10