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At Theaters: 8/9/2002 On Video: 12/31/2002
Rated: PG-13 Length: 1 hr. 54 min.
Internet: Web Site Movie ID: 409947
Studio: Columbia Pictures Inc.
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Notes: 
Storyline Heading
Xander Cage has been "scouted" by Agent Gibbons, a veteran agent with the National Security Agency. Gibbons and the NSA are facing a desperate situation in distant Prague, where their undercover operative has been killed by a gang of cutting-edge thugs. Gibbons needs a new breed of agent to get to Prague, go undercover, and play by Anarchy 99’s own rules...or lack of them...
DETAILED STORYLINE
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Movie Type (Genre) Heading
Action Adventure - Action, action and more action best describes "XXX." But there's also a decent story to go with all the action. There's cool spy toys (some are a little far-fetched) and some incredible stunt work. It's often exciting and suspenseful. Of course the story is pretty hokey and predictable, but it's still very entertaining.
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Cast and Crew Heading
Vin Diesel THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS, BOILER ROOM
Samuel L. Jackson STAR WARS: EPISODE II
ATTACK OF THE CLONES
Asia Argento B. MONKEY
Marton Csokas THE LORDS OF THE RING
Danny Trejo BUBBLE BOY
Michael Roof BLACK HAWK DOWN
Tom Everett PEARL HARBOR, THIRTEEN DAYS
Director: Rob Cohen THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS, THE SKULLS
Producer: Neal H. Moritz THE GLASS HOUSE, THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS
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Production Notes Heading
Introduction
About The Production
Increasing Velocity
Hollywood of Europe
Costumes And Tattoos
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Content Heading
PROFANITY: 2 GD's, 16 S-words. No F-words. Not too many others.
SEX/NUDITY: Some revealing clothes and suggested sexual activity.
VIOLENCE: Similar to a Bond 007 movie. Many killed, not graphic.
DRUGS/ALCOHOL: Some quick drinking scenes and some drugs shown.
ACTION: Nearly non-stop action with some incredible stunts.
COMEDY: Lots of funny remarks made.
DETAILED CONTENT
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Critic's Review Heading
Average

The above rating is an average of the critic reviews below.

(Close new window when finished with Full Reviews)

Entertainment Weekly   Full Review
Poor "Even in the summertime, the most restless young audience deserves the dignity of an action hero motivated by something more than franchise possibilities. Movies like ''XXX'' -- a big 000 -- don't deserve our $$$.''

James Berardinelli, Internet Critic  Full Review
Average "For Vin Diesel, starring in XXX is a wonderfully smart career move. Too bad neither "wonderful" nor "smart" are applicable adjectives to describe this film. XXX is proof positive that it's easier to fail than succeed with the James Bond formula, and that films without the "real" 007 probably shouldn't try. If there's one thing that XXX offers, it's the opportunity to see what a Bond film might be like with a Sylvester Stallone-type action hero in the lead role.''

Roger Ebert  Full Review
Very Good "In its own punk way, "XXX" is as good as a good Bond movie, and that's saying something. Xander Cage is a new franchise, and Vin Diesel, who was walking around Sundance a few years ago telling everyone he would someday be a big star, was right.''

TV Guide Online  Full Review
Below Average "The movie is designed to showcase Diesel's strengths (nice tats, surly delivery, wicked abs), pretty much to the exclusion of other considerations. The plot is minimal, the dialogue formulaic and the supporting cast loaded up with unknowns. The movie isn't hard to watch; it zips along at a good clip, never wasting time on exposition when there's something to break. But the irony is that for all its "not your father's spy movie" posing, it's exactly like the later James Bond pictures: predictable, lightweight and 100 percent disposable.''

Note: The rating above is our interpretation of what the critic would give this movie based on their review. We are not affiliated with these critic's in any way.

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Opinion Heading

Based on an Exit Polling of 181 Moviegoers

Ages Age Group
How
Many
Your Probability of
Enjoying This Movie *
Would
Recommend
Movie To Friends
1-12Children (M/F)
7
Very High
100%
13-19Teens (M)
30
Very High
97%
13-19Teens (F)
34
Very High
97%
20-29Yg Adults (M)
18
Very High
94%
20-29Yg Adults (F)
25
Very High
88%
30+Adults (M)
36
High
97%
30+Adults (F)
31
Fairly High
97%
*Possible Ratings: Very High, High, Fairly High, About 50/50, Fairly Low, Low, Very Low.

About Our Opinions

Be sure to read the DETAILED OPINIONS
The positive and negative comments made by moviegoers are very
helpful when selecting a movie that's appropriate for you and your family.

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OPINION GRAPH

OPINION OVERVIEW
The following is the original "What's Worth Watching" write-up for this movie.

Moviegoer Opinions:
Some of the negative comments were that this movie has cheesy dialog and bad acting, who cares! I was pretty sure from the preview it wasn't going to be a well written, well acted movie. It's an over the top action flick pure and simple. If you go in expecting nothing more YOU WILL LOVE IT!

As expected, teen and young adult males loved "XXX." The females in these age groups weren't too far behind. Only a small percentage of them didn't care much for it.

Adult males and females were pretty equal. About half loved it and most of the remaining half enjoyed it. Only a few rated it low.

I suspect many of the lower opinions were from those brought to the movie by their companion who likes this type of movie. So, I wouldn't let these lower opinions affect my decision to see "XXX" if you generally enjoy this type of movie.

Cinema Review Prediction: (before moviegoer opinions are collected)
If this looks like the type of movie you would enjoy, DON'T MISS IT! I predict teen and young adult opinions will be off the charts. Adult opinions should also be extremely high because only those who like extreme action are likely to see "XXX."

If you're looking for a sophisticated, well developed story and characters, this isn't the movie to see. But if you're looking for some over-the-top action and stunts and a fun, exciting time, "XXX" is the perfect movie.

You truly MUST SEE "XXX" on the big screen! It contains some spectacular stunts.

D ETAILED S TORYLINE
Tattooed. Head shaven. Buff to the max. Attitude to spare. A walking advertisement for anti-authoritarianism. And like the letter that begins his first name (and is emblazoned into the back of his neck in triplicate by ink-and-needle), extreme in every way. Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) is XXX. He makes his questionable living by selling web videos of his outrageous, thrill seeking exploits, whether parachuting out of a stolen car as it plunges 700 feet off a bridge, or other renegade activities which invite maximum adrenaline flow or, perhaps, a very early grave. Xander has a coterie of friends and admirers in their death-defying subculture, but after his umpteenth tangle with the law, his world is about to take the most extreme detour yet...

...For what Xander doesn't know is that he's been "scouted" by Agent Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson), a veteran agent with the National Security Agency whose tough attitude and scarred face mark him as a grizzled but determined warrior for America. Gibbons and the NSA are facing a desperate situation in distant Prague, where their undercover operative has been killed by a gang of cutting-edge thugs calling themselves Anarchy 99, headed by the brutal ex-Russian Army commander Yorgi (Marton Csokas) and his beautiful but hardened girlfriend, Yelena (Asia Argento).

Gibbons needs a new breed of agent to get to Prague, go undercover, and play by Anarchy 99's own rules...or lack of them...to stop them from destroying the world and discover just how dangerous their game really is. And Xander Cage, with his astonishing physical and athletic prowess and indifferent attitude, is a perfect, if unlikely (and completely unwilling) candidate. Gibbons will use any means possible to find out if Xander is his man for the job, even if it means putting him through the most grueling series of "tests" imaginable.

For Augustus Gibbons believes that a man can change--even a seemingly hopeless if talented guy like "X," and so, Xander is compelled to acquire a new occupation, and a revised identity to go with it: Agent Xander Cage, code name...XXX!

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