If anyone doesn’t know, this is a continuation of the “Three X” franchise, which began in 2002, when Vin Diesel rapidly ascended to fame and huge box office receipts. This film about an extreme secret agent was a kind of mockery of Bond and, although the critics were not particularly impressed, it collected a decent amount at the box office. The sequel, albeit with Ice Cube, turned out so horribly bad that the franchise seemed to be buried forever.
But no. Xander Cage turned out to be the most alive of all the living and decided to shake up the old days again... True, now with the support of numerous assistants gathered from almost all over the world.
The third film is a bit reminiscent of Fast and the Furious in this regard, but still, unlike it, it makes it clear from the very beginning that it should not be taken seriously. That you just need to turn off your brain and have fun. And this, you know, is captivating. It’s easy to watch, even enjoyable in places, and doesn’t make you sleepy from the incessant pathos and tear-jerking conversations about family...
In fact, from the first frames you understand what to expect from the film next. This was already clear from the trailers. In this regard, the film is absolutely honest with the viewer. In fact, immediately after the first minute of the film, we see completely unrealistic and ridiculous stunts from Xander Cage, from ski jumping off a TV tower to skateboard stunts on the freeway. The whole thing is as stupid as it is fun. In general, this film has huge problems with realism, and if you are looking for something in the spirit of Bourne, then don’t even think about going to this movie. This is something like the Bond films of the early 2000s. If you like them, then you are exactly at the right place.
As for the hero himself... In general, oddly enough, the main problem of “The Return of Xander Cage” is Xander Cage HIMSELF. In the first film there was a cool and very charismatic Diesel, now we see a middle-aged man cosplaying as a fifteen-year-old and constantly grinning what he thinks is a seductive smile, which in the end begins to make you feel nauseous. As soon as he appears in the field of view of any girl, she immediately rushes at him like a hungry lioness on a piece of meat. Sometimes alone, and sometimes in whole flocks. This is reminiscent of the dream of a teenager who dreams of becoming a cool macho man.
Of course, I understand that this is the specificity of such films, but here there was just a strong overkill, so much so that it looked more ridiculous than hot. Diesel is a charismatic actor, but still the hero must correspond a little to his age and change, and not remain in eternal puberty.
Now let's move on to the action. As I already said, the action here is completely unrealistic, but entertaining, as for the fights, it rules the roost Donnie Yen only. Moreover, he rules the show in general in this film, completely stealing attention from the main character. You really wonder why the film isn’t about him and his team? They are much more interesting and brighter than the central character.
But let's get back to the fights. Editing, as well as camera work, when filming such scenes in Hollywood is often a deplorable spectacle. And this film is no exception. Everything here is bad in this regard, except for the scenes with Donnie Yen. This song, apparently, cannot be strangled or killed in any way: he created very bright and exciting battle scenes, and I have never seen such an interesting combination of combat weapons with the use of a pistol in his performance. All his scenes look cool, especially his first appearance and the ending. Here you can still see his hand and it is clear that he choreographed it himself. But still, the thought creeps in that if this were a Hong Kong film and, accordingly, a different editing, these scenes would shine even brighter... but this is Hollywood!
The female images are also interesting. Deepika Paducone, Ruby Rose и Nina Dobrev played by completely different, but equally attractive characters. Nina here generally burns like a child, demonstrating her comedic talents, and Ruby Rose turned out to be a very atypical character for this kind of film.
In general, I repeat, I would like a larger team, and less Xander. They all came out with bright touches, but I would have liked more time to develop them as characters.
Concerning Jaa, then I think fans will be a little disappointed. Yes, there is more of it here than in "Fast and Furious", but there is absolutely nothing to catch your eye. Except that his blond hair stood out noticeably. But I have more complaints, in fact, not even about the fight scenes or their absence, but about his acting. Here he is terribly overacting, practically turning his character into a caricature of himself.... Against his background, by the way, I suddenly pleased Bisping, who, in principle, did not play anything, but was simply himself, but he was natural in the frame and looked quite badass.
In general, if it's short. Pros:
- Donnie Yen (his fighting games, his character and his game)
- Deepika Padukone and the rest of the girls from the team
- Due to the endless and varied action you will not be bored for a minute
- Tricks. Yes, they are unrealistic here, but they are still made quite inventively.
Cons
- Poor editing of fight scenes (except Donnie Yen)
- Vin Diesel or the eternal teenager Xander Cage.
- Bad CGI
- The script was written under heavy drugs.
Yes, it's a bad movie. But this is one of those few bad films that for some reason you suddenly like and even want to watch again. At least that's what happened to me. (Though maybe it's Donnie Yen and his leather jacket that's to blame)
In general, the result was a kind of vigorous mixture of The Expendables and The Suicide Squad. The film looks easy, it doesn’t let you get bored, but if you are looking for realism in the Bourne style, then forget it forever, if you like the Bond style, you can try your luck. A must watch for fans of Donnie Yen, action in its various forms and beautiful and vibrant female characters.
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Tags: xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, Vin Diesel, Deepika Padukone, Donnie Yen, Michael Bisping, Nina Dobrev, Ruby Rose, Tony J
Tags: xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, Vin Diesel, Deepika Padukone, Donnie Yen, Michael Bisping, Nina Dobrev, Ruby Rose, Tony J
I looked. Nda - a classic chewing gum for the mind with a very decent playing by Donnie Yen and a completely indecently disgusting Diesel. Despite the almost non-stop action towards the end of the film, I still got bored. Simply because, in general, the film is not interesting. And a set of action scenes is just a set of action scenes. Like in some "Throw of Cobra".
In general, there was certainly no disappointment (it was clear from the trailers what would come out in the end), but it’s not realistic to give the film more than the notorious “C”.
Danil Chupakhin,
If I were them, I would do a spin-off with the hero Donny. He's ok there, but the rest are a mess.
Ravenside, and the producer of the film is not Diesel by any chance? According to rumors, he also fell out with The Rock because he was drawing attention to himself in “Fast and Furious.” And he demanded that some scenes with him (The Rock) be cut from the final version (and they were cut). What can we say about a full-fledged spin-off of “Three X’s” with Donnie Yen.
Upd. Well here's what I mean:
Produced by Vin Diesel, Jeffrey Kirshenbaum, Joe Roth, ...
(Kinopoisk)
Universal Studios has launched a Fast and the Furious spin-off
The plot will center on the characters of Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham.
...
Previously, there was a rumor that Vin Diesel spoke out sharply against the spin-off of the franchise. The actor allegedly demanded to delete the already filmed scene, which the filmmakers planned to use after the final credits of the eighth Fast and the Furious. Diesel is listed as the producer of the saga, so he has a say in production matters.
(Kinopoisk)
I looked. Indeed, the script is much more stupid and frivolous than that of “Fast and Furious” (an achievement, however). I agree about Diesel - an aging macho. Nothing so far man, but (but in fact he is in great shape for his age). I agree about Yen - he’s super, but the film doesn’t allow him to reveal himself to the fullest. What an editing, what a script. The rest of the characters are colorful, I even liked Ice Cube's cameo. But for Tony Jaa, the role is completely passable.
Apparently, the film turned out to be not so great. In the sense that if you initially know that you cannot surpass the original, then there is no point in making a sequel... but I’ll watch it anyway. I personally am tolerant of such cliches. I love good action that doesn’t particularly tax the brain... just in the spirit of “The Expendables” and “Suicide Squad” mentioned in the review. It is clear, of course, that ideally the first part alone would be enough, but I definitely won’t regret watching it.
There is only one question - what is Donnie doing in this UG?
Sphinx,
There is even an answer to this question from Donny himself.
He was asked about the same thing, only without UG) He replied that Western audiences are used to seeing him in classic kung fu films like Ip Man, but few people know about his modern films, where he shows a completely different technique. The film provides an opportunity to demonstrate this to the Western audience, plus the role itself is significant, big, not a stereotypical Asian, but a really cool agent who is no less significant for the story than Xander. This is a rarity in Hollywood.
What? Since when should afterburners be taken seriously? Jumping in cars from one skyscraper to another, flying in cars into a deep abyss, jumping from bridge to bridge and similar things. Or Rock Johnson, who lay in a cast for a little while, and then stood up, strained his chest and biceps, and the cast fell off, and it was as if the fractures did not exist. Most likely, “XxX” is the same as “Fast and Furious,” only with different names of the heroes and partially different actors. And everything is the same.
Wave,
I'll explain what I meant))
Fast and Furious with the same ridiculous unrealities you described from the same category, of course. But there they present it with serious cabbage soup, talk about the family, how Diesel COULD BETRAY THE FAMILY (last trailer) and all that jazz. That is, an attempt to present stupidity as something deep and serious.
Here it is entertainment in full swing. This is the main difference.
Julia,
A normal phenomenon for a boy’s movie is traditional values, “brother for brother is taken as a basis.” The same theme was in the brigade, when the half-action, half-melodrama was passed off as a crime saga.
uranium,
And in the Brigade, too, did a car fly out of a skyscraper window onto the ground, while remaining intact? or the cars rolled on the ice until they were hit by... a submarine)))
That is, you are either making a serious, as you say “boyish” movie, or skyscrapers with submarines. If the latter, then it’s impossible to take tears and drama seriously in such a context. Well, that’s how it is for me, at least.
Julia,
The ability to make multi-genre films (Cold Summer of '53, The Giant, the same Star Wars) is not given to everyone.
There were enough show-offs in the brigade, they could have sent a Mercedes from the Alekseevsky shopping center, they just didn’t have enough budget. But there was Inshakov with Aikido and a good realistic fight between Bezrukov and Mukha. Well, Bely’s final pass at the construction site.
Wave,
Maybe they mean the first Fast and the Furious, where the plot was more serious? Not everyone has seen the farcical 4-7.
uranium, I do not know. The first and third were a long time ago. Moreover, in the second there is no Diesel at all, and in the third he only makes a cameo. And after the seventh “Fast and the Furious” there is an eighth, which will only be, but from the trailer it is already clear that it is the same farce with submarines in the steppes of Ukraine, dying in an unequal air battle. So this franchise can be considered completely diesel and completely farcical, and starting with the fourth part.
Ha, I have something similar view it worked out. )
As I already wrote, Donnie is certainly handsome, but the fights were nevertheless spoiled by incomprehensible editing.
Jha was blown away a long time ago, his last attempt was the second part of some film where is Jija Yanin, after which he understood everything himself.
Cop12,
In fact, he only had 2-3 good films. Yes, and the first elephant Defender of half the film was boring and the action there begins closer to the middle.
Donie Yen played his role perfectly
And Diesel, well, he was.
Monk,
That’s what I thought - Diesel is a head that speaks boyish quotes, everything cool is on Yen, and Jaa became a media doll.