XXX (2002 film)
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Get ready for an adrenaline-fueled ride! This is XXX.
In 2002, director Rob Cohen brought us an action-packed spy thriller that redefined the genre. Produced by Neal H. Moritz and penned by Rich Wilkes, XXX is the explosive first chapter in a legendary film series. Leading the charge is Vin Diesel, embodying Xander Cage – a thrill-seeking extreme sports enthusiast, a daring stuntman, and a rebellious athlete thrust into the reluctant role of a spy for the National Security Agency. His mission? To infiltrate a dangerous Russian terrorist cell deep in Central Europe. The film also boasts a stellar cast including Asia Argento, Marton Csokas, and the iconic Samuel L. Jackson. Interestingly, Cohen, Moritz, and Diesel had previously collaborated on the smash hit "The Fast and the Furious" in 2001. The film was a massive success, raking in $277.4 million worldwide, and paved the way for two thrilling sequels: "XXX: State of the Union" in 2005 and "XXX: Return of Xander Cage" in 2017.
Now, let's dive into the plot.
A ruthless Russian terrorist group known as Anarchy 99 has acquired the devastating biochemical weapon, "Silent Night," a relic presumed lost since the fall of the Soviet Union. Undercover NSA agent Jim McGrath is tasked with its recovery, but his mission ends tragically when he's killed by Anarchy 99 during a Rammstein concert.
Enter NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons. He proposes a radical solution: Xander "XXX" Cage. A professional extreme sports athlete, Cage is wanted for unlawful protesting, but crucially, he has no ties to the U.S. government. Under Gibbons' watchful eye, Cage navigates two intense field tests, ultimately accepting the dangerous assignment, with prison being his only other option.
In the heart of Prague, Cage meets his team, including his supervisor, Czech agent Milan Sova. While scouting an Anarchy 99 party, Cage masterfully identifies Sova as a cop, earning him immediate favor with the group and catching the eye of their leader, Yorgi. Cage, playing his part, inquires about purchasing high-end sports cars, and Yorgi's girlfriend and lieutenant, Yelena, provides him with an account number.
Gibbons contacts Cage with revised plans, but is thoroughly impressed when Cage delivers vital intelligence provided by Kolya, Yorgi's star-struck younger brother. The tech-savvy Agent Toby Shavers then equips Cage with an array of cutting-edge gadgets, including a specialized revolver, binoculars capable of seeing through walls, and explosives cleverly disguised as bandages.
As Cage attends the car deal arranged with Yorgi, Sova attempts to intervene. With precision, Cage utilizes his special ammunition to fake Sova's death. Having successfully earned Yorgi's trust, Cage infiltrates Anarchy 99. Yorgi escorts Cage back to his castle, the formidable headquarters of Anarchy 99, following a wild dance party at one of his nightclubs. While searching for the biochemical weapon, Cage stumbles upon Yelena investigating Yorgi's secret safe. He takes her to a nearby restaurant to discuss the matter and finally reveals his true identity.
However, Sova betrays Cage to Yorgi, who dispatches his trusted sniper, Kirill, to eliminate him. Kirill, secretly in love with Yelena, warns her of the impending danger. As Cage and Yelena stage a fight, the NSA suddenly appears to apprehend him, and Yelena is taken back to Anarchy 99.
Cage confronts Gibbons, who demands his immediate return to America as his cover is blown and special forces are preparing to assault the castle. Cage refuses, driven by concern for Yelena's life and resentment over Sova's betrayal. He infiltrates Yorgi's castle, tracking him to a secret underground lab. Overhearing Yorgi's plan to launch "Silent Night" via the water-borne drone Ahab, Cage witnesses the horrifying test of the weapon on its own scientists, to the shock of both Cage and Yelena. Cage escapes, but not before killing Kolya. At his hideout, Sova awaits him, now allied with Yorgi. In a dramatic twist, Yelena saves Cage, revealing herself as an abandoned undercover agent for the Russian Federal Security Service. Cage relays Yorgi's sinister plans to the NSA in exchange for asylum for Yelena.
Against orders, Shavers heavily arms Cage's car. Cage then parachutes from a plane, snowboarding towards Anarchy 99's communication tower. The resulting avalanche destroys the tower, but Cage is captured by Yorgi, who was already aware of Yelena's true identity. As Yorgi prepares to execute them, special forces launch their assault. Cage and Yelena break free, but Yorgi launches Ahab before Cage can stop him. The Czech military prepares to destroy Ahab with airstrikes, a move that will release some of the biochemical agent. Cage and Yelena commandeer his heavily modified car, racing to intercept Ahab. With a daring harpoon shot, Cage disables the weapon moments before it detonates.
Cage and Yelena are recovered, and Gibbons upholds his promises. Later, while the couple relaxes in Bora Bora, Gibbons contacts Cage for another mission, but Cage, for now, ignores him.
Let's meet the cast.
Vin Diesel stars as Xander "XXX" Cage, a thrill-seeking American extreme sports enthusiast, stuntman, and anti-establishment activist. Idolized in certain sub-cultures, Cage is also a target of authorities. He's offered a deal to become a spy for the National Security Agency in exchange for leniency, with the agency recognizing the need for an agent who can operate outside the bounds of traditional military training, which Anarchy 99 would easily detect.
Samuel L. Jackson is Augustus Gibbons, a high-ranking NSA official with the power to grant Cage a pardon. He leverages this to recruit Cage, knowing that Cage's rebellious spirit and unorthodox methods are exactly what's needed to infiltrate Anarchy 99.
William Hope portrays Roger Donnan, an associate and administrator for the National Security Agency.
Danny Trejo appears as "El Jefe," a torturer for a Colombian drug cartel.
Asia Argento is Yelena, Yorgi's apparent girlfriend. Originally a Russian intelligence agent sent to monitor Yorgi, she has since been abandoned by her superiors. Yelena finds herself romantically involved with Cage, who endeavors to secure her political asylum in the United States for her crucial assistance in bringing down Yorgi.
Marton Csokas plays Yorgi, a former Soviet Army soldier turned wealthy hedonist with a string of properties across Eastern Europe, including a castle and nightclubs. Yorgi is also the leader of Anarchy 99, a militant anarchist group with a profound disdain for all forms of government, authority, and society itself, aiming for global lawlessness.
Michael Roof is Toby Lee Shavers, an NSA techno-genius and gadget specialist.
Richy Müller portrays Milan Sova, a cop and a double agent.
Werner Daehn is Kirill, a cigarette-addicted sharpshooter and member of Anarchy 99.
Petr Jákl plays Kolya, Yorgi's younger brother.
Jan Pavel Filipensky is Viktor, a member of Anarchy 99 and Yorgi's close friend, rarely seen without him.
Tom Everett is Dick Hotchkiss, a conservative California State Senator whose car is stolen and wrecked by Cage prior to his recruitment, as a protest against Hotchkiss's policies.
Thomas Ian Griffith plays Jim McGrath, the undercover agent tragically killed by Anarchy 99 while attempting to retrieve the "Silent Night" weapon.
Eve makes an appearance as J.J., a friend of Xander's.
Leila Arcieri is Jordan King.
And the legendary Rammstein appears as themselves.
To further solidify Xander Cage's credibility within extreme sports subcultures, several real-life personalities make cameo appearances.
Tony Hawk pops up, driving the getaway Cadillac near the beginning of the film and later skating over a half-pipe at Xander's place. Mike Vallely appears as a cameraman and an extra, while pro motocross rider Carey Hart is seen in the back seat of Tony Hawk's Cadillac. BMX rider Mat Hoffman exchanges lines with Xander during a party scene. Also at the party, Josh Todd, the lead singer of Buckcherry, makes a cameo appearance, his distinctive suicide king of hearts tattoo visible on his back.
The production of XXX was as intense as the film itself.
In July 2001, it was reported that Vin Diesel would receive approximately $10 million to star, with an initial release date set for July 26, 2002. Before Diesel was cast, Eric Bana is believed to have turned down the lead role of Xander Cage. In August 2001, Sony erected a massive billboard in Hollywood advertising the film, even before a script had been finalized.
Filming took place across three distinct locations. The majority of the movie is set in Prague, Czech Republic. The iconic Corvette jump was filmed at the Foresthill Bridge in Auburn State Recreation Area, California. The final scenes were shot in Bora Bora, Tahiti, and various locations in southern West Virginia.
Several Czech Su-22 aircraft were utilized in the film, marking one of the final actions of these aircraft before the Czech Air Force decommissioned them in 2002.
Vin Diesel performed many of his own stunts. Director Rob Cohen noted, "I think the thing is that Vin did more than he should have, but less than he wanted to." During the avalanche scene, Diesel took a fall, landing headfirst and appearing unresponsive, leading to fears he might have broken his neck. A scene where Cage base jumps from a Corvette was performed by Tim Rigby, wearing a Vin Diesel mask. The motorcycle jump was executed by professional motocross rider and stuntman Jeremy Stenberg, with Diesel's face later added digitally.
Tragically, stunt player Harry O'Connor, Diesel's stunt double, lost his life on April 4, 2002, when he collided with a pillar of the Palacký Bridge in Prague while para-sailing during an action sequence. The accident occurred on the second take of the stunt; O'Connor's first attempt was completed without incident and can be seen in the finished film, which was dedicated to his memory.
The opening minutes of the film unfold at a concert by German Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein in Prague, where they perform their song "Feuer Frei." A similar clip, featuring brief scenes from the film from the band's perspective, is available in their video compilation "Lichtspielhaus."
The film's musical landscape is as electrifying as its action.
The score was composed by Randy Edelman, a frequent collaborator of Cohen's. The film also features a contemporary rock music soundtrack. Rammstein contributed significantly to the music and even appeared in the opening scene. During the club scene in Prague, Orbital can be seen performing their exclusive track "Technologicque Park" live to a dancing crowd. The soundtrack album also includes tracks from Queens of the Stone Age, Drowning Pool, Flaw, Mushroomhead, Hatebreed, Nelly, Lil Wayne, N.E.R.D, Fermín IV, and Moby. Released on August 6, 2002, through Universal Records, it climbed to No. 9 on the Billboard 200, No. 16 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and No. 1 on the Top Soundtracks. The "Tweaker remix" of Gavin Rossdale's song "Adrenaline" was featured in the film, while the original version is on the soundtrack. Notably, none of Edelman's score was included on the album; a separate disc of his work was released by Varèse Sarabande.
The reception to XXX was a mix of enthusiasm and critique.
At the box office, the film opened in 3,374 theaters, grossing $44,506,103 on its opening weekend. It went on to earn a total of $142 million domestically and an additional $135 million internationally, for a staggering worldwide total of $277.4 million.
Critically, the film received a 48% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 180 reviews, with an average rating of 5.59/10. The consensus stated: "It has an endearing lack of seriousness, and Vin Diesel has more than enough muscle for the starring role, but ultimately, XXX is a missed opportunity to breathe new life into the spy thriller genre." On Metacritic, the film scored 48 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews." Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore awarded the film a grade of A− on a scale of A to F.
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it a strong 3.5 stars out of 4, writing, "In its own punk way, XXX is as good as a good Bond movie, and that's saying something." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone commented, "It's hard to hate a movie, even one this droolingly crass, that knows how to laugh at itself." Adam Smith of Empire called the movie, "Sporadically entertaining, but seriously hampered by a very choppy screenplay," rating it three out of five stars. The film was nominated for a Razzie Award for Most Flatulent Teen-Targeted Movie, but lost to "Jackass: The Movie."
You can also check out the XXX video game.
And for further information, refer to the IMDb and Box Office Mojo links.
XXX (stylized as xXx and pronounced Triple X) is a 2002 American action spy film directed by Rob Cohen, produced by Neal H. Moritz and written by Rich Wilkes. The first installment in the xXx film series, the film stars Vin Diesel as Xander Cage, a thrill-seeking extreme sports enthusiast, stuntman, and rebellious athlete-turned-reluctant spy for the National Security Agency. Cage is sent on a dangerous mission to infiltrate a group of potential Russian terrorists in Central Europe. The film also stars Asia Argento, Marton Csokas, and Samuel L. Jackson. Cohen, Moritz, and Diesel had previously worked on The Fast and the Furious (2001) as director, producer and cast member respectively. The film grossed $277.4 million worldwide and was followed by two sequels, xXx: State of the Union (2005) and xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017).
== Plot ==
Russian terrorist group Anarchy 99 acquires the biochemical weapon "Silent Night", presumed missing since the fall of the Soviet Union. Undercover NSA agent Jim McGrath is assigned to recover the weapon but is killed by Anarchy 99 at a Rammstein concert.
NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons suggests sending Xander "XXX" Cage, an extreme sports professional wanted for unlawful protesting, citing his lack of ties to the US government. Under Gibbons' supervision, Cage passes two field tests and reluctantly accepts the job, as the other option is prison.
In Prague, Cage meets his team which includes his supervisor, Czech agent Milan Sova. While scouting an Anarchy 99 party, Cage identifies Sova as a police officer, earning him favor with the group and catching the attention of the leader Yorgi. Cage asks Yorgi about purchasing high end sports cars, and Yorgi's girlfriend and lieutenant Yelena, gives Cage an account number.
Gibbons calls Cage about changes to the plan but is impressed when he gives them information provided by Kolya, Yorgi's star-struck younger brother. Tech-specialist Agent Toby Shavers then provides Cage with gadgets including a revolver with special ammo, binoculars that can see through walls and explosives disguised as bandages.
As Cage attends the car deal he made with Yorgi, Sova attempts to intercede. Using the special ammo, Cage fakes Sova's death. Having earned Yorgi's trust, Cage joins Anarchy 99. Yorgi brings Cage back to a castle after a dance party at one of his nightclubs that serves as Anarchy 99's headquarters. Cage, while searching for the biochemical weapon, catches Yelena investigating Yorgi's secret safe. He takes her to a nearby restaurant to discuss the matter and reveals his true identity.
Sova betrays Cage to Yorgi, so he sends his trusted sniper Kirill to kill him. While watching the pair, Kirill, who is in love with Yelena, warns her. As Cage and Yelena stage a fight, the NSA suddenly appears to capture him, and Yelena is taken back to Anarchy 99.
Cage meets with Gibbons, who demands he return to America as his cover is blown and special forces are planning to assault the castle. He refuses, fearing for Yelena's life and bitter that Sova blew his cover. Cage sneaks into Yorgi's castle and follows him into a secret underground lab. Overhearing his plan to launch "Silent Night" from the water-borne drone Ahab; he first tests the weapon on the scientists who developed it, to Cage and Yelena's horror. Cage flees the area after killing Kolya. At his hideout, Sova is waiting for him, now with Yorgi. Yelena saves Cage, revealing herself to be an abandoned undercover Russian Federal Security Service agent. Cage relays Yorgi's plans to the NSA in return for Yelena's asylum.
Against orders, Shavers heavily arms Cage's car, who then parachutes from a plane on a snowboard near Anarchy 99's communication tower. The avalanche he starts destroys the tower but he is captured by Yorgi, who already knew Yelena's identity. As Yorgi prepares to kill them, the special forces attack. Cage and Yelena free themselves, but Yorgi launches Ahab before Cage kills him. The Czech military prepares to destroy Ahab with airstrikes, though this will release some of the biochemical agent. Cage and Yelena take his heavily modified car, to catch up to Ahab. Cage harpoons and disables the weapon moments before it goes off.
Cage and Yelena are recovered, and Gibbons follows through on his promises. Sometime later, the couple is relaxing in Bora Bora when Gibbons contacts him for another mission, but Cage ignores him.
== Cast ==
Vin Diesel as Xander "XXX" Cage, a thrill-seeking American extreme sports enthusiast, stuntman, and anti-establishment activist. Idolized in some sub-cultures, Cage is also hunted by the authorities and he is offered a deal to become a spy for the National Security Agency in exchange for leniency, the agency requiring an agent who can do the current job without the military professional training that Anarchy 99's background will allow them to recognise.
Samuel L. Jackson as Augustus Gibbons, a high-ranking official in the National Security Agency who has the power to give Cage a pardon for his crimes. He uses this fact as leverage to recruit Cage for a mission because he knows Cage is the only person who could successfully infiltrate Anarchy 99, recognising the benefits of Cage's rebellious attitude and unorthodox methods.
William Hope as Roger Donnan, the associate and administrator of the National Security Agency.
Danny Trejo as "El Jefe", a torturer for a Colombian drug cartel.
Asia Argento as Yelena, Yorgi's apparent girlfriend. Originally a Russian intelligence agent, sent to watch over Yorgi but has since been abandoned by her superiors. Yelena becomes romantically involved with Cage and he attempts to get her political asylum in the United States for her assistance in bringing down Yorgi.
Marton Csokas as Yorgi, a former soldier in the Soviet Army, now a wealthy hedonist owning a string of properties around Eastern Europe, including a castle and nightclubs. Yorgi is also the leader of Anarchy 99, a group of militant anarchists with a disdain for all forms of government and authority, and society in general. His ultimate aim is complete lawlessness across the world.
Michael Roof as Toby Lee Shavers, an NSA techno-genius and gadget specialist.
Richy Müller as Milan Sova, a cop and double agent.
Werner Daehn as Kirill, a member of Anarchy 99, cigarette addict and sharpshooter.
Petr Jákl as Kolya, Yorgi's younger brother.
Jan Pavel Filipensky as Viktor, a member of Anarchy 99 and close friend of Yorgi. He is usually with Yorgi wherever he goes.
Tom Everett as Dick Hotchkiss, a conservative California State Senator; his car is stolen and wrecked by Cage prior to his recruitment by the NSA, as a protest against some of Hotchkiss's policies.
Thomas Ian Griffith as Jim McGrath, an undercover agent killed by Anarchy 99 while trying to retrieve the Silent Night weapon.
Eve as J.J., Xander's friend
Leila Arcieri as Jordan King
Rammstein as themselves
Orbital as themselves
To imply Xander Cage's credibility within extreme sport subcultures, various personalities make cameo appearances:
Tony Hawk makes a cameo appearance in the Corvette scene from the bottom of the bridge driving the getaway Cadillac, (near the beginning of the film) and skating over a half-pipe at Xander's place later.
Mike Vallely also makes a cameo as a cameraman and an extra. Pro motocross rider Carey Hart is seen in the back seat of the Cadillac driven by Tony Hawk.
BMX rider Mat Hoffman exchanges lines with Xander during the party scene.
Also during the party scene, Josh Todd (the lead singer of Buckcherry) makes a cameo appearance though he never turns around, but his suicide king of hearts tattoo can be seen on his back.
== Production ==
In July 2001, it was announced that Vin Diesel would receive in the neighborhood of $10 million to star in the film, with an initial release date of July 26, 2002. It is believed that before Diesel was cast, Eric Bana turned down the lead role of Xander Cage. In August 2001, Sony put up a large billboard advertising the film in Hollywood, before a script had been written.
Filming took place at three locations. Most of the film is set in Prague, Czech Republic. The Corvette jump was filmed at the Foresthill Bridge in Auburn State Recreation Area, Auburn, California. The final scenes were set in Bora Bora, Tahiti, and other areas in southern West Virginia.
Several Czech Su-22s were used for the film. It was one of the last actions of these aircraft – the Czech Air Force decommissioned Sukhois in 2002.
Vin Diesel did many of his own stunts, director Rob Cohen said: "I think the thing is that Vin did more than he should have, but less than he wanted to." Diesel took a fall during the avalanche scene, and landed head first and wasn't moving, and Cohen was worried the star of the film might have broken his neck. A scene where Cage base jumps from a Corvette was performed by Tim Rigby wearing a Vin Diesel mask. The motorcycle jump was performed by professional motocross rider and stuntman Jeremy Stenberg, and Diesel's face was later added digitally.
Stunt player Harry O'Connor, Diesel's stunt double, was killed on April 4, 2002, when he hit a pillar of the Palacký Bridge in Prague while para-sailing during one of the action scenes. The accident occurred while filming the second take of the stunt; O'Connor's first attempt was completed without incident and can be seen in the completed film, which was dedicated to him.
The first few minutes of the film take place at a concert of German Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein in Prague, performing the song "Feuer Frei". The same clip is available, but from the band's perspective (with only brief scenes from the film) in their video compilation Lichtspielhaus.
== Music ==
The film score was composed by Randy Edelman, a frequent collaborator of Cohen's. The film also featured a contemporary rock music soundtrack. Rammstein provided some of the music and was even featured in the film in the opening scene. During the club scene in Prague, Orbital can be seen playing their exclusive track "Technologicque Park" live before the dancing crowd. The soundtrack album also features Queens of the Stone Age, Drowning Pool, Flaw, Mushroomhead, Hatebreed, Nelly, Lil Wayne, N.E.R.D, Fermín IV and Moby. It was released on August 6, 2002, through Universal Records. It peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, No. 16 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 1 on the Top Soundtracks. The "Tweaker remix" of the song "Adrenaline" by Gavin Rossdale (the lead singer of Bush) was featured in the film, while the original version is included on the soundtrack. None of Edelman's score was included on the album, with a separate disc of his work released by Varèse Sarabande.
== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
The film opened in 3,374 theaters and grossed $44,506,103 in its opening weekend. It grossed a total of $142 million, and a further $135 million internationally for a worldwide total of $277.4 million worldwide.
=== Critical response ===
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 48% based on reviews from 180 critics, with an average rating of 5.59/10. The site's consensus reads: "It has an endearing lack of seriousness, and Vin Diesel has more than enough muscle for the starring role, but ultimately, XXX is a missed opportunity to breathe new life into the spy thriller genre." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 48 out of 100, based on reviews from 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade A− on scale of A to F.
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it 3+1⁄2 stars out of 4, writing, "In its own punk way, XXX is as good as a good Bond movie, and that's saying something." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote: "It's hard to hate a movie, even one this droolingly crass, that knows how to laugh at itself." Adam Smith of Empire called the movie, "Sporadically entertaining, but seriously hampered by a very choppy screenplay", and rating it three out of five stars.
This film was nominated for a Razzie Award for Most Flatulent Teen-Targeted Movie, but lost to Jackass: The Movie.
== See also ==
XXX (video game)
== References ==
== External links ==
XXX at IMDb
XXX at Box Office Mojo
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