Volume 2
Issue # 8
August 15, 2002
"The Box Office CHAMP - XXX"
Photo copyright Columbia Pictures
VITAL INFO:
Rated 14A for Violence and Coarse Language
Starring Vin Diesel as Xander Cage, Samuel L. Jackson as Agent Gibbons,
Asia Argento as Yelena
Directed by Rob Cohen
Produced by Neal H Moritz
Extreme action star, Xander Cage (Diesel), is famous for his high profile stunts broadcast by his team through an underground website. Unwittingly recruited and tested by the NSA (after two tranquilizers), Cage is sent on an intel mission to Europe but he soon finds himself infiltrating a rogue Russian group, Anarchy '99, and all hell breaks loose.
Fans of Vin Diesel, of The Fast and the Furious fame, will jump at the opportunity to see the next big action star skysurfing on a Corvette and blowing up things; Action adrenaline junkies in general.
Hot: Crazy action sequences (cannot emphasize that enough), fast cars, big explosions. Diesel certainly has a great on-screen presence. Simply a lot of fun to watch.
Not: The story is a little lacking (kind of corny, kind of predictable), and Triple X's entrance in the international agent game is a little too unbelievable. The jokes are so cheesy.
XXX (yells): Bora Bora!
Gibbons: What did he say?
XXX (quieter): Bora Bora.
If you're looking for a lighter take on intenational agents, with less action and more tomfoolery, check out Austin Powers in Goldmember. Highly recommended.
/4
If you like Vin Diesel and love action movies, this is definitely the movie for you. As with most action films, don't expect too much as far as story.
Photo copyright New Line Cinema
Rated PG-13 for some sensuality
Starring Al Pacino as Viktor Taransky, Rachel Roberts as Simone, Winona Ryder as Nicola Anders, Catherine Keener as Elaine Christian
Directed by Andrew Niccol
Produced by Andrew Niccol
To be released August 23, 2002
A once-great moviemaker, Viktor Taransky (Pacino) has run into some bad luck lately, and is entering the twilight of his career. Big name stars are refusing to star in his movies. Then one day, a computer geek approaches Taransky with a computer program that can create a digital actor. The geek dies and his lawyer gives the program to Taransky, who goes on to create Simone, the next starlet of Hollywood.
Teenage boys out to see newcomer Rachel Roberts; Loyal Al Pacino fans; People looking for some non-slapstick non-sexual inneundo comedy.
Hot: Pacino's performance, as always, is unmatched. Funnier than I expected.
Not: Simone, as a character, lacks personality. Then again, she is just
a series of 1's and 0's.
/4
Very well done. Although Simone's character could use some development, this is a very good film all in all. Would have been 4 out of 4, if Simone (the character) was more interesting.
