29 replies to this topic

[mrmoon]

Here's an excerpt from Entertainment Weekly's interview with Vin Diesel concerning the [yawn]reinvention of the spy film[/yawn], that is 'XXX'

In other words, it's a ''total reinvention of the spy film for a new generation,'' according to director Rob Cohen, who last teamed with Diesel for his total reinvention of the hot-rod movie, 2001's ''The Fast and the Furious.''

''James Bond is cool, but he's left over from that Clark Gable mentality,'' Diesel says. ''I mean, James Bond wears a suit. I don't know a kid today who wears a suit. So we've come up with a different kind of hero. A nihilist. An antihero. A guy who doesn't give a s--- about anything but his own thrills.''

Total reinvention of the spy movie for a new generation - er yeah right Mr.Cohen. So GE, TND, and TWINE didn't suffice this generation then ha. Thats just the kind of comment I expect from these people James Bond wears a suit . Yes James Bond wears a suit because he's a man of style, class, sophistication, a character that has worn a suit for 40 frickin years. The kind of clothes this Xander Cage will wear will be this years grunge look from the US which people will look back on and think - what a prick. I mean Mr.Cohen, hate to break it to you but, this is going to be just another summer action movie. As for him being someone who doesn't give a ****... er remind you of anyone , good reinvention - doing it for his own thrills oooooh not seen a rebellious character like that before.

Here's another excerpt

As Xander Cage, a grungy extreme athlete turned secret agent, Diesel dodges bullets while surfing down a banister on a waiter's tray. He outruns helicopters while doing handstands on a motorcycle. He stubbornly ignores orders from his scar-faced boss (Samuel L. Jackson), exchanges sneers with the stylishly sinister mastermind (New Zealand actor Marton Csokas) of a terrorist ring called Anarchy 99, and uses that throaty growl of his to sweet-talk an icy Russian beauty (Italian actress Asia Argento).

Outruns helicopters while doing handstands on a motorcycle [sarcasm]originality, thats what I like to see [/sarcasm]. Ignores orders from his Boss - oooooooh, we haven't seen a rebellious Bond before, *cough*LTK*cough*. Sweet talks an icy russian beauty, ever heard of 'Bond Girls', vin and Mr.Cohen.

Lets face it, there's only room for one secret agent in this world, and we all know who that is. They even had to steal a Bond Girl's name for the title - ha. Better luck next time Vin and co.

[Bryce (003)]

That's the first "Bond-bashing" I've heard/read of from the XXX camp. Why is it Brosnan embraces "fellow" cinema spies, but these other spies feel they have to defend themselves? Austin never made any excuses....Baby!

"Why don't you just shoot him?"

"You just don't get it, do you Scott? I'm going to leave him alone, unsearched and unsupervised in an easily escapable situation involving an overly elaborate and exotic death and just assume that it all went as planned."

[Blue Eyes]

That's not the first Bond-bashing in relation to XXX though Bryce. The 'pre-titles' of XXX start off with a British secret agent being killed at a rock concert. Vin Petrol said it's obviously Bond, and it's a message that Bond's time is over.

That was a few months back. After hearing that, I decided that XXX was not a film I was going to waste money on.

[Bryce (003)]

A-ha!

I hadn't heard of that twist. Hmmm.

"I'm feeling insecure being a spy on screen....Let's do a "sacrificial Bond" killing."

[JimmyBond]

Originally posted by Blue Eyes
That's not the first Bond-bashing in relation to XXX though Bryce. The 'pre-titles' of XXX start off with a British secret agent being killed at a rock concert. Vin Petrol said it's obviously Bond, and it's a message that Bond's time is over.  

That was a few months back. After hearing that, I decided that XXX was not a film I was going to waste money on.

And that Blue Eyes, is the exact same reason xXx wont be getting my cash. Ripping off is one thing, talking **** about the films is another, but actually killing off Bond in the beginning of the movie as a symbolic act is just so stupid that its insulting.

[rafterman]

why do we want a secret agent who doesn't give a *******? Isn't that a bad thing, a selfish agent? Bond does it for Queen and country.....sigh, just an example of people who don't get it and more generation X selfishness...wow, someone who doesn't give a *******....and he's into extreme sports! how cool and new and original....I must say I don't give a *******......and I wear a suit, guess Mr. Diesel hasn't heard about people who work jobs better than 7-11 and McDonald's....some people actually like classic style..

[Dmitri Mishkin]

You know, xXx will probably be a decent action movie. But will it replace Bond as a continuous series? No. Because what the makers of xXx are trying to do isn't novel. They are merely altering a tried-and-true formula. But who is to say that in altering the formula, that they don't ruin its 'essence' altogether? They forget: Bond movies work on a very specific, time-tested, time-weathered formula. Others can "borrow" elements, but no one has yet proven the ability to effectively replicate the formula in a repeated, continuous fashion . They forget that the Bond movies are a behemoth to overtake. 20 movies and counting. Time. Name. Generations.

Taking a step back, I think the director (Cohen) and star (Diesel) are simply trying to promote their flick to the best of their ability - if that entails potshots at Bond, well may it be.

For my money, xXx will be at best a one-hit wonder, at least a typical summer action flick with inflated ambitions.

[Blue Eyes]

And also perhaps a sequel. But 20 films across 40 years? They wish...

And rafterman, congrats on being another part of the young generation who doesn't conform to society at large

[R]

Originally posted by mrmoon


In other words, it's a ''total reinvention of the spy film for a new generation,'' according to director Rob Cohen, who last teamed with Diesel for his total reinvention of the hot-rod movie, 2001's ''The Fast and the Furious.''

Does anyone else read "total reinvention" and think "rip off", or "can't come up with an original idea"?

[Evil Doctor Cheese]

As for what Blue Eyes said... 20 films over 40 years they wish!!! I totally agree!! This is the sort of film that doesn't rely on creating a character. The character is (and I'm sorry if I go into Indiana Jones bashing territory) the actor. Full stop. Once the actor gets old the character will stop being accepted and the series will stop... if the series hasn't before because people are sick of the spy formula (that was created by Bond) and Bond franchise being the olnly franchise to be original with the formula because they are the ones who made it.

Mr Deisel and Mr Cohen... don't try and re-invent something that you don't understand. Martinis girls and guns? There's a lot more to Bond than a guy in a suit. He hurts. He's witty. He's a real man with vices that come from being in a lonely job. He's not some street punk that can only be accessed by Generation X for three films... he's a transcendant character that is in our folk law and as the filmic new century progresses and the archive picks up more films Vin Diesel's xXx and it's sequels (xXXx: The Castlemain adventure) will be burried by a tonne of far better films and the fact that Bond is really the only definative spy in a world of wannabes.

Must try harder and be more original Messers Diesel and Cohen. See me after school for lessons in making a decent spy film. D-

[Jim]

1. If Bond is so irrelevant, as these extracts suggest, aren't they taking a terrible risk in carving whacking great chunks out of it?

2. One cannot reinvent, as one cannot rediscover. Once it's invented, it's invented. It's already been invented.

3. The Clark Gable/James Bond relationship. A widely known phenomenon. Umm...both...umm...had hair? (Struggling).

4. James Bond does indeed wear a suit. He has to wear something. Naked A View to a Kill would have been very unpleasant. I'm not sure that criticising Bond's clothing is the sharpest criticism of the Bond series. Surely there's something better to say?

5. Indeed, "the kids", they dinnae wear suits (Mormon "kids" excepted). This has been the case for many years. xXx may have its fingers around the throat of popular youth culture, but it would appear to be the popular youth culture of 1959. Rock on, daddio, and don't tear the cinema's seats out.

6. Commandment 11: "Thou shalt claim thy hero as different". This is to replace the commandment they appear to have forgotten, that frivolous one about covetousness. Although it would appear they've pinched the Bond series' line about each new Bond girl being different. Governments change, the lies stay the same.

7. A nihilist. An antihero. "The bitch is dead now". Professor Dent. Elektra King. Oh boys, boys, we've been there, done that, got the t-shirt, the DVDs, the posters, the books, the...

8. It would be far more interesting if they told us whether the actress named is related to Dario Argento. That'd be diverting.

9. They appear to be remaking Licence to Kill. Good. They've left the good James Bond films alone. Perhaps they will outgross Licence to Kill, which gives us another reason to hate it. Outgrossed by a noisy bullet strewn knock-off. Burn it. Burn it now.

10. I'll still probably see it at some point.

[Tedley King]

I have a cunning plan! What if we, as Bond fans were to ruin xXx by performing the following ...

resisting any 'temptation' to see this movie until it comes out to rent. We then rent the video but record over it with a Bond film. We then go back to the shop "very distraught" and complain that the film we would have loved to see was viciously recorded over by the previous person who rented the film! Then we get our money back and get another film, Die Another Day, for free!

Skeeming little pissant aren't I?

[Roebuck]

Right on the money Jim - she's Dario's sprog in her first major film role.

Empire magazine were invited to view the rough cut of xXx and thought it was exciting and reasonably entertaining.Still, It's foolish trying to pretend they are bringing anything new to the spy genre.

What I can't figure is why they'd want to alienate Bond fans when they have packed the trailer with 'homages' (rip offs?)only Bond fans are likely to pick up on?

[R]

There's a review for "The Movie Previously Known as Anya Amasova" here at Coming Attractions

It ain't pretty.

[Roebuck]

Ouch!
Not exactly trying to spare Diesel's feelings, are they.

[Double-Oh-Zero]

"I don't see a kid today who wears a suit." No kidding. I don't see a kid today who dodges bullets while surfing, or outrunning helicopters while doing handstands on a motorcycle either, bub. That's the beauty of it. It's partly a fantasy element with Bond. Most kids want to wear tuxes and drink martinis and get the girl and be a suave British agent. With xXx, I don't really think kids want to be some brash, cocky extreme sports dude who doesn't give a s--t. Because most of them already are. So he's an antihero and a nihilist. Big deal. We already have enough of those today. What's the fun in that?

[RayBros007]

:mad: :mad: Well this whole XXX thing pisses me off a lot!!! :mad: A british spy who gets killes at a rock concert!!! What a load of ****!!! And that's the message that they're sending "Bond Dies! And only XXX can save us now!!!" Bond can't die... That's why he's BOND for crying out loud... :mad: :mad:

There... I'm all done and I'm glad I let all of that out!

[zencat]

All you have to remember is that in 1969 George Lazenby was talked out of a multi-picture contract as Bond because people told him that the whole James Bond thing was over as the future belonged to the "hippies."

In 10 years XXX will look dated and ridiculous...Bond will live on.

[Xenobia]

First off...It is most curious to me that I now know at least two other Dario Argento fans. And here I thought he was a cult figure...

Folks...Let's look at the magazine that published this...Entertainment Weekly. EW is owned by Time Warner AOL. Neither Time Warner or AOL have any special deals going with EON, Gildrose, or MGM, ergo, it really wouldn't pay for them to push Bond when I am sure the folks at XXX are making it very nice for the folks at EW.

EW is so bitchy they almost pulled Tom Cruise off the cover of a recent issue because they didn't like the fact that he was on two other covers that month. They got their on that one, but perhaps Eon wouldn't play ball with them for Bond...so XXX gets to have all the fun.

[IrishCrown]

EW was also the one magazine that put out an article after the release of TWINE in fall of 99 entitled "Kill Bond Now!" Mind you, this was after Bond brought in over 35 mil its opening weekend, a record for the series. The writer kept trying to say that Bond was tired, out of ideas, and needed to be put to sleep. Apparently he was one of the few people who thought that, because I thought he was full of ****.
This XXX bull**** unfortunately will make for good copy for a lot of media. They will point to its success, which it will probably achieve. I can't stand Vin Diesel. From what I have heard of him, I think he's an arrogant ****, who's so ashamed of himself he can't even tell people his real name. Then he runs around like a little ****** in a fur coat bashing Bond. I'd pay good money to see him in a scene where he gets humped by Mini-Me.

[WarBird]

I think Vin Diesel movie "xxx" is the biggest Bond rip off. Bond is a classic. Vin Deesel is jealous that he couldn't produce a spy movies thats a great as James Bond. I totally aggree with you IrishCrown I would aslo pay to see Vin Diesel getting humped by Mini-Me.

[IrishCrown]

Vin Diesel....The Next Sylvester Stallone.

God Help Us.

[IrishCrown]

I was just about to call it quits for the day when I saw the cover of the new Entertainment Weekly. That ******* Vin Diesel is on it, looking like the most arrogant, egotistical **** he could possibly be. Read his comments in there, if you dare, and see why people like this overbearing prick. He just looks like an *******. God, I can't stand him!

[JimmyBond]

Originally posted by IrishCrown
EW was also the one magazine that put out an article after the release of TWINE in fall of 99 entitled "Kill Bond Now!"  Mind you, this was after Bond brought in over 35 mil its opening weekend, a record for the series.  The writer kept trying to say that Bond was tired, out of ideas, and needed to be put to sleep.  Apparently he was one of the few people who thought that, because I thought he was full of ****.  

Is this article still online? If not, do you have the magazine with the article? Call it morbid curiousity.

[Double-Oh-Zero]

Has anyone else seen the more recent trailers for Triple X where the critics say a few words about it? I saw it yesterday, and Newsweek was quoted as saying "Goodbye, Mr. Bond...xXx is the new hero, blah blah blah." I wasn't really concerned about the second part, it was just the "Goodbye" part that started to get on my nerves. Personally, I think that's being a little too critical towards Bond. Any thoughts?

[License To Kill]

Like I said in my thread on xXx, the producers of this piece of **** movie are just bashing Bond because they are either too stupid to think of a marketing ploy or just jealous because they never thought of Bond first before Ian Fleming.



~LTK~

[freemo]

Hey relax folks, there's no real danger of xXx doing near as good as Bond. I mean read that dudes comments it sounds like he's trying to convinve himself as much as anyone else. A few people will fall for it, but the movie will be forgotten quicker than you can say "Vin who ?". Don't lose sleep over it people.

[bonded56]

Didn't Kevin McClory go to Sony, who owns Columbia and is releasing XXX, to try to get another Thunderball remake done? Perhaps Sony has his "rights", couldn't make a legit Bond movie and decided to do this secret agent movie. I read that the producers wanted to promote it as "not your father's secret agent", but director Cohen didn't want to alienate the Bond fans. So now XXX is a "new breed of secret agent".

[Willie Garvin]

This too will pass.In fact within 2 years time,xXx will probably be on the top of the discount bins in video stores everywhere.The publicity isn't especially original and to Bond fans it's off-putting.So what if their anti-hero is an extreme sports enthusiast?This film was dated the moment it was green-lighted by SONY.

And while one could argue that the Bond films are dated too--that's part of their charm--and testament to their longevity.

There's room for other adventurers/secret agents,et al.in the movies--provided they're presented with style intelligence and flair.I don't see that with xXx--the stunts will probably be impressive.The film itself won't be.

I won't go to see xXx in the theatre,but I'll watch it when it pops up on cable...


WG.

[IrishCrown]

cough {rip-off}