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XXX (“TRIPLE X”)

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What You Need To Know:

XXX (“TRIPLE X”) tries to re-invent the spy thriller by giving moviegoers a renegade hero, played by Vin Diesel of THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS. Diesel plays Xander Cage, a daredevil who flouts the law and knocks family values. A superspy, played by Samuel L. Jackson, thinks Xander is just what he needs to infiltrate an Eastern European, Russian gang called Anarchy 99, which has obtained biological weapons from some Russian scientists. Xander fits right in with this crowd, but discovers that there are some things about the world, and his country, that are indeed worth defending and saving.

“TRIPLE X” is full of awesome action stunts like parachuting off bridges, riding runaway speedboats filled with bombs, climbing dangerous cliffs, and outrunning huge avalanches while riding a snowboard. The cast does a good job of making viewers care what happens. “TRIPLE X” does not, however, have enough redemptive, moral content in it to make it completely acceptable or appropriate. For example, it contains foul language, some sexual situations, brief nudity, scenes with obnoxious heavy metal rock bands, strong violence, and brief drug use in one of the villain’s hangouts. Moviegoers, therefore, should exercise extreme caution

Content:

(H, B, PP, C, LLL, VVV, S, NN, A, DD, M) Humanist worldview with some moral elements extolling patriotism, saving lives and redemptive sacrifice; about 35 obscenities and four profanities (including two GDs); strong action violence includes police chase man in stolen car which plummets to earth and explodes when thief parachutes out of it from bridge, assassination, explosions, fighting, machine gun fire, villain murders people, avalanche kills people and wrecks structure, threats of torture, and government spies kidnap men and place them in violent situations to see how they get out of them; implied fornication in two or three scenes and passionate kissing; upper male nudity, rear female nudity, woman in revealing underwear, and much female cleavage in erotic, sexual situations and in nightclubs; alcohol use; smoking and brief drug use; and, stealing, wearing tattoos and renegade anti-hero crudely complains about politician who wants to regulate pornography and violence in entertainment, but anti-hero reforms somewhat by the end.

More Detail:

The regeneration of the international film market in the early 1960s gave birth to a series of big budget international spy thrillers, the most famous of which were the James Bond thrillers starring Sean Connery. In these spy thrillers, although the spies worked for a particular country, most often Great Britain or the United States, their efforts usually were directed toward stopping international criminals. The criminals in these movies would endanger either the world, a foreign city with international flavor or some aspect of peaceful international relations. The fight against Communism was rarely mentioned, although this wasn’t true of the early Bond novels by Ian Fleming.

Action star sensation Vin Diesel and his FAST AND FURIOUS collaborator, director Rob Cohen, are trying to re-invent the spy movie genre in their new movie XXX (“TRIPLE X”). Although they’ve thrown in some positive patriotic elements into their extravagant action movie, they’ve retained the international flavor of the spy thriller. This may not please the paleo-conservatives, enlightened Christians and concerned leftists who think the “War on Terrorism” is becoming more like a tool of a Garrison State, an American Empire, rather than a righteous war against evil waged by a true republic.

When the audience first meets Vin Diesel’s character, Xander Cage, he’s heisting a pro-family politician’s fancy car for his daredevil, extreme sports program on the Internet. Xander’s upset about the politician’s stance against pornography and violence in the media. Following this stunt, Xander is kidnapped by government spies, led by black superspy Augustus Gibbons, played by Samuel L. Jackson. Gibbons wants to recruit Xander to infiltrate a group calling itself Anarchy 99, led by a former Russian soldier named Yorgi. Yorgi is clearly up to no good, and the United States government wants to know exactly what. All the other agents they’ve sent have been killed because they don’t have the underground, anarchist mentality needed for the job.

Of course, Xander, being something of an anarchist and renegade himself, wants nothing to do with such altruistic things as spying for his country. Gibbons, however, thinks a man like Xander can change for the better, if faced with the right circumstances. That’s just what happens as the story resolves itself into the typical, elaborate spy-versus-spy action scenes that such spy thrillers are known for including.

“TRIPLE X” is full of extreme, awesome action stunts like parachuting off bridges, riding runaway speedboats filled with bombs, climbing dangerous cliffs, and outrunning huge avalanches while riding a snowboard. As such, the movie may remind some viewers of the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE movies starring Tom Cruise. This time, however, viewers get to see renegade action star Vin Diesel strut his stuff. Diesel seems to be marketing himself as a new kind of antihero for the new millennium. Ably assisting him in this movie, despite a couple lines of corny dialogue and unintentionally funny situations, is Jackson as the mentor spy, Asia Argento as the femme fatale and damsel in distress, and Marton Csokas as the angry Russian villain. Make no mistake, however. This film is a popcorn movie that’s designed to entertain, not to enlighten or edify.

“TRIPLE X” does not have enough redemptive, moral content in it to be completely acceptable or appropriate. There are some extreme sports situations that look very dangerous and include plenty of action violence. The movie also contains foul language, crude or immoral sexual innuendo, brief nudity, scenes with obnoxious heavy metal rock bands, and brief drug use in one of the villain’s hangouts.

By the end of the story, Xander does redeem himself somewhat by becoming concerned about the welfare of other people and the state of the world. He discovers that there are some things about the world, and his country, that are worth defending and saving. Thus, the most important test he passes is the test that confirms Augustus Gibbons’ belief that a man can, indeed, change.

Of course, the ultimate change is the change that comes through the salvation of Jesus Christ. Our goal should not be to defend some kind of humanist empire, but to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.