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Jakarta Post

Why Xander Cage needed to return?

Primastuti Handayani (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Wed, January 18, 2017

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Why Xander Cage needed to return? A still from "xXx: Return of Xander Cage". (Paramount Pictures/File)

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in Diesel needed to wait 15 years to retrieve his role as Xander Cage, an extreme-sport-affectionado-slash-spy. The third chapter of the franchise redefined the spy thriller from the typical sleek guy in a suit to a guy in a tee holding a skateboard.

Cage was forced to come out of self-imposed exile as a group of bad guys—at least that was what the government had thought—led by Xiang (Donny Yen) tried to steal a gadget named “Pandora’s Box” that could control satellites. Assisted by sniper Adele Wolff (Ruby Rose), party animal DJ Nicks Zhou (Kris Wu), Tennyson Torch (Rory McCann) and Becky Clearidge (Nina Dobrev), Cage led a head-on collision against Xiang and his gang, including Serena Unger (Deepika Padukone). It turned out they were on the same team and had to face the real nemesis.

With such a simple storyline, where are its good points?

(Read also: Latest movie trailers boast rosy sequel, adaptation, reboot)

Extreme action scenes

This movie showcased Cage’s skills from extreme skateboarding to motorsurfing, which were some of the most mind-blowing stunts ever to be caught on film. The fighting scenes between Cage and Xiang, or them against the real bad guys, were also much awaited parts of the movie.

With a very well-choreographed melee combat scene between Xiang and other characters, Yen proved his martial arts skills were no joke. Xiang’s team member Talon (Tony Jaa) also was involved in an entertaining fighting scene, but let's just say that Xander’s team managed to raise the bar in terms of extreme action.

Diverse cast

Being successful with diverse casts at his other movie franchise Fast and Furious, Diesel wanted to bring the same formula to xXx.

With names like Bollywood’s Padukone (Cocktail), Jaa of Thailand (Furious 7), Rose of Australia (Orange is the New Black, John Wick 2), Nina Dobrev who was born in Bugaria but raised in Canada (The Vampire Diaries) to Chinese superstar Wu (Mr. Six, Sweet Sixteen), the new sequel is Diesel’s dream come true. And it was to hear that diversity with Padukone’s thick Indian accent or Wu’s mixed accent (he was born in China but grew up in Canada).

(Read also: Diesel says 'Guardians of the Galaxy' to be in next 'Avengers')

Femme fatale

Although the fighting scenes for both Rose and Padukone were less as exciting when compared to Diesel and Yen, it was still entertaining to see their shootout scenes.

Paramount collaborated with China’s Huahua Media and Shanghai Film Group to produce the movie. With Diesel’s name as a mega-action star and plenty of Asian actors, xXx sequel expects to earn much more than its two previous installments. 

 

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