xXx: Return of Xander Cage offers extra dose of Vin Diesel and 3D effects [Review]

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By Tiffany Choi
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By Tiffany Choi |
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Vin Diesel returns as Xander Cage.

After 12 years, Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) returns to the big screen in xXx: Return of Xander Cage.

Pandora’s Box, which allows anyone to control every military satellite in the world, has been stolen, and law-defying extreme sports enthusiast turned government operative Xander Cage is recruited by the CIA to get it back. But, of course, when the operation involves the government, nothing is straightforward.

Donnie Yen doing his thing as Xiang.
Photo: Intercontinental Film Distributors (H.K.) Ltd.

On his mission, Xander and his team of misfits face off against a gang of four headed by Xiang (Donnie Yen), and soon they find out there’s more to the story than what they’ve been told.

Xander is the perfect weapon for this operation, but the use of 3D was not the perfect choice for this film. The action sequences in 3D leave the audience feeling dizzy, and while the whole “Xander is great” angle is understandable, the director (D.J. Caruso) tries too hard to push that. Okay, “Xander is great”, but do you need such long scenes to prove that point? In comparison, Xiang’s scenes are a lot better. Break the glass ceiling. Boom. Done. That’s it.

When Xander Cage and Xiang finally meet, things take an unexpected turn neither of them anticipated, and their teams have to find a way to work together instead of against each other.

Despite the shaky cameras, unnecessary 3D, and overkill of focus on Xander, the storyline itself is amazing, and completely unexpected.The cast of great action movies actors like Diesel and Yen, and a diverse cast that includes Deepika Padukone, Kris Wu, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, and Samuel L. Jackson, add so much colour (pun unintended) to xXx: Return of Xander Cage as well.

Edited by Heidi Yeung

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