X X-Men (2000) (**1/2, sci fi, fantasy, action) (5-20-02)
X The Unknown (1956) (**1/2, 50s sci fi)
XXX (2002) (***1/2, action, Bond) (12-2-02)
Xmas Turkeys 2000. (12-25-00) I thought that in view of the day, I would give you a few Christmas Turkeys. These are films with first rate credentials that, for one reason or another, ended up being awful and should be avoided like the plague. Actually, this rating is not correct by my usual standards. I have a straight Turkey category, which is for films that are so bad that they are unintentionally funny, campy, or just plain amusing in the badness. However, in the Christmas spirit, I will give you Hush and Drowning Mona. I will also review Unbreakable. My wife would definitely put it in the Christmas Turkey category, but I thought it much better than that.
X-Men
(2000) (**1/2, sci fi, fantasy, action) (5-20-02) (D.- Bryan Singer; Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian
McKellen, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Tyler Mane,
Ray Park, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) I am not an action comic fan. However, for
me it looks like X-Men delivered what
it was supposed to: bizarre characters, action, exceptional transformations,
and a low level philosophy about the dangers of discrimination. The world is
now populated by normal people and a few rare mutants with wildly different
traits. Humans do not take well to those who are different than we are, especially
when inflamed by demagogues such as Senator Robert Kelly (Davison). Some mutants
wish to reconcile with humanity and others plan to exterminate them. The story
revolves around two mutants who go to a mutant academy to learn to harness their
wild powers. We end with a battle of two sets of super powerful mutants vying
for supremacy.
The effects are good. The transformations are exceptional. The battles are adequate. The story line never rises above the comic book level. Not for everyone.
X The Unknown (1956) (**1/2, 50s sci fi) (D.-Leslie Norman; Dean Jagger, Leo McKern, William Lucas, Edward Chapman, Anthony Newley, Peter Hammond) A fine thriller from Hammer Studio, the world's master of low budget horror. Radioactive mud begins to grow and overrun the Scottish countryside and fry everything in its path. Atmospheric and suspenseful with respectable FX, but don't look too closely at the science. In the 70s the British National Film Theater labelled X "anxiety laden thriller was a metaphor for the cold war hysteria and more telling than a dozen documentaries." Michael Carraress of Hammer was appalled. If Hammer succeeded in gaining respectability, they would be ruined. [Robert Osborne, AMC] Written by Jimmy Sangster who was responsible for many of Hammer's films. (2-24-97) Beginning
XXX (2002)
(***1/2, action, Bond) (12-2-02) (D.-Rob Cohen; Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, Asia
Argento, Marton Csokas, TeeJay Boyce) Let’s not confuse art with entertainment.
XXX has an attitude. It is the ultimate anti-Bond movie. It is both a
fabulous send off of the Bond films and a tribute to them. It works and I really
enjoyed XXX. The film is true to the Bond legend.
Yorgi (Csokas) is head of Anarchy
99. The name says it all. His goal is to tear the world apart. What you do with
it later is of secondary importance. As with any Bond film, he is working on
the ultimate weapon and must be stopped. The super secret US group led by the
badly scarred Jackson decides they are not doing too well at stopping it with
their current approach. “Do we want to drop another mouse in the bottom
of the snake pit?” His solution “The best of the bottom of the barrel.”
Who else but Xander (Diesel) aka XXX, a prime mover in an anti-establishment
anti-authority movement. He is also into every extreme sport and some unique
sport involving a Corvette. Perfect for the job. There is only one problem.
“If you are going to send someone to save the world, make sure they like
it.” Will Xander decide he actually likes the world? Will he find a romantic
interest? Will the villain (“Catch him fast, kill him slow” Pryce)
be a worthy opponent? Will the film be filled with awesome stunts, crisp one
liners, homage to the Bond heritage? Will the sun rise in the morning?
Diesel is not very far removed
from his character. His appearance and his attitudes are probably not very far
from reality. In actuality he likes extreme sports, although he had to add some
new ones for the film. The director was at his wit’s end. Diesel and some
of the others would do motorcross between scenes. The director could tell by
the roar of the motorcycles and the whine as they became airborne that Diesel
was at it again.
The romantic interest is the offbeat looking beauty Argenta. Is she with
him or against him? In reality she is the granddaughter of the famous Italian
horror film Dario Argenta with whom she still makes films.
In addition to the Bond references there are others. Familiarity with
The Third Man won’t hurt. The name of the weapon also foreshadows a later
scene in the film.
So if you are into Bondian style movies, love tongue in cheek, and don’t
mind a hard (very hard) pounding rock score, Give XXX
a look. Oh yes, “I love fresh powder.”