Next to the bowling was a cinema and they used to give us a discount which was another perk of the job. So when 'XXX' the new Vin Diesel film was released the bowling alley and cinema got together and ran a promotion. If you could bowl 3 strikes in a row (also called a turkey) you would get a free ticket to the film. So I paid my 50p to get my free ticket. I was full of confidence and even a little bit cocky that I could get the 3 strikes in one game. In the past I got loads of turkeys, but in that game I couldn't hit anything, so I paid another 50p and had another go, then another and then another. I couldn't string together a series of strikes. Maybe one or two but I couldnt get the three in row that I needed. It was starting to get embarrassing.
Now I'm not too sure how much cinema tickets were back in 2002 (definitely a lot cheaper than today) but I'm pretty sure it took me about 20 games to finally grab myself a turkey. That is over £10. I'm pretty sure the ticket would have been a lot cheaper especially with the discount I would have got.
I wish I could tell you that 'XXX' was worth the blood, sweat and tears, the time and the extra money but we all know that's not true. 'XXX' was a massive dissapointment. It was billed as a spy movie for the X-generation that loves skateboarding and extreme sports. Vin Diesel was being hailed as the next big action star. He was coming off the back off mega success with 'Pitch Black' and the first 'The Fast and the Furious'. His stock was rising fast.
It wasn't a massive success at the box office but it did make enough money to warrent a sequel. Vin Diseal didn't return for part 2. Rumours were that he was demanding just a little too much. Rapper Ice Cube tried his luck as the next recruit from the project x program. 'XXX 2: State of Union' performed even worst at the box office. The film was classified as a failure from critics and fans. The series which was once seen as a future franchise which would rake in the money was now a big stinking pile of turd which was left to die a slow painful death.
Fast forward 12 years to 2014 and Vin Diesel's stock is rising again. He is back in the 'Fast and Furious' franchise which is becoming Universal's tent pole. He is also very active on social media where he drops hints and likes to talk up his future projects. Well guess what, he mentions another possible outing as Xander Cage and the whole internet pretty much didn't care. That was until 'Fast and Furious 7' made over a billion dollars and now Vin can make whatever he wants.
So on Monday he drops the news that not only is XXX 3 actually happening, but cameras will be rolling in December in the Phillipines for a 2017 release. The film will written by screenwriting duo John Bramcato and Michael Ferris whose writing CV has the likes of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Terminator Salvation and Catwoman on it (take from that what you will). No announcent on director or if series regular Samuel L Jackson will appear. Fingers crossed he will, because Jackson always makes a film that 10% better.
And all this has me thinking and wondering if any bowling alleys and cinemas will run a similiar promotion that I did all those years ago. To be honest its probably the only way I will be seeing xXx 3: The Return of Xander Cage. I better start practising.
- Dave Curtis