Review - Mission: Impossible 2

Mission: Impossible 2

RELEASE YEAR
2000

DIRECTOR
John Woo

CAST
Tom Cruise, Dougray Scott, Thandie Newton, Ving Rhames, William R. Mapother, Anthony Hopkins

MPAA RATING
PG-13

RUNNING TIME
127 Minutes

STUDIO
Paramount

Way back in 1996, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE was one of the biggest hits of the summer ($465 million worldwide). If Paramount had its way, this film would've been released 2 years ago, to capitalize on the popularity. However, it's big star and producer, Tom Cruise, was all tied up with EYES WIDE SHUT. So the studio waited, and waited, and waited. Well, after production delays and rumored tension between director John Woo and Cruise, M:I 2 is finally here. Was it worth the wait?

Not really. As convulted and confusing as the first film's plot was, at least it was fairly original. This movie is filled with cliche after cliche. Woo, who directed the in-your-face FACE/OFF, has it in cruise control (no pun intended). While the first film had the plot, this one has the fireworks. And there are plenty of them.

Dougray Scott, the movie's villian, has a deadly virus that he's selling on the black market. Not only does he want to sell to the highest bidder, but he plans to unleash it on all of Australia, and then perhaps the US. It's up to Cruise to stop him. Does he succeed? What do you think?

Thandie Newton is thrown into the mix as Cruise's semi love interest. It's a silly subplot that takes away from the movie's muscle.

The pacing is trying at times, but the script by Robert Towne is witty at times. The action pieces are as explosive as any Woo flick. The motorcycle chase is easily the film's highlight, and one of the best filmed sequences in quite some time. Woo's style is all over this film. The slow-motion, the booming soundtrack, and the blazing fire.

Though the sequel isn't as good as the original, it's not a bad way to spend 2 hours.

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws