Mission Impossible 2

Visually stunning, and a likely must for John Woo aficionados, the second Mission: Impossible outing from megastar Tom Cruise suffers from an inconsistent tone and tired plot devices--not only recycled from other films, but repeated throughout the film. Despite remarkable cinematography and awe-inspiring, trademark Woo photography, the movie offers a tepid story from legendary screenwriter-director Robert Towne (Chinatown, Without Limits) and a host of other writers, most uncredited. It is, regrettably, as forgettable as the first big-budget, big box-office MI in 1996, and it's clear (as Towne confirms) that the plot was developed around Woo-'caand Cruise-written action sequences. The film combines equal elements of romance and action, and is best when it features the stunning allure of Thandie Newton as Nyah, a master thief recruited by the sinewy charms of Ethan Hunt (a fit Cruise). Deeply in love after a passionate night, the couple must then combat MI nemesis (and Nyah's former lover) Sean Ambrose (Ever After's Dougray Scott). Ambrose holds hostage a virus and its cure, and offers them to the highest bidder. Woo's famed mythic filmmaking is far from subtle, with heroic Hunt frequently slow-motion walking through fire, smoke, or other similar devices, replete with a white dove among pigeons to signal his presence. The emphasis on romance is an attempt to develop character and a more human side to superspy Hunt, but still the dreary story proves a distraction from the exciting action sequences. John Polson (as an MI team member) is an Aussie talent to keep an eye on. --N.F. Mendoza

uuid: 9E2A6B9D-AC2D-4C4B-867E-D5704D1238AA
upc: 0097363348740
title: Mission Impossible 2
theatricalDate: 01-01-2000
stars: Tom Cruise Thandie Newton
purchase date: 07-09-2006
publisher: Paramount
published: 07-11-2000
price: $14.98
net Rating: 3
MPAA Rating: PG-13
minutes: 124
last lookup time: 179362256
genre: Thrillers Betrayal Tom Cruise Action & Adventure Heroes Race Against Time
fullTitle: Mission Impossible 2
features: Closed-captioned Color Dolby Widescreen NTSC 2.35:1
currentValue: $1.85
created: 179362256
country: us
aspect: DVD
asin: B00003CXDG