MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: II (2000)
Tagline: Expect the impossible again
(Adventure, Thriller, Ouch My Finger) [PG-13]
You keep calling me Dimitri. You really shouldn't.
In this one, we are introduced to a deadly virus called Chimera that kills you within 24 hours or so unless you are given the cure. The virus was created specifically so that it can be exploited and the cure sold to the highest bidder. When a defector from the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) steals the antidote he must be stopped, because his plans are much darker than ever imagined. Ethan Hunt's mission should he choose to accept it is to obtain both the Chimera and its cure and take them to IMF. He is going to need the help of Nyah Hall, an accomplished thief, but not a trained agent, but she has a past with the antidote thief. Ethan must sneak onto a heavily guarded island fortress past killers trained to take him out. Remember, this isn’t mission difficult. It’s mission impossible.
Back in the 90s director John Woo had a string of high-octane action flicks that made him a pretty sought-after talent for taking on these types of projects. I am guessing that Tom Cruise really wanted to beef up the action for this installment and Woo was perfect for the job. With films like HARD TARGET, BROKEN ARROW, and FACE/OFF under his belt at the time, if you walked into this one expecting less bonkers action than we got in the first one, that was kind of your fault.
Apparently, the plot for MISSION IMPOSSIBLE was a bit too complicated for some movie fans so this one is actually pretty straightforward. The misdirection is all handled through specialized ultra-realistic masks that allow the agents to be whoever they want. This little touch keeps you guessing and I loved that aspect of the film. It was about 3 and a half hours long when they first shot it, but they ended up cutting it down to a 2 hour and 3 minutes run time. It does not feel that long and that is part of what makes it a great movie. Having said that, there are some plot holes and issues throughout.
One of the biggest complaints about the movie is the over-the-top action motorcycle chase sequences towards the end of the film, but I actually thought this was the best part of the movie. I grew up in the 80s and if we weren’t getting unrealistic action nonsense, the movie was pretty much not going to keep our attention. The crazier that dude or woman flying in the air with 15 guns, and a million bullets flying right past them with their arm falling half off, all while chewing bubble gum and feeding a puppy, the better. I have written this a million times, but I never go to movies for realism. Even just saying I have written it a million times isn’t realism.
Acting wise bringing back your lead Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt is never a bad idea. If you can get Tom Cruise in an action flick it’s almost always going to work out. Dougray Scott is great in this as Sean Ambrose. He was also solid in DEATH RACE 3: INFERNO. Ving Rhames (CON AIR) gets brought back as Luther. So far Luther is definitely one of my top 3 characters from the first 2 films. Thandiwe Newton is a great addition as Nyah Hall. She steals every scene she is in. Back in the day she also looked quite a bit like Zoe Saldana. Now not quite as much. Newton is probably best known for SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY. There are some other “oh, that guy from that thing” faces in here and overall I have zero complaints about the acting.
The pacing is outstanding and the soundtrack is great. Metallica even cut the song “I Disappear” for the movie. It was the first time they had done that. Cinematically this is an achievement and Tom Cruise kind of went out of his way to do around 95% of his own stunts. He and Woo didn’t really get along so Woo was never asked to come back to the franchise, but this thing is quite a ride.
If I have any complaints, it’s that the horse track scene and the final “let’s fight on the beach” scenes are too long. I get what they were going for, but some shorter takes would have done this thing some favors.
For me, this was about on the same level as the first installment and I have to give it a 6 out of 7. Thandiwe Newton carries a lot of this movie emotionally and Tom’s range is far better, but I did miss some of the characters from the original.
GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY.
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