"Mission: Impossible 2" is the second film in the Tom Cruise series and the low point of the three film trilogy. Directed by John Woo, the direction of "M:i-2" moved solely towards action and tried to push the action barometer far higher than what was achieved in the first film. From the opening sequence where Ethan Hunt is rock climbing and jumping from rock face to rock face without an ounce of climbing gear, the film just screamed "I have more action and stunts than the first film." An over-the-top car chase between Ethan Hunt and Nyah Nordiff-Hall that finds Ethan saving Nyah from falling out of the car to the bottom of the cliff, to a motorcycle battle that is trademark John Woo, "Mission: Impossible: II" is louder and more over-the-top than the first film. There is a greater amount of convenience in the film and an ability to fully suspend disbelief is a pre-requisite to fully enjoy the storyline. Where the first movie was an spy-thriller that had some nice stunts and action scenes, "Mission: Impossible: II" is an action film that dabbles in espionage.
When his vacation free-climbing dangerous peaks in New Mexico is cancelled by the IMF, Ethan Hunt finds himself involved in a mission where he must track down a genetically modified disease known as Chimera. Chimera has been taken by a rogue IMF agent, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott) that knows how Ethan and the IMF operates and has found a way to become hidden. Hunt is told to build a team, but must include Ambrose´s girlfriend Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton) to find the location of Ambrose and infiltrate his operation. Hunt finds assistance from Billy Baird (John Polson) and his old friend Luther Stickell. Ambrose is aided by the vicious and untrusting Hugh Stamp (Richard Roxburgh). Ethan makes a tremendous mistake when he becomes emotionally involved with Nyah and she is placed in grave danger in the operation to located and gain possession of the deadly Chimera virus.
Tom Cruise strived to build the character of Ethan Hunt into a more rounded individual and into a deeper and more evolved character. The only true evolution undertaken by Ethan Hunt between the first film and the second film is that Hunt is almost superhuman in capabilities. Instead of being a super agent, Ethan Hunt is now a super hero. Cruise slips into the super hero skin of his character and excels as an action star. Regardless of how many action filled couch jumping stunts the actor has performed, Cruise is a bankable star that is one of the better actors in Hollywood when it comes to delivering thrills. Cruise is not the tallest man in Hollywood, but he is one of the more believable heroes. Serving as a Producer for the film, Cruise has tailor made the role of Ethan Hunt for his own strengths and there is no doubt that the character suits him well. I preferred the Ethan Hunt of the first film, but this supposedly deeper follow-up still works for Tom Cruise.
Ving Rhames is underused in the second film and Tom Cruise strives to make Ethan Hunt more of a superhero than a super spy. Watching Rhames run a camera to Hunt during a horse race and then quickly return was a great scene, but one of the few with the entertaining character. Thandie Newton had worked with Tom Cruise in "Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles," but was a relative unknown when her big break came in this second film. She is a very lovely lady and it is sad that this is the high point of her career. The ensemble cast contains Dougray Scott, who is effective in his role as a fallen from grace IMF agent. Brendan Gleeson, Richard Roxburgh and a cameo by Anthony Hopkins provide other familiar faces, but "Mission: Impossible: II" did not contain the powerful casting of the first and third films in the series. Other than Rhames, Hopkins and Scott, there were not many familiar faces in this film in supporting roles.
I always thought the second film was far too over the top. The motorcycle scene with the various special effects falls into levels of near absurdity. The recreational activity by Ethan Hunt in the opening moments would have been just as effective if Hunt had climbing gear and the whole intent of the scene was to just push the groundwork that had been laid by "Mission: Impossible" and move the series way too over-the-top and too far into the realm of absurdity. There were a few fun scenes during the film that didn´t completely attack the intelligence of the audience, but I believe there is a point in any filmmaking when those responsible can go too far and though I love John Woo as a director, I feel the direction he and Tom Cruise took for the sequel was a bit too much. Thandie is hot. Ving is a presence. The film was fun, but just too silly for me to completely appreciate.
When his vacation free-climbing dangerous peaks in New Mexico is cancelled by the IMF, Ethan Hunt finds himself involved in a mission where he must track down a genetically modified disease known as Chimera. Chimera has been taken by a rogue IMF agent, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott) that knows how Ethan and the IMF operates and has found a way to become hidden. Hunt is told to build a team, but must include Ambrose´s girlfriend Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton) to find the location of Ambrose and infiltrate his operation. Hunt finds assistance from Billy Baird (John Polson) and his old friend Luther Stickell. Ambrose is aided by the vicious and untrusting Hugh Stamp (Richard Roxburgh). Ethan makes a tremendous mistake when he becomes emotionally involved with Nyah and she is placed in grave danger in the operation to located and gain possession of the deadly Chimera virus.
Tom Cruise strived to build the character of Ethan Hunt into a more rounded individual and into a deeper and more evolved character. The only true evolution undertaken by Ethan Hunt between the first film and the second film is that Hunt is almost superhuman in capabilities. Instead of being a super agent, Ethan Hunt is now a super hero. Cruise slips into the super hero skin of his character and excels as an action star. Regardless of how many action filled couch jumping stunts the actor has performed, Cruise is a bankable star that is one of the better actors in Hollywood when it comes to delivering thrills. Cruise is not the tallest man in Hollywood, but he is one of the more believable heroes. Serving as a Producer for the film, Cruise has tailor made the role of Ethan Hunt for his own strengths and there is no doubt that the character suits him well. I preferred the Ethan Hunt of the first film, but this supposedly deeper follow-up still works for Tom Cruise.
Ving Rhames is underused in the second film and Tom Cruise strives to make Ethan Hunt more of a superhero than a super spy. Watching Rhames run a camera to Hunt during a horse race and then quickly return was a great scene, but one of the few with the entertaining character. Thandie Newton had worked with Tom Cruise in "Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles," but was a relative unknown when her big break came in this second film. She is a very lovely lady and it is sad that this is the high point of her career. The ensemble cast contains Dougray Scott, who is effective in his role as a fallen from grace IMF agent. Brendan Gleeson, Richard Roxburgh and a cameo by Anthony Hopkins provide other familiar faces, but "Mission: Impossible: II" did not contain the powerful casting of the first and third films in the series. Other than Rhames, Hopkins and Scott, there were not many familiar faces in this film in supporting roles.
I always thought the second film was far too over the top. The motorcycle scene with the various special effects falls into levels of near absurdity. The recreational activity by Ethan Hunt in the opening moments would have been just as effective if Hunt had climbing gear and the whole intent of the scene was to just push the groundwork that had been laid by "Mission: Impossible" and move the series way too over-the-top and too far into the realm of absurdity. There were a few fun scenes during the film that didn´t completely attack the intelligence of the audience, but I believe there is a point in any filmmaking when those responsible can go too far and though I love John Woo as a director, I feel the direction he and Tom Cruise took for the sequel was a bit too much. Thandie is hot. Ving is a presence. The film was fun, but just too silly for me to completely appreciate.
"Mission: Impossible 2" is the second film in the Tom Cruise series and the low point of the three film trilogy. Directed by John Woo, the direction of "M:i-2" moved solely towards action and tried to push the action barometer far higher than what was achieved in the first film. From the opening sequence where Ethan Hunt is rock climbing and jumping from rock face to rock face without an ounce of climbing gear, the film just screamed "I have more action and stunts than the first film." An over-the-top car chase between Ethan Hunt and Nyah Nordiff-Hall that finds Ethan saving Nyah from falling out of the car to the bottom of the cliff, to a motorcycle battle that is trademark John Woo, "Mission: Impossible: II" is louder and more over-the-top than the first film. There is a greater amount of convenience in the film and an ability to fully suspend disbelief is a pre-requisite to fully enjoy the storyline. Where the first movie was an spy-thriller that had some nice stunts and action scenes, "Mission: Impossible: II" is an action film that dabbles in espionage.
When his vacation free-climbing dangerous peaks in New Mexico is cancelled by the IMF, Ethan Hunt finds himself involved in a mission where he must track down a genetically modified disease known as Chimera. Chimera has been taken by a rogue IMF agent, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott) that knows how Ethan and the IMF operates and has found a way to become hidden. Hunt is told to build a team, but must include Ambrose´s girlfriend Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton) to find the location of Ambrose and infiltrate his operation. Hunt finds assistance from Billy Baird (John Polson) and his old friend Luther Stickell. Ambrose is aided by the vicious and untrusting Hugh Stamp (Richard Roxburgh). Ethan makes a tremendous mistake when he becomes emotionally involved with Nyah and she is placed in grave danger in the operation to located and gain possession of the deadly Chimera virus.
Tom Cruise strived to build the character of Ethan Hunt into a more rounded individual and into a deeper and more evolved character. The only true evolution undertaken by Ethan Hunt between the first film and the second film is that Hunt is almost superhuman in capabilities. Instead of being a super agent, Ethan Hunt is now a super hero. Cruise slips into the super hero skin of his character and excels as an action star. Regardless of how many action filled couch jumping stunts the actor has performed, Cruise is a bankable star that is one of the better actors in Hollywood when it comes to delivering thrills. Cruise is not the tallest man in Hollywood, but he is one of the more believable heroes. Serving as a Producer for the film, Cruise has tailor made the role of Ethan Hunt for his own strengths and there is no doubt that the character suits him well. I preferred the Ethan Hunt of the first film, but this supposedly deeper follow-up still works for Tom Cruise.
Ving Rhames is underused in the second film and Tom Cruise strives to make Ethan Hunt more of a superhero than a super spy. Watching Rhames run a camera to Hunt during a horse race and then quickly return was a great scene, but one of the few with the entertaining character. Thandie Newton had worked with Tom Cruise in "Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles," but was a relative unknown when her big break came in this second film. She is a very lovely lady and it is sad that this is the high point of her career. The ensemble cast contains Dougray Scott, who is effective in his role as a fallen from grace IMF agent. Brendan Gleeson, Richard Roxburgh and a cameo by Anthony Hopkins provide other familiar faces, but "Mission: Impossible: II" did not contain the powerful casting of the first and third films in the series. Other than Rhames, Hopkins and Scott, there were not many familiar faces in this film in supporting roles.
I always thought the second film was far too over the top. The motorcycle scene with the various special effects falls into levels of near absurdity. The recreational activity by Ethan Hunt in the opening moments would have been just as effective if Hunt had climbing gear and the whole intent of the scene was to just push the groundwork that had been laid by "Mission: Impossible" and move the series way too over-the-top and too far into the realm of absurdity. There were a few fun scenes during the film that didn´t completely attack the intelligence of the audience, but I believe there is a point in any filmmaking when those responsible can go too far and though I love John Woo as a director, I feel the direction he and Tom Cruise took for the sequel was a bit too much. Thandie is hot. Ving is a presence. The film was fun, but just too silly for me to completely appreciate.
When his vacation free-climbing dangerous peaks in New Mexico is cancelled by the IMF, Ethan Hunt finds himself involved in a mission where he must track down a genetically modified disease known as Chimera. Chimera has been taken by a rogue IMF agent, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott) that knows how Ethan and the IMF operates and has found a way to become hidden. Hunt is told to build a team, but must include Ambrose´s girlfriend Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton) to find the location of Ambrose and infiltrate his operation. Hunt finds assistance from Billy Baird (John Polson) and his old friend Luther Stickell. Ambrose is aided by the vicious and untrusting Hugh Stamp (Richard Roxburgh). Ethan makes a tremendous mistake when he becomes emotionally involved with Nyah and she is placed in grave danger in the operation to located and gain possession of the deadly Chimera virus.
Tom Cruise strived to build the character of Ethan Hunt into a more rounded individual and into a deeper and more evolved character. The only true evolution undertaken by Ethan Hunt between the first film and the second film is that Hunt is almost superhuman in capabilities. Instead of being a super agent, Ethan Hunt is now a super hero. Cruise slips into the super hero skin of his character and excels as an action star. Regardless of how many action filled couch jumping stunts the actor has performed, Cruise is a bankable star that is one of the better actors in Hollywood when it comes to delivering thrills. Cruise is not the tallest man in Hollywood, but he is one of the more believable heroes. Serving as a Producer for the film, Cruise has tailor made the role of Ethan Hunt for his own strengths and there is no doubt that the character suits him well. I preferred the Ethan Hunt of the first film, but this supposedly deeper follow-up still works for Tom Cruise.
Ving Rhames is underused in the second film and Tom Cruise strives to make Ethan Hunt more of a superhero than a super spy. Watching Rhames run a camera to Hunt during a horse race and then quickly return was a great scene, but one of the few with the entertaining character. Thandie Newton had worked with Tom Cruise in "Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles," but was a relative unknown when her big break came in this second film. She is a very lovely lady and it is sad that this is the high point of her career. The ensemble cast contains Dougray Scott, who is effective in his role as a fallen from grace IMF agent. Brendan Gleeson, Richard Roxburgh and a cameo by Anthony Hopkins provide other familiar faces, but "Mission: Impossible: II" did not contain the powerful casting of the first and third films in the series. Other than Rhames, Hopkins and Scott, there were not many familiar faces in this film in supporting roles.
I always thought the second film was far too over the top. The motorcycle scene with the various special effects falls into levels of near absurdity. The recreational activity by Ethan Hunt in the opening moments would have been just as effective if Hunt had climbing gear and the whole intent of the scene was to just push the groundwork that had been laid by "Mission: Impossible" and move the series way too over-the-top and too far into the realm of absurdity. There were a few fun scenes during the film that didn´t completely attack the intelligence of the audience, but I believe there is a point in any filmmaking when those responsible can go too far and though I love John Woo as a director, I feel the direction he and Tom Cruise took for the sequel was a bit too much. Thandie is hot. Ving is a presence. The film was fun, but just too silly for me to completely appreciate.
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