John Woo: The Name Is Action

Rating: 9/10 (10 July 2000)

Tom Cruise and director John Woo team up for the high-voltage, heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat action thriller `Mission Impossible 2,' a non-stop rush of excitement that grabs you before the credits even begin to roll with the pulsating vibes of Hans Zimmer's terrific score. Once again, Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt of the IMF, called into action by his boss, Swanbeck (Anthony Hopkins), when a plot involving a deadly virus is hatched by former IMF agent Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott). Hunt first has to recruit a professional thief, Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton) to help him get the information he needs to avert a disaster that could ultimately put millions of lives at risk. Once he has her, the IMF team goes to work; and when they do, they take you with them on a ride that doesn't end until the screen goes dark.	Simply put, Cruise has never been better; he's matured since the first `Mission Impossible,' and turns in an outstanding performance here, imbuing Hunt with a believable invincibility that gives a luster and credibility to his heroics throughout the film. Scott is exemplary, as well, and makes his villain and the evil he concocts real. And Newton is charming as the intrepid Nyah, who first catches Hunt's eye, then proves what she's made of when she becomes an integral part of the intrigue. Add this to the expertise that Woo brings to this project, and the result is one unforgettable movie. Working with a superb screenplay by Robert Towne, he takes just enough time to set the plot in motion, and once it starts, it just doesn't stop. His choreographed action sequences are extraordinary; the motorcycle chase is worthy of any Steve McQueen ever did, and the climactic fight between Hunt and Ambrose should set a new standard for the entire industry. His use of slow motion interspersed throughout the action is highly effective, and so well done that it heightens the impact of the inherent drama, as does his attention to detail. Woo more than covers all the bases, and with this work proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is one of the finest, if not the best, action directors in the industry, past or present.	Ving Rhames returns as Luther, and adds that extra spark to the overall proceedings with another fine performance. The excellent supporting cast also includes William R. Mapother, John Polson, Dominic Purcell and Richard Roxburgh. `Mission Impossible 2' is a rare and special contribution to the action genre; it fairly rips through the screen and takes no prisoners. It's all here, from the trade mark true- identity-hidden-behind-the-mask to the familiar Lalo Schifrin theme (rendered this time around by metal-rappers Limp Bizkit). Superior in all ways to the first `Mission Impossible,' this is nothing less than a triumph for Cruise; and John Woo, thy name is Action. For the future, their mission together, if they choose to accept it, is to deliver `Mission Impossible 3.' In the meantime, don't miss this one; it is one wild trip. I rate this one 9/10.