A visual delight, though I'm finding few people agree

Rating: 9/10 (26 May 2000)

I understood the plot of the original movie, though it would take too many words on here to explain. However, the movie was too locked into a European coffee-house look that may work great for an intellectual character study, but drains the excitement from a spy thriller. What immediately makes this movie better is the location. Australia is a breath of fresh air from most cramped in hotel room espionage games, though the conventional car chase and horse race present themselves here-and-there. The plot is a bit simple, but then again, it isn't completely spelled out either. Exciting action sequences are laced throughout the movie, especially one break-in sequence that while not having as large of a scope of the original's break-in, provides astounding visuals especially of downtown Sydney. The parts in between may have been a complete bore (and to some, they were), but two things saved them for me. The first is John Woo's visual style. While some may say it's self-centered direction, the movie provides many stunning visuals to push the emotional levels. A scene where Agent Hunt first meets a female thief who must be recruiting for the mission, the camera plays tricks with their gazes and the spinning of Spanish dancers. While too flashy for some tastes, it breathes life into a scene that by any other director's hands would be simply two people looking at each other. The second is Hans Zimmer's wonderful score. Though sometimes falling to the "give the people what they want" flair of Lalo Schifrin's Mission:Impossible theme, the rest of score is surprisingly emotional. Since there are some points that lack chemistry between the characters, the music is key to the success of the movie. The sensual yet rousing themes make the audience care about the characters without pushing the them into it. Put it all together and it's an exciting movie that kept me involved from beginning to end, even if the lack of just one of above elements would make the movie fall apart.