An action movie...nothing more.

Rating: 7/10 (25 May 2000)

I saw the movie before reading any of the reviews. When I got around to reading them, they were mostly negative. John Woo has shown that he knows how to direct an action sequence, and his films are beautifully presented; the action scenes promise to show the audience something fresh and inventive (although some things can get tired by the end of the film) and they are shot with excellent clarity and a distinct style. I've heard complaints about character development and the motorcycle sequence toward the end of the film. If you want to see a movie with substance, go see Gladiator or watch American Beauty again. If you want to see Bond with more style and less Denise Richardson, see M-I:2. Action movies with character development are few and far between (I can only think of True Lies and Die Hard off hand). Plot development in this film is mediocre at best. But the action is what you paying for. M-I:2 isn't as good as Face/Off, in my opinion John Woo's best effort since his American debut, but far better that anything else since 1993.
Alex Geiger