*** Exciting but not as good as the original

Rating: Null/10 (18 May 2001)

Tom Cruise is still the world's greatest movie star as he proves in this adrenaline-soaked sequel to his 1996 summer blockbuster. This time the film is shorter on brains and longer on excitement, making it pretty much just as good as the original but on its own terms. Where the first was craftier and better at paying tribute to international spy thrillers of the sixties, this time director John Woo has applied the breakneck speed action of his own Hong Kong thrillers to the proceedings, throwing in ridiculous car chases, motorcycle chases, helicopter chases and who knows what else. Thandie Newton is lovely as the `girl', and Anthony Hopkins makes a welcome cameo as Cruise's mission director.