Thumbs down

Rating: 3/10 (23 May 2000)

Saw a preview of this film yesterday and have to say that even with low expectations this is a TERRIBLE movie.
As expected, there was more style than substance, which in and of itself isn't necessarily a problem unless your film has less style than the Matrix, or worse yet, less style than your average James Bond film.
Woo has done better and I, for one, am tired of big studio rehashings of themes he has covered countless times before. On that note, I'm going to hurl if I see another white dove in a film fly by in slow mo. Oh the symbolism....
It goes without saying that this film has laughable writing and stunts that, while impressive,make you crack up at the absurdity of it all, rather than fill you with awe.
I haven't even gotten to the fact that the relationship between Cruise and Newton develops much too quickly and unbelievably. Considering that this relationship forms part of the film's foundation (driving the plot, or what little there is), this is bad news.