Fun to look at, but...

Rating: Null/10 (26 May 2000)

I think that if I weren't a devotee of Woo's early work I'd have enjoyed this film more than I did. I mean, let's face it... the trademark action sequences are as beautiful as ever and the cinematography is wonderful (I noticed that the cinematographer recently worked on Stigmata; thank goodness Woo kept him in line and didn't let him turn this one into an MTV video like Stigmata became). If I were expecting nothing more from a Woo film than mind-blowing action, my appetite would have been more than sated. The problem is that the action simply isn't enough.
Before coming to Hollywood, John Woo's trademark, aside from the over-the-top action choreography, was an abiding, common theme of loyalty, honor, betrayal (usually), and the bonds of friendship (usually of the male-bonding variety). It was these elements which always elevated his movies above the standard pulp-action fare, making them something for the mind (and heart) as well as the eye. One need look no further than The Killer or, especially, Bullet in the Head to see these themes exemplified. His American efforts thus far, however (with the possible exception of Face/Off), have been sadly lacking in this department, opting to give us straight up eye candy with none of the emotional involvement. At best, we get the old "main character turns out to be a bad guy" cheese which ultimately has no bearing on the film itself; sure it's a surprise when it happens (maybe), but in the end it's just another Good Guy Vs. Bad Guy action flick with little to no soul. I'd like to think that this is a result of Woo being less involved with the writing aspect of the films than he was while working in HK.
My point is that M:I2 is no exception to the rule. Again, it sure is nice to look at (most of the time), but in the long run it's fairly hollow. Tom Cruise is a good actor in his own right and is passable as the main character, but (and I hate to say this) he's no Chow Yun-Fat. Of course I realize that John Woo and Chow Yun-Fat are not necessarily synonymous, but there are certain things with which a director like Woo can get away when directing an Asian actor such as Chow which simply don't work in a big-budget, Hollywood production. In a film such as Hard Boiled or The Killer, seeing the hero walk across a burning doorway in slow-motion, making eye contact with the bad guy as the flames reflect in his eyes is acceptable, even expected. Seeing Tom Cruise do it elicits snickers and groans from the audience. Whether or not this has any basis or foundation is irrelevant; that's just the way it is.
The verdict? Woo needs to work in Hong Kong again, period (which he is, for King's Ransom, which should be incredible). I have no problem with taking some money from Hollywood to increase the production standards; Ang Lee's upcoming Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (distributed by Columbia Pictures) is going to be a good example of how the two systems of filmmaking can work together to create a quality piece of work. Hollywood simply doesn't understand that a director like John Woo can make almost anything look good, but that that doesn't necessarily equal quality.