When Woo remakes Hitchcock

Rating: 7/10 (19 April 2014)

Make no mistake: it takes a director of talent at the peak of his form to make a bad movie as good as this one. As pompous and uproariously stupid as MI2 is, it's compelling, kinetic and stylish - there's more artistry involved in this bombastic flick than it's immediately obvious.
Plot unfolds like Notorious on cocaine - I still have a hard time believing scriptwriter Ben Hecht, who penned the screenplay for Hitchcock's classic, wasn't credited in any shape or form here. For Woo, it's an intriguing starting point to play with his action figures, including Tom Cruise, the world's most popular G.I. Joe, surrounded by a remarkable cast. Luscious visuals with sharp colour palettes, balletic fights and a masterful homage to another auteur like Michael Mann are reasons enough to enjoy MI2.
The Mission Impossible series remains one of the most interesting sagas still unfolding - not for its narrative arc, which is flimsy at best, but for the triumph of gorgeous set pieces, each time with a different master action director at the helm.
7/10