Better than the original

Rating: 8/10 (24 May 2000)

Though it's become increasingly obvious that the Mission Impossible films have little to do with the television show they're derived from, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
This film focuses less on action and more on the characters than the previous entry; or, for that matter, most action films of this day. Some will find this difficult to swallow, like a foreign food that the throat refuses to accept not because of a bad taste but because of the unfamiliar sensation it causes, which is too bad, because it actually makes for a great film, though not necessarily the one viewers will walk into the theater expecting to see.
At center stage is the romance between Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and Nyah (Newton), the latter a thief whom Hunt is assigned to acquire for his next assignment. Their by-play and chemistry forms the heart of the film, and the manner in which the rest of the plot plays out really depends on how these two characters care for and react to one another.
For action fans, there are, of course, the great stunt and set pieces that one would expect, the majority coming at the end of the film. Those looking for a mind numbing experience with as little thought involvement as possible might wish to skip the first half of the film and go straight to the big finale. But for those who want a bit more from their action films, the film should amply satisfy. Recommended.