Involving and exciting, very different from the original film. *** out of ****.

Rating: 7/10 (9 June 2000)

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 / (2000) ***
"Mission: Impossible 2" has as much in common with the original movie as hot has with cold. Beyond some of the starring roles, the two productions are as different as day and night. Brian DePalma directed "Mission: Impossible," a puzzling, disjointed action picture leaving little to no hope for a sequel. However, the action-orientated John Woo has taken the position in place of DePalma and captures the excitement, venture, and stylish sequences with more dexterity and structure. "Mission: Impossible 2" is relative, involving, and swank. The film takes all too familiar "James Bond" components and creates a movie more similar to the licensed to kill spy than the primary contents of the television series.
Tom Cruise once again stars as proselyte I.M.F. agent Ethan Hunt, recently assigned to track down a former representative who possesses a deadly biochemical substance obtained by the murdered scientist Dr. Vladimir Nekhorick (Rade Sherbedgia). The villain, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott), once had an attractive girlfriend named Nyah Hall (Thandie Newton), whose occupation as a professional thief makes Ethan dissatisfied when he must recruit her as a member of a mission team.
After sleeping and falling in love with her, Ethan oppose the idea of sending Nyah back to Ambrose's luxurious resort to recover information of his criminal intentions. Equipped with a traceable implant, this young woman, Ethan, and his two accomplices Luther (Ving Rhymes), and Billy (John Polson), seek to discover and foil the plans of Ambrose and his accomplices.
The story is clear, involving, and comprehendible; it is not so complex the audience becomes lost and attentions wander. The plot contains enough tension, high stakes, twists, and intriguing characters to keep us on edge.
"Mission: Impossible 2" is not all story, however, much of the production has a condescending commercial appearance. The sophisticated actors, rock and roll music, intense action sequences, high tech car chase scenes, stylish camera angles, and audience pleasing one liners are more self gratifying rather than entertaining. I can almost see the producers now, discussing what battles scenes and explosions to deposit within the film's theatrical trailer; the filmmakers also need to know that external action itself does not make for a thought-provoking movie.
The production succeeds mainly due to an effective, solidly portrayed villain, keenly acted by Dougray Scott ("Ever After: A Cinderella Story"). He conquers his role with a sense of sly, fiendish wit and knowledge. Tom Cruise again proves he is more than capable of dramatizing Ethan Hunt with style and enticing persuasion. Supporting roles by Thandie Newton, Ving Rhames, Brendan Gleeson, and Anthony Hopkins are also impressive.
"Mission: Impossible 2" accomplishes that exceptional task of actually being better than its preceding original. The success of this picture is surely due to the direction by John Woo ("Face/Off"), who is one of the better action directors currently in work. His formulaic attitude presents itself in the end, however, as the movie turns from sharp and sneaky to running on sheer adrenaline through the final half hour. It really irritates me when the third act of a movie consists of loud gun shoot-outs, risky stunts, and physical combat in which men dressed in black suits fire seemingly endless rounds at the protagonist only to miss, yet he pulls out a small caliber pistol and shoots every one of them dead. "Mission: Impossible 2" may work as an action picture, but it is not at the level of resisting the temptations to throw intellect into the wind and conclude itself in auto pilot mode.