Pure mindless entertainment

Rating: 8/10 (13 November 2000)

I must admit, I never would have rented this movie in a million years, but while visiting some friends who had rented it, I decided to give it a try. I really wasn't expecting much, but planned to be open minded...and was pleasantly surprised.
Agreeably, the movie did not challenge the brain or inspire deep thought, but it doesn't pretend to. The director intended the movie to be exciting, fast paced eye candy and that is exactly what it was.
While I enjoyed the first movie (it was considerably more intelligent and required that you pay relatively close attention to the plot), I found it a little dry, and with the exception of the train sequence at the end and the scene where Ethan breaks into the CIA Terminal room, there was little in the way of excitement and energy.
MI2 got off to an exciting start, and the action sequences (including Mr. Cruise's impressive stunts) were choreographed to perfection by the talented John Woo - complete with all of his signature trademarks.
Yes, we can talk about the plot holes, the incredulous, impossible to believe story and the over-the-top, implausible action sequences, but did anyone really come to the theatre expecting realism from a summer blockbuster movie?
All in all, the fabulous action, beautiful scenery, high-impact sound track and the mindless story proved to be 2 hours of guilty pleasure...and don't we all need that once in a while?