Mission Impossible II (15)

Film image

The ViewNewcastle Review

StarStarStarNo StarNo Star
Review byMatthew Turner17/10/2000

As we go about our normal, boring lives isn’t it a relief to know that there are people like Ethan Hunt out there quietly battling evil behind the scenes?

Thank god for these bastions of goodness is all I can say – god only knows what hideousness would have befallen us by now.

This time apparently, we all narrowly avoided becoming infected by a plague like version of Influenza which a renegade agent named Ambrose (played by the aesthetically pleasing Dougray Scott) was attempting to peddle to the highest evil bidder.

Thank god Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise sporting a dodgy mullet) was on hand to undertake the impossible, ride a big bike, look moody, get the girl, wipe out Ambrose and save the world – phew!

And that’s it really. Certainly director John Woo has made a visual feast, lots of slow mo, ‘beautiful images’ and lots of doves (a Woo trade mark) but he seems to have forgotten one reasonably vital element – a storyline.

Why Ambrose turned to the dark side is never revealed and what happened to the rest of the daring Mission Impossible team is anyone’s guess.

But this is Mr Cruise’s show (he produced as well as starred) and god forbid that two minutes should pass without giving the chisel jawed one the chance to pout and flex his awesome biceps.

The effects as you’d expect of a film with a budget of somewhere around the $200 million mark are pretty spectacular – the rock climb and the all action motorbike chase being particularly memorable, but you can’t help but feel there’s something more important missing.

Anyway ol’ chisel jaw does his bit and while it won’t win any Oscars, Mission Impossible 2 offers a bit of escapism and a hefty shot of cinematic adrenalin.

I did find my mind wandering a couple of times though – has anyone else ever wondered if Ethan Hawke ever does menial stuff like supermarket shopping? Now there’s a story……….!

Film Trailer

Mission Impossible II (15)
Be the first to review Mission Impossible II...
image
01 The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best (15)

Ryan O'Nan, Michael Weston, Arielle Kebbel, Andrew...

02 House at the End of the Street (tbc)

Jennifer Lawrence

03 The Devil's Business (18)

Billy Clarke, Jack Gordon, Jonathan Hansler, Harry...

image
05 Oz: The Great and Powerful (tbc)

James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz

Content updated: 24/07/2012 02:41

Latest Film Reviews

Film Blog

Total Recall Film Trailer

This week Matthew Turner gives us his thoughts on the Total Recall film trailer, the A Kid with a Bike DVD release and all the latest film releases.

Film of the Week

The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best

A comedy drama slash musical about a pair of musicians going on a road trip.

Latest Close Up

William Friedkin Interview

The director behind Killer Joe talks about working with Matthew McConaughey and the notorious fried chicken scene.