Mission: Impossible 2 (Blu-ray): It is not difficult, it's impossible

"Mr. Hunt, this isn't mission difficult, it's mission impossible. "Difficult" should be a walk in the park for you."

General Information

Director: John Woo
Writers: Bruce Geller, Ronald D. Moore (story) 
Cast: Tom Cruise ...Ethan Hunt
Dougray Scott ... Sean Ambrose
Thandie Newton ... Nyah Nordoff-Hall
Ving Rhames ... Luther Stickell
Richard Roxburgh ... Hugh Stamp
John Polson ... Billy Baird
Brendan Gleeson ... John C. McCloy
Rade Serbedzija ...Dr. Nekhorvich (as Radé Sherbedgia)
William Mapother ... Wallis
Dominic Purcell ... Ulrich
Genres: Action | Adventure | Thriller
Country: USA | Germany
Language: English
Release Date: 7 July 2000
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Cruise/Wagner Productions, Munich Film Partners & Company (MFP) MI2 Productions
Runtime: 123 min

About the Film

As for me, cinematography can be compared to the planting of trees. If the tree gives good fruits, people start taking care of it even more. If it happens other way, nobody needs it. It is not a secret that if the film project is financially successful, there will be continuation till the franchise is demanded. Mission Impossible 1, though it did not have so much action, brought nice income to the creators and was well accepted by the audience. Therefore, the creators decided to proceed with even a better movie, Mission Impossible 2. Since the first part was poor in action, the creators invited a new director, John Woo, who is considered to be a master of action films. He can be considered as one of the most successful Chinese directors who migrated to Hollywood in the 90s. In the contrary to others, he perfectly mixed some elements of Chinese actions and Hollywood blockbusters, that almost always guarantees a perfect result. It is clearly seen in Mission Impossible 2, that can be characterised as one big trick. Besides, this film is not considered only as a sequel of the first Mission. Even Tom Cruise himself once said that Mission: Impossible II can be treated as a separate full-grown film. And I agree with him.

Director’s Work

John included a large number of spectacular action scenes in the film. You need race? Okey, here you are. You need fighting and shootings? You can easily see it in the scene in the pharmaceutical skyscraper company. You still need some show? Welcome to see it in the final episode of the film, an entirely action row. Thus, the film is full of different explosions, destructions,

The film also impresses with the first scene of Tom Cruise’s climbing the rock without any equipment. Then the film looks like a typical action movie with special effects. But talking into account the franchise, John came very far from the original theme. While the first Mission Impossible was full of espionage features and lacked action, the second Mission Impossible film is full of action without any espionage aspects. Therefore, the film stands out as if it were a separate project, not a continuation of Mission 1.  skirmish, races, and fighting scenes. It makes you watch it with your mouth open. At that time, John managed to create such a high quality action that can be competitive even today. I should point out the final row of action scenes that starts with a race on bikes and ends with a fighting scene reminding Mortal Combat. I can’t but mention that John shot all scenes in a very stylish manner with the sense of filming and total understanding of the screen composition. Moreover, fantastic landscapes of Australia make a film a very beautiful work.

Plot of Mission Impossible 2

The almost absence of espionage events influenced not only the style, but the plot of the movie as well. Because if the film were based on espionage actions, the creator would add more unexpected turns. But this film is different. Its plot is simpler and if a perfect match to the genre of typical pop corn movies. The elements of espionage movie are seen very rarely. In general, the plot, where a kind of a superman is saving the Earth from dangerous virus, is very simple and even primitive, I would say. When watching the 1st part, you may obviously see what will be in the end, but could not guess certain events, in this film everything is much clearer. Almost from the very beginning of the film, it is clear what the end will be. I certainly will not say who will be dead, who alive, you will see everything yourself.

However, I am not disappointed. Still, there are some unexpected scenes, especially numerous moments when certain characters act as other characters due to the masks on their faces. Therefore, the film is rather interesting. Surely, it should thank the romantic side of the plot that was both the advantage and disadvantage of the story. Why it is a minus? Because it is too dramatic, as for me. Moreover, the relationships between the characters develop so quickly…but nowadays it may happen so, I am not used to it still. Moreover, this romantic line not only showed another side of the main hero, but became the key of the plot, its central idea. The hero was not only saving the world from the evil, but helping his beloved. It is good because such turn will please both men and women. 

Of Course Tom Cruise and Other Actors

As for me, I have always thought that Tom Cruise is an extremely talented actor. And Mission Impossible 2 is another proof of his talent. In the 1st Mission, Tom was very young and his character was quite simple. But here he is different. Tom is more courageous, he has another style. Besides, he shows other sides of his nature. Dougray Scott, as a representative of evil, a bit overacted, in my opinion. But acting of Richard Roxburgh was rather cool. I think he is the best representative of evil in this movie. He is the one who really can be a deserving rival of Hunt (Tom Cruise) because he’s cold-blooded, prudent, and sly villain. Ving Rhames, Brendan Gleeson, and Anthony Hopkins did their best and made their episodic characters very bright! I want to stop on Anthony Hopkins and say that though he played an episodic role, his only presence in the film makes the movie more valuable and attractive. Ving Rhames played for a longer time than in the first film. I liked it because his acting is rather pleasant to watch. And of course, Thandie Newton..she is that rare case when an actress is talented and looks very sexy and attractive at the same time. 

Music

The music by Hans Zimmer is a real masterpiece. I think you will agree if I call it even legendary after the release of the movie. Hans created a very rich sound and melody. It added to the dynamism of the story, especially its ‘latin manner’. In general, being based on rock sound, synthesizer and choral singing, the music is a real high-quality product. Let’s look at the main theme of the film that Hans perfectly arranged to the rock manner and added nice guitar sound. I think, it is something you should listen to, but not read about.

Blu-ray features

Mission: Impossible II comes to Blu-ray with an MPEG-2 encoded 1080p transfer framed in its original 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratio. I suppose, the most important aspect of this transfer is its high level of details, which is superior to the one seen in Mission Impossible 1 on Blu-ray disc. For instance, up-close shots of human faces show us fine textures and nuances that were dull in Mission: Impossible. Colors are also more vibrant and pleasing. However, the print is fairly grainy and noisy in spots. All in all, Mission: Impossible II shows us a sharper, more pronounced image than its predecessor on Blu-ray, but it still has its small drawbacks.

Price and Availability

The most profitable price is now on base.com. It is £ 7.99.

Interesting Facts

Imbd does not only rate films, but can provide us with some interesting facts about them. Not everyone reads them or pays slighteast attention. But I think, you will be interested in them since they reveal some hidden sides of filming that you would never know.

•  It happens at about 1h 50 mins. For the "knife-in-the-eye" scene, Tom Cruise demanded that a real knife must be used, and that it should stop exactly one quarter-inch from his eyeball, but not somewhere vaguely near his eye, as John Woo initially suggested. The knife was connected to the cable which was measured accurately in order to achieve the impressive effect and Cruise insisted that Dougray Scott should use all his strength in the ensuing struggle.
•  The impressive rock climbing sequence was shot at Dead Horse Point in Utah. Tom Cruise was on cables that were then digitally removed. Ron Kauk was the climbing double and the overhang stunt was performed by main stunt double, Keith Campbell. John Woo was so scared every time but "Tom insisted on doing it".
•  During the filming in Sydney, Australian newspapers mistakenly reported that lead actor Tom Cruise was acting like a high-maintenance diva by sending out a memo to extras and bit part players telling them not to look him in the eye. This was not so. Actors in the horse track sequence were instructed not to look or make eye contact with Cruise during filming, because in several dailies shots, extras (who were star struck) were looking straight at him and pointing, destroying the shot.
• It is at around 4 mins. The scene where Tom Cruise "peels off his face" to reveal Dougray Scott was achieved in one shot by shooting both actors against a green screen. Tom, not wearing a mask, was simply told to place his hand in a pre-arranged position under his chin and pull his hand across his face. Scott wore a usual mask with sensors which could provide a computer with a three-dimensional view of his face. He after that peeled off this mask to finish the scene. Cruise's face was superimposed on the mask as it is pulled away and the two images morphed together in the computer; the background of the 747 cabin was added in to replace the green screen. (Watch the scene with frame advance and you will see a slight transitional 'swirl' on the mask halfway through the scene). Kevin Yagher contributed some more traditional latex mask effects for other face-peeling scenes.

Conclusion

I would put 9/10 to Mission Impossible 2 for the absence of espionage elements if I were the strictest critic of the Earth. But tastes differ. It is actually one of my favourite films. It is very entertainment, dynamic, spectacular, and extremely beautifully shot action film. Since my mark 9/10 does not let to call this work a masterpiece, the actors could not be better. I was nervous every minute Tom was in danger. Therefore, I think even without espionage elements, you can enjoy Mission: Impossible II! I recommend!

This review can be also found on Ciao under my nickname AliceBond.