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If James Bond is still around at the end of the 21st century, he will look a lot like Ethan Hunt. The hero of the " Mission: Impossible " series is a 007 for our time.

That means: Sex is more of a surprise and a distraction than a lifestyle. Stunts and special effects don't interrupt the plot, but are the plot. The hero's interest in new consumer items runs more toward cybergadgets than sports cars. He isn't a patriot working for his government, but a hired gun working for a shadowy international agency. And he doesn't smoke, hardly drinks, and is in the physical condition of a triathlete.

The new Bond, in short, is a driven, over-achieving professional -- not the sort of gentleman sophisticate the British spy family used to cultivate. His small talk consists not of lascivious puns, but geekspeak. When he raised an eyebrow, it's probably not his, because he's a master of disguise and can hide behind plastic face masks so realistic even his cinematographer doesn't know for sure.

The first "Mission: Impossible" (1996) had a plot no one understood. "Mission: Impossible 2" has a plot you don't need to understand. It's been cobbled together by the expert Hollywood script doctor Robert Towne out of elements of other movies, notably Hitchcock's " Notorious " (1946) from which he takes the idea that the hero first falls in love with the heroine, then heartlessly assigns her to resume an old affair with an ex-lover in order to spy on his devious plans. In both films, the woman agrees to do this because she loves the hero. In "Notorious," the hero loses respect for the woman after she does what he asks. The modern hero is too amoral to think of this.

Towne's contribution is quite skillful, especially if it's true, as I've heard, that he had to write around major f/x sequences which director John Woo had already written and fine-tuned. His strategy is to make Ethan Hunt ( Tom Cruise ) into a sympathetic yet one-dimensional character, so that motivation and emotion will not be a problem. He's a cousin of Clint Eastwood's Man With No Name -- a hero defined not by his values but by his actions.

The villain remains in the Bond tradition: A megalomaniac who seeks power or wealth by holding the world ransom. In this case, he seeks control of a deadly virus, but the virus is what Hitchcock called a MacGuffin; it doesn't matter what it is, just so it's something everyone desires or fears. The movie wisely spends little time on the details, but is clever in the way it uses the virus to create time pressure: Twenty-four hours after you're exposed, you die, and that leads to a nicely-timed showdown involving the hero, the woman he loves, the villain, the virus, and a ticking clock.

Thandie Newton plays the woman, and the most significant thing about her character is that she's still alive at the end, and apparently available for the sequel. The Bond girls have had a depressing mortality rate over the years, but remember that 007 was formed in the promiscuous 1960s, while Ethan Hunt lives in a time when even spies tend to stay with old relationships, maybe because it's so tiresome to start new ones.

Newton's character is unique in the way she plays a key role in the plot, taking her own initiative. Bond girls, even those with formidable fighting skills, were instruments of the plot; Newton's Nyah Hall not only lacks a name that is a pun, but shockingly makes a unilateral decision that influences the outcome of the movie. The playing field will be more level in the "M:I" battle of the sexes.

For Tom Cruise, the series is a franchise, like Mel Gibson's " Lethal Weapon " movies. "M:I3" is already on the drawing board, again with John Woo as director, and there's no reason the sequels can't continue as long as Cruise can still star in action scenes (or their computer-generated manifestations). This is good for Cruise. By more or less underwriting his box office clout, it gives him the freedom to experiment with more offbeat choices like " Eyes Wide Shut " and " Magnolia ."

As for the movie itself: If the first movie was entertaining as sound, fury and movement, this one is more evolved, more confident, more sure-footed in the way it marries minimal character development to seamless action. It is a global movie, flying no flag, requiring little dialog, featuring characters who are Pavlovian in their motivation. It's more efficient than the Bond pictures, but not as much pure fun. But in this new century, I have a premonition we'll be seeing more efficiency and less fun in a lot of different areas. The trend started about the time college students decided management was sexier than literature.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Mission: Impossible II (2000)

Rated PG-13

123 minutes

Dougray Scott as Sean Ambrose

Thandie Newton as Nyah Hall

Richard Roxburgh as Hugh Stamp

Brendan Gleeson as McCloy

John Polson as Billy Baird

• Steven Kemper
• Christian Wagner

Produced by

• Paula Wagner

Screenplay by

• Robert Towne
• Hans Zimmer

Directed by

Photographed by.

• Jeffrey L. Kimball

Based on a story by

• Ronald D. Moore

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Mission: impossible 2, common sense media reviewers.

Good thrill ride of a movie with nonstop action.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

The IMF forces with honorable intentions and great

To foil the greedy, power-hungry villains, the her

Almost continuous action and violence beginning wi

Playful sexual innuendo when two characters are fo

Infrequent swearing including: "s--t," "ass," "bit

Bulgari brand is visible. The franchise has a heav

Parents need to know that Mission: Impossible 2 is as action-packed and suspense-filled as the original film, though it's far more brutal. Characters are dispatched using an amazing assortment of weaponry, skills, and derring-do: knives, automatic weapons, plane crashes, falls from steep cliffs, vicious hand…

Positive Messages

The IMF forces with honorable intentions and great courage once again defeat a formidable enemy. Good triumphs over evil.

Positive Role Models

To foil the greedy, power-hungry villains, the heroes are strong, brave, loyal, passionate, and honor-bound. One leading member of the team is known to be a thief, but is redeemed by her self-sacrifice and grace under pressure.

Violence & Scariness

Almost continuous action and violence beginning with a harrowing plane crash and explosion in which everyone aboard is killed. That is soon followed by a sequence that shows scary images of cell destruction caused by a deadly virus. The film's hero is a one man army, punching, using martial arts, driving skills, gunfire, and athleticism (including dangling from a sheer precipice) to fend off dozens of villains. Bodies fly; vehicles explode; automatic weapons are fired; a man’s fingertip is cut off using a cigar clipper. There are point-blank shootings, flame throwers, lengthy hand-to-hand combat sequences, and high speed chases with careening, crashing vehicles.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Playful sexual innuendo when two characters are forced to hide in a bathtub together. Very soon afterward, they kiss passionately, start to undress, then are seen in post-sexual cuddling with only bare shoulders visible. More embraces and kisses follow as the relationship intensifies. It is implied that the film’s heroine will voluntarily resume a former sexual affair in order to trap a villain.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Infrequent swearing including: "s--t," "ass," "bitch," "damn," "hell," and "bastard."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Bulgari brand is visible. The franchise has a heavy marketing component.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Mission: Impossible 2 is as action-packed and suspense-filled as the original film, though it's far more brutal. Characters are dispatched using an amazing assortment of weaponry, skills, and derring-do: knives, automatic weapons, plane crashes, falls from steep cliffs, vicious hand-to-hand combat, martial arts, explosions, flame throwers, and the devastatingly visual of a virus slowly destroying a human body. In most instances, however, an effort is made to keep the gore and carnage off camera, so while bodies fly and things explode, the audience is not exposed to the grisly aftermath. There is some sexuality with kissing, mild foreplay, partial undressing, and post-sexual cuddling. Some swearing ("bitch," "ass," "damn") is heard infrequently. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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• Parents say (9)
• Kids say (46)

Based on 9 parent reviews

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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2 is the essence of a summer movie: gorgeous stars, sensational stunts, nerve-wracking chases, steamy romance, some "gotcha" plot twists, and lots of explosions. This time, agent Ethan Hunt ( Tom Cruise ) has to retrieve the secret formula to a virus that could destroy humankind. Hunt's task won't be easy – the virus has been stolen by his former colleague Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott) who knows all his tricks. As Hunt's boss (an unbilled Anthony Hopkins) says, "It's not Mission Difficult; it's Mission Impossible." He must persuade his girlfriend (and jewel thief) Nyah ( Thandiwe Newton ) to get romantically involved with her ex-flame, Ambrose.

Is It Any Good?

This is a terrific thrill ride of a movie, and Cruise just keeps getting better. The first film in the series was a huge success, but most viewers thought that the real mission impossible was trying to understand the plot; with Mission: Impossible 2 , they make it simple so we can just sit back and enjoy. Ving Rhames returns as the world's least geeky computer genius, but aside from a couple of impeccably delivered lines, he never gets a chance to show us what he can do. Hunt is more like loner James Bond than he is like MI's Jim Phelps. But that's a small point.

Director John Woo's trademarks are all here -- the hero sliding across the floor in slow motion, firing two guns at once, the balletic combat, the villain's streak of sadism, and an engaging willingness to tweak, even spoof, his own conventions. Unfortunately the movie leaves out the best part of the original Mission: Impossible concept, back in the days of the TV show, and that was teamwork. It was a lot of fun to see how the special expertise of each of the MI team members was going to come in handy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about what makes an action movie good. Is it the special effects? The acting? The story? Why do some action movies stand the test of time while others are simply awful?

What role does violence play in a film like Mission: Impossible 2 ? Does its glossy nature distract from the brutality on the screen? Is it glamorized? Do different types of movie violence have different impact on kids?

Movie Details

• In theaters : May 24, 2000
• On DVD or streaming : November 7, 2000
• Cast : Dougray Scott , Thandiwe Newton , Tom Cruise
• Director : John Woo
• Inclusion Information : Asian directors, Female actors, Black actors
• Studio : Paramount Pictures
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Run time : 123 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : intense sequences of violent action and some sensuality
• Last updated : January 29, 2024

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Mission: Impossible 2 Review

07 Jul 2000

124 minutes

Mission: Impossible 2

Well, well, Mr. Woo, we meet again. And this time around your mission - should, of course, you choose to accept it - is to deliver the sequel to a film directed by a (pre-blip) Brian De Palma, that boasted an eclectic cast, was based on a seminal '60s TV series and swooped $422 million at the world-wide box office. Quite a proposition, certainly. But then, this - to paraphrase the film's best line - isn't mission 'a little tricky', after all.

Although the result isn't exactly Mission: Impossible, either. Gone are the myriad characters, gloriously convoluted plot contortions and congealing mood of taut paranoia. Gone, too, is an actual team to speak of (Polson pootles about in a helicopter and Rhames does little more than tap aimlessly on his laptop), and criminally absent are gadgets of any real invention.

What we're left with is Hunt... He's up against defected Agent Ambrose (Scott) - GoldenEye's 006 springing strangely to mind - while Exotic Love Interest With The Daft Name, Nyah (Newton), flips from aloof femme fatale to infatuated girlie in a preposterously short space of time. So, it's James Bond then. A fluid, kinetic, visually impressive one admittedly, but Bond all the same.

And it starts - rather aptly, as it turns out - with more of a whimper than a bang, as a pre-credit mid-air heist (complete with prerequisite mountain-top collision clichÚ) culminates in the theft of both the crucial deadly virus and its only antidote. And so, enter he of the $taggering pay cheque (just maybe - and get this for depth - he's in fact the metaphorical cure and Scott the nasty bug) to save the day, grab the girl and look cool in sunglasses.

This, you see, is Tom Cruise's show. From scaling cliff faces to absailing into confined spaces (simply lifting its predecessor's finest hour), he looks nothing short of spectacular; flowing locks, chiselled jaw, toned muscles and glistening brow, all captured in mouthwatering slo-mo and longing, brooding close-up. Again and again.

Which inevitably throws into question who was really wearing the trousers. For, as much as he has never been one to underplay his leading men, it's an over-indulgence that smacks of the excessive, even for John Woo. Couple that with two Woo unknowns - a nigh-on tortuous mid-section (dragging on for close to an hour) of dreary plot exposition and a climax that shoots its bolt far too prematurely - and the answer seems fairly clear...

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• DVD & Streaming

Mission: Impossible 2

• Action/Adventure

Content Caution

In Theaters

• Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt; Dougray Scott as Sean Ambrose; Thandie Newton as Nyah Hall; Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell; Brendan Gleeson as McCloy; Anthony Hopkins as Hunt’s boss; Richard Roxburgh as Hugh; John Polson as Billy Baird; Radé Sherboedgia as Dr. Nekhorvich

Home Release Date

Distributor.

• Paramount Pictures

Movie Review

Superspy Ethan Hunt can’t even escape assignments by taking off on a secluded rock-climbing expedition. Once his employers find him, they send him on yet another impossible mission inspired by the gadgets, chases, latex faces and beat-the-clock derring-do popularized in the classic CBS TV series of the same title. This time Hunt must stop the villainous Sean Ambrose, a former fellow-agent gone bad who’s trying to make billions of dollars by unleashing a deadly virus on society while holding the patent on the antidote. To glean information from Ambrose, Hunt enlists the aid of the baddie’s ex-girlfriend, Nyah, an accomplished thief. But upon spending time with the ebony-skinned British beauty, Hunt has mixed feelings about sending her undercover with the dangerous killer. Audiences expect—and receive—a rollercoaster ride full of tense moments, action-packed showdowns, fast (expensive) cars and big explosions in exotic locales. If this sounds like the average James Bond movie, you’re not far off. It adheres pretty closely to that formula. But Hunt is a somewhat more noble hero than 007, making it easier to root for him. In the end, the bad guys are eliminated, the world is saved from a hideous biochemical beast and the door remains open for another sequel.

Positive Elements: Unlike James Bond, who abuses his license to kill at the slightest provocation, Ethan Hunt resists murdering people unless it is an absolutely necessary act of self-defense. As evidence, his nemesis predicts that Hunt will try to penetrate a secure laboratory from the roof, saying, “He’ll attempt aerobatic insanity before risking harming a hair on a security guard’s head.” In other words, he’s no Neo, either. Not only does Hunt show concern for innocent bystanders (a quality definitely not shared by the film’s villains), but he also exercises restraint when subduing his mortal enemies. He’d much rather knock them out than put a bullet in them, and demonstrates this frequently (though he must “shoot to kill” in several flurries of gunfire). At least twice, Hunt practices sacrificial devotion to Nyah by putting himself in danger to help her.

Spiritual Content: A Spanish festival involves locals carrying a large crucifix through the streets, and Hopkins questions the custom of “honoring their saints by setting them on fire.”

Sexual Content: Nyah and Hunt’s first encounter strays way out of bounds. They meet as she’s trying to steal a necklace. When the owner unexpectedly returns home, Hunt and Nyah (who wears an extremely low-cut dress) lie, fully clothed, in a sexual position to avoid detection. Soon thereafter, he makes a sexual proposition. She replies, “This is awfully short notice.” “Care to wait a decent interval?,” he asks. Nyah responds breathlessly, “Who wants to be decent?” The next thing the audience sees is the couple lying in bed together the next morning. Elsewhere, Nyah undresses in front of a lusting Ambrose who grabs her arm and implies he wants sex before she covers back up. Unsure that Nyah has the skills to successfully feign interest in her old beau, Hunt gets a crass response from his superior (“To go to bed with a man and lie to him? She’s a woman; she’s got all the training she needs”).

Violent Content: Frequent, though not excessively graphic. Flurries of gunfire, explosions, fiery car wrecks and more. A doctor’s neck is broken. We see disturbing photos of one man who has succumbed to the awful virus, and another who has been viciously murdered and stuffed in luggage. Many men are shot, several at close range. Ambrose slices off the end of a cohort’s finger with a cigar cutter. He and his cronies hijack a passenger jet and bail out before sending a plane full of innocent people crashing into a mountain. A carload of bad guys gets annihilated by a Mack truck. There’s also a considerable amount of bone-crunching hand-to-hand combat. Much of the violence is either sped up or shot in operatic slo-mo. According to director John Woo, “I like to shoot the action in a very emotional way, using slow motion and creating a lot of romance in the sequence. I see action almost as a ballet and sometimes as a cartoon.” Indeed, it has a glamorous veneer.

Crude or Profane Language: Just over a dozen profanities. No f-words, but two s-words pop up and the misogynistic Ambrose refers to Nyah as a “b–ch” several times.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Ambrose (and a few other minor characters) drink alcohol.

Other Negative Elements: Characters gamble at a racetrack. Nyah is an unrepentant thief who has her criminal record wiped clean for cooperating with Hunt’s team.

Summary: That time-tested Mission: Impossible theme music—given modern flair with bursts of electric guitar—is an irresistible attention grabber. Add a magnetic star like Tom Cruise, impressive stunt work and eye-popping action and you have the makings of a summer blockbuster. Hopkins’ uncredited cameo is small, but memorable. And Dougray Scott’s evil genius is a formidable foe (a far cry from the charming prince he played opposite Drew Barrymore in Ever After) . Still, I can’t recommend it. This sequel is an adrenaline rush that, while fun at times, should have adopted the modus operandi of its hero and throttled back on the body count. Action does not demand fatalities and Mission: Impossible 2 tags too many toes. There’s also implied casual sex and a smattering of sensual dialogue that send irresponsible messages. Let’s hope for a little more Cruise control in M:i:III .

Bob Smithouser

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All Mission: Impossible Movies, Ranked By Tomatometer

“Hey, Tom. Paramount here. Yes, the studio. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create a new summer franchise out of a 30-year-old TV show, and have it virtually improve with each sequel over 20 years…”

And so Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt has halo-jumped, rock-climbed, motorcycle-duelled, and face mask-revealed his way across dozens of countries to unravel all manner of world threats in the Mission: Impossible movies. He’s had help along the way, featuring a cast of series veterans, like Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg, and occasional players like Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton. Hunt hasn’t had too much help from the IMF, though, considering how many times they think their star employee has gone rogue.

A trademark for most of Mission: Impossible ‘s lifespan was bringing in a new director for each entry, ranging from John Woo to Brad Bird to Brian De Palma, giving each entry a unique spin. But Since Rogue Nation , Cruise (who also produces) has found a perfect collaborator in Christopher McQuarrie. He was the first to direct two M:I s in a row, with Fallout raking in the series’ best box office and critical marks. And McQuarrie is directing the next two films: Dead Reckoning – Part One releases this Friday, with Part Two  out June 28, 2024.

Before we see what death-defying hijinks they get into next (we don’t think Ethan’s been to the moon yet), we’re ranking all Mission: Impossible movies by Tomatometer! — Alex Vo

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) 96%

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) 97%

Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation (2015) 94%

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) 93%

Mission: Impossible III (2006) 71%

Mission: Impossible (1996) 66%

Mission: Impossible II (2000) 56%

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Mission: Impossible II (United States, 2000)

For those who didn't get enough of James Bond late last year when The World Is Not Enough blazed its way into theaters, Mission: Impossible II offers a chance to once again get shaken and stirred. Oh, the film isn't an official entry into the durable British spy's cannon, but anyone who can't recognize the 007 formula when they see it hasn't been paying attention. With few changes (an actor here, a name there), Mission: Impossible II could easy double as Bond 20 . And, for those who have trouble envisioning Tom Cruise as a top-of-the-line action hero (the original Mission: Impossible left many doubting Thomases, including me), this movie should erase lingering uncertainties.

Chef Emeril Legasse is known for "kicking up" his food concoctions by adding a liberal dash of hot spices. Working from Robert Towne's pedestrian screenplay for Mission: Impossible II , that's what director John Woo ( Face/Off ) has done with this cinematic entrée. The movie illustrates the kind of impact a stylish filmmaker can have on a project. In other hands, Mission: Impossible II might have been a run-of-the-mill action movie, but, emblazoned with Woo's trademark flourishes, the motion picture has been transformed into a high-energy, adrenaline-and-testosterone boosted ride. This is most definitely "a John Woo film."

One of the biggest criticisms leveled against Brian DePalma's 1996 blockbuster was that it was too convoluted. Issues related to audience confusion have been rectified in this installment, which employs a straightforward plot and includes significant exposition to make sure that everyone is up to speed. In fact, a good portion of the first seventy minutes is devoted to background, setup, and getting the characters in place for the action-packed final three-quarters of an hour. With the exception of the pre-credits sequence and a playful car chase, there's not much during Mission: Impossible II 's first hour to raise the pulse rate.

The story concerns the quest of an ex-secret agent, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott), to obtain samples of both the killer virus Chimera and its antidote from the scientist who created them for Biocyte Pharmaceuticals in Sydney, Australia. Once he has the virus, Ambrose plans to unleash it in the streets of Sydney and get rich as his stock options in Biocyte skyrocket, since the drug company will be the only one producing the antidote. Of course, the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) cannot allow this to happen, so their leader, M... err, make that Swanbeck (Anthony Hopkins), calls on his top agent, Ethan Hunt (Cruise), interrupting his mountain climbing vacation.

Swanbeck sends Hunt to recruit Ambrose's old girlfriend, Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton), to spy for the IMF. On this mission, Hunt brings along an old buddy, Luther (Ving Rhames), and a new Aussie cohort (John Polson). Complications occur when Hunt unexpectedly falls - and falls hard - for Nyah, and his feelings are returned. Suddenly, saving her life becomes as important as saving the world, and, since we're deep in 007 territory for most of the movie, there's little question that both likelihoods will arise.

Woo is in fine form, employing every weapon in his considerable arsenal: slow motion shots, billowing clothing (scarves, loose jackets, the dresses on flamenco dancers), pigeons taking flight, lots of martial arts/WWF moves, and a fluid but constantly-moving camera. The soundtrack, which features a relentless Hans Zimmer score liberally sprinkled with a souped-up version of the "Mission: Impossible" theme, hammers the viewer's ears (mine were actually a little cottony when I left the theater). As always, Woo choreographs his action scenes like ballet. The final chase/fight sequence, which features motorcycles zig-zagging through traffic and ends with a lengthy hand-to-hand duel in which both participants display superhuman stamina, is edge-of-the-seat material. It may sound clichéd and familiar, but Woo elevates it to another level.

With the exception of Pierce Brosnan, no one in this kind of movie is more cool than Cruise. Dressed all in black with impenetrable sunglasses and a leather jacket trailing behind him as he approaches the camera, he is the epitome of The Cool Hero. Woo has taken the unpromising Ethan Hunt of the first film and transformed him into the kind of character that a motion picture series can be built around. As an actor, Cruise is obviously seeking to expand his horizons. His last three roles have included a subdued turn for Stanley Kubrick ( Eyes Wide Shut ), a brilliant supporting role in Magnolia , and this part, where he performed almost all of his own stunt work (including the rock climbing).

Of course, there are credibility issues and plot holes, a few of which are rather obvious, but the relative simplicity of the storyline allows things to hang together reasonably well - certainly better than in the first film. The supporting cast is also less crowded. The gorgeous Thandie Newton is a better choice for the part of the love interest than the equally attractive Emmanuelle Beart. Newton meshes with Cruise more effectively than Beart did; their scenes not only generate a little erotic heat, but a surprising helping of sweetness. Anthony Hopkins has what amounts to a cameo as the new head of the IMF. Dougray Scott is the designated bad guy; he digs his teeth into the role with a relish that will dispel images of his previous best-known part (that of Prince Charming to Drew Barrymore's Cinderella in Ever After ). Ving Rhames becomes the only player other than Cruise to return for a second tour of duty.

The summer movie season of 2000 still has a lot of miles to go, but it's doubtful that anything queued for release will exhibit the sheer visceral impact of Mission: Impossible II . Woo is a virtuoso in this genre, and his results, despite coming in behind schedule and over budget, are impressive. This is not the best big-budget motion picture to grace multiplex screens this month ( Gladiator is a more impressive overall motion picture), but it's precisely the kind of experience that people expect from a "Summer Movie." Mission: Impossible II is an exciting assault on the senses that doesn't tax the brain. If Cruise is willing, there will likely be another sequel. And someone at MGM should look seriously at hiring Woo to helm the next James Bond movie. Imagine what this director could do for that franchise.

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• Jerry Maguire (1996)
• Last Samurai, The (2003)
• Firm, The (1993)
• Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
• Mummy, The (2017)
• Journey of August King, The (1995)
• Beloved (1998)
• Crash (2005)
• Norbit (2007)
• 2012 (2009)
• Run Fatboy Run (2008)
• (There are no more better movies of Dougray Scott)
• Taken 3 (2015)
• Dark Water (2005)
• (There are no more worst movies of Dougray Scott)

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My guilty pleasure: Mission: Impossible II

Tom Cruise hanging off a cliff. No safety net, just the shaggy-haired Scientologist at one with the elements. The spectacular opening of Mission: Impossible II (or M:I-2, as the punctuation-happy marketing department would have it) is daftly brilliant for having nothing to do with the rest of the film, and is in some ways symptomatic of the film's car-crash appeal – it's a magnum opus of action cliches, excess upon excess upon excess. Why should we start with Cruise hanging on a cliff? Well, why shouldn't we?

Mission: Impossible II, directed by action auteur John Woo, is a bad, bad film – an overflowing volcano of prime gruyère. The whole thing appears to have been put together by a 13-year-old boy who thinks that everything looks cooler when doused in slo-mo, explosions, inexplicable flocks of doves and a Limp Bizkit soundtrack. A young Zack Snyder, perhaps. Every kiss-off line and action beat comes soundtracked by wailing Wyld Stallyn guitars, each OTT kung fu kick plays out several times from various angles at half-speed. It's baffling even to consider that this was ever aiming to play it straight, such is its unintentional hilarity.

There's a host of terrible scenes that immediately spring to mind: a flamenco dance, rife in overbaked symbolism ; a car crash with more luscious, flowing locks than a shampoo advert ; and a finale featuring the most idiotic game of chicken ever commited to film .

The weird thing is, it's not a particularly badly constructed film. Whether you're laughing or cheering at it, it's stupendously entertaining throughout its overstretched running time. Just ask yourself: when was the last time somebody spent $125m (£75m) on something so silly? Nowadays, your summer tentpoles are mostly safe superhero money-spinners. How often do blockbusters deliver their key exposition by means of a pair of exploding glasses fired from a rocket? It's wonderfully ludicrous.

Aside from all the absurdity, there are elements of Mission: Impossible II that do genuinely deliver. It remains interesting for being one of the last big blockbusters to eschew large-scale CGI destruction in its action set-pieces, instead favouring excellently choreographed fight scenes that are clear and genuinely exciting. The sweeping camerawork provides an example of practical craftsmanship that, in an era where it's so much cheaper and easier to simply do it in post, already feels like it's from a bygone age. Then there's Cruise himself, who displays the intense watchability that made him such a star in the first place. Revisiting the ridiculousness of Mission: Impossible II highlights how dull Cruise's more recent action vehicles ( Knight And Day , Oblivion ) have been. I'd rather watch this magnificent pile of crap any day than sit through either of those bores again.

The series had a miraculous return to form in JJ Abrams ' and Brad Bird 's respective third and fourth instalments, but it never again reached the giddy heights of balls-out stupidity to which Woo took it. Mission: Impossible II might be utter rubbish, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to give this another watch with a beer in hand on a Friday night and try your hardest not to enjoy yourself. You'll find it impossible.

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My guilty pleasure: My Best Friend's Wedding

My guilty pleasure: The Bodyguard

My guilty pleasure: Eat Pray Love

My guilty pleasure: Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

My guilty pleasure: Hitch

My guilty pleasure: Alien vs Predator

My guilty pleasure: Labor Day

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Mission Impossible 2 Parent Guide

Can a hot woman help ethan catch a cold-hearted criminal.

After agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) receives his covert assignment, he sets out to enlist the help of Nyah Hall (Thandie Newton), a professional thief and find Chimera, a mysterious substance stolen by rogue agent Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott).

Release date May 24, 2000

Run Time: 123 minutes

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by rod gustafson.

I clearly remember agent Phelps, played by Peter Graves, getting his secret assignments via a self-destructing tape recorder at the beginning of each Mission Impossible television episode. Now in the 21st century, agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) receives his covert assignments via a pair of video playing self-destructing sunglasses.

From the sizzling shades Hunt learns he must enlist the help of Nyah Hall (Thandie Newton), a professional thief, to find Chimera, a mysterious substance stolen by agent Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott). Hunt connects with Hall (in a very physical way), only to discover the reason for including her in the operation was because she stole Ambrose’s heart during a former relationship.

Besides Hall’s sexual relationships with Hunt and Ambrose, parents may be concerned with the gratuitous violence. These scenes include a major airline crash in the opening sequence, guns, car chases, and fist-to-fist combat. A few of these incidents are explicit with blood spurting from punched faces and oozing from gunshot wounds. The thin plot also provides ample opportunity for reckless driving and destruction of property with nary a consequence.

What is missing are the typical plot twists that have been the trademark of this franchise. Instead of story, this mission relies solely on stunts (featuring a painfully long final fight scene), effects, and one anorexic female to keep the audience interested—perhaps an impossible task. Parents may even suspect the real mission of the movie is to fit as much violence as possible into a PG-13 rating.

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Rod Gustafson

Mission impossible 2 parents' guide.

Agent Hunt is told by his superior (played by Anthony Hopkins) that Nyah has all of the skills she needs to go to bed with a man and lie to him—since she is a woman. What attitude does this statement reflect on women? Who do you think is more likely to enjoy this movie: men or women?

The most recent home video release of Mission Impossible 2 movie is June 23, 2015. Here are some details…

Note: Mission: Impossible 5-Movie Blu-ray Collection is releasing on December 15, 2015. This package features: Mission Impossible Mission Impossible 2 Mission Impossible 3 Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Home Video Notes: Mission: Impossible Collection Release Date: 23 June 2015 Paramount Pictures is releasing a Mission: Impossible Collection . This four-disc box set offers Blu-ray copies of the following films in this action/adventure franchise: Mission: Impossible Mission: Impossible 2 Mission: Impossible 3 Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol

Related home video titles:

This movie is part of a film franchise. It was proceeded by Mission Impossible (1996) and followed by Mission Impossible 3 (2006) .

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Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)

Mission: impossible 2.

With computer genius Luther Stickell at his side and a beautiful thief on his mind, agent Ethan Hunt races across Australia and Spain to stop a former IMF agent from unleashing a genetically engineered biological weapon called Chimera. This mission, should Hunt choose to accept it, plunges him into the center of an international crisis of terrifying magnitude.

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Mission: Impossible

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Full of special effects, Brian DePalma's update of Mission: Impossible has a lot of sweeping spectacle, but the plot is sometimes convoluted.

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The 8th entry in the long running Mission Impossible franchise. The 8th entry in the long running Mission Impossible franchise. The 8th entry in the long running Mission Impossible franchise.

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Jason statham's highest-rated movie proves two harsh truths about his 26-year career.

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10 reasons jackie chan is the greatest kung fu movie star of all time, gal gadot's netflix success is promising for sequel to $200 million action movie.

• Statham shines in supporting roles like in the critically acclaimed "Spy".
• His best movies lean into his comedic side, poking fun at action tropes.
• Jason Statham finds success in ensemble projects with a comedic edge.

After 26 years of acting, Jason Statham has grown into one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, yet his most critically successful movie highlights a surprising reality of the 57-year-old's career. While he has featured in some interesting non-action roles, Jason Statham is primarily known for his action movie appearances. After making his debut in the genre in John Carpenter's explosive sci-fi horror The Ghosts of Mars , Statham has kickstarted several popular action movie franchises and featured in multiple standalone projects. Yet this success belies an unexpected trend – typified by his highest-rated film.

Jason Statham's movies haven't always been critical hits. While he is now established as a box office draw, the majority of his movies – including many of his most commercially successful – have a negative score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. This makes any Jason Statham movie with critical acclaim really stand out. And yet, beyond being impressive in isolation, a closer look at Statham's " best " film to date reveals two distinct attributes that could, if exploited, help him become even more successful.

Spy Proves Jason Statham Is Better As A Supporting Actor

With a 95% " Certified Fresh " rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Jason Statham's best-received movie to date is by far and away the 2015 action-comedy Spy . Starring Melissa McCarthy, the film is an irreverent send-up of many of the most well-worn tropes in the spy genre. McCarthy plays a bumbling agent who, despite appearances, excels at fieldwork, proving pivotal in a dangerous mission to bring down a major terrorist threat. Yet what's most surprising about the film is that, despite his long-established action credentials, Jason Statham is relegated to a supporting role – a part he excels in.

Spy is available to stream on Max

This is the first and primary truth about Jason Statham's career that Spy reveals. Contrary to his usual screen persona of a robotic and unstoppable killing machine, he is perfectly employed as the ultra-masculine Ford – hilariously flouncing off in protest when McCarthy's Susan Cooper is selected for a mission ahead of him. Throughout the narrative, he shows up to put a spanner in the works, ruining well-laid plans with an ill-timed display of machismo. The fact that he is so effective in comparatively small doses demonstrates the wider truth that Statham is at his best when he doesn't have to carry a film on his own .

Many Of Statham's Best Movies Have Been As A Supporting Actor

For all his success as a leading action star and reputation for playing brooding, dangerous, and highly-skilled lone wolves, most of Statham's best films have seen him take a back seat as part of an ensemble . Whether it's in Spy , Furious 7 , or earlier action hits like The Italian Job , it's a trend reflected across his highest-rated movies that Statham films succeed when he plays a supporting role. This sits uncomfortably with the perception of Statham as a charismatic leading man. Nevertheless, a closer look at his most critically successful films makes the reality undeniable.

Even in successful films where Statham has top-billing, such as The Bank Job and The Expendables saga, it's notable that he is still just part of a collective. Purely taking critical scores into account, his best-performing solo venture is 2024's The Beekeeper – the only movie where he has unequivocal top-billing in his top-10 highest-rated films . Even in a project like Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw , he still shares the limelight with Dwayne Johnson.

Interestingly, this situation continues a trend established early in Jason Statham's career . Hits like Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch both featured Statham in a more peripheral role, rather than leading the cast. In stark contrast to the more mixed critical reception to popular Statham leading man projects like The Transporter and The Mechanic , these movies have been almost universally well-received, further highlighting the discrepancy between his ensemble and solo work.

Statham Thrives When He Doesn't Take Himself Too Seriously

The second interesting truth that Spy highlights – alongside other of Statham's biggest hits – is that the actor's best movies often lean into his less-serious comedic side . Except for Jason Statham's villainous turn in Furious 7 and tense performance in The Bank Job , well-received Statham films like Snatch , Lock, Stock , Hobbs & Shaw , and the Crank movies all benefit from his ability to poke fun at the tropes that have defined much of his career. As the ludicrous Rick Ford, Jason Statham's performance in Spy is the embodiment of this trend.

If Jason Statham is picking projects based on their chance of critical success, his best move is to look at ensemble projects with a gently comedic edge.

By contrast, many of Jason Statham's least critically and commercially successful movies suffer from a sense of humor failure . Panned projects like the ill-fated Statham/Guy Ritchie collaboration Revolver and Uwe Böll's In The Name of the King all take themselves far too seriously – even without factoring in their other flaws. All this suggests that, if Jason Statham is picking projects based on their chance of critical success, his best move is to look at ensemble projects with a gently comedic edge.

Why Jason Statham Won't Always Play To His Strengths

The trends throughout his career confirm that more light-hearted supporting roles offer Jason Statham's best option for critical success. However, while this reality has been evident from his earliest roles, there is no chance that the superstar will stick to what has brought him his greatest success. Although his films haven't always been a hit critically, he has had huge commercial success with his solo action movies , firmly establishing himself as one of the genre's leading lights. Considering his reputation in the genre, he's unlikely to abandon action films to pursue more critical consistency.

It's also crucial to note that, while his best films feature comedic ensembles, Jason Statham has had critical success by himself. The Beekeeper , for instance, was hugely popular with both critics and audiences, while Statham also had success with the Guy Ritchie project Wrath of Man . With another solo action venture in the pipeline for 2025 (the Sylvester Stallone-written Levon's Trade ), Jason Statham will continue to have a high profile as a leading man. Despite this, however, it's still worth noting the career truths highlighted by his success in Spy .

Shrek 2 Featured an Unexpected Tribute to One of Tom Cruise’s Coolest Mission Impossible Scenes, But You Most Likely Missed it

Shrek 2 turns twenty years old today, that is, May 19. The film was released all the way back in 2004 as a sequel to one of the best and most entertaining animated comedy films known to mankind. The sequel was undoubtedly a success in terms of both box office collection and reviews. Shrek 2 made $935 million at the worldwide box office which is enough proof that fans of the beloved green ogre absolutely loved the movie.

The best part about the sequel has got to be the many, many pop-culture references in the film. From a mermaid who looks quite like Ariel from The Little Mermaid to an iconic line from Seinfeld, Shrek 2 left no stone unturned to give its audience a gazillion easter eggs to look out for. However, the Mission: Impossible tribute in the film takes the cake for the best reference.

Shrek 2’s Nod to an Iconic Scene in Mission: Impossible

No matter how many times you watch Shrek 2 you will probably find a new pop-culture reference with each rewatch. From television to films to fairy tales, the sequel did its best to incorporate a wide variety of jokes and references throughout the 1-hour-33-minute runtime. Our favorite, though, has to be the tribute to Mission: Impossible (1996).

In the first film of the extremely successful franchise, Tom Cruise ’s Ethan Hunt is lowered into a vault room at the CIA’s headquarters by Jean Reno ’s Franz Krieger in order to steal the NOC list. The stakes are quite high as any sound above a whisper will trigger a building-wide lockdown, making it impossible for them to escape.

5 Reasons Why Shrek 2 Is One Of The Best Sequels Of Our Time

Heist scenes are always nail-biting but the one in Mission: Impossible somehow manages to beat them all as it kept the audience on the edge of their seats with eyes glued on the screen for the entire time. When Ethan and Franz finally escape, that’s when the audience, too, can go back to breathing properly.

Now, Shrek 2 did a great job replicating the scene. In order to rescue Shrek, Donkey, and Puss from the knight’s dungeon, the Three Little Pigs pull a Mission: Impossible and lower Pinocchio down to bust their friends out. While the O.G. scene had Cruise dangling by wires, Shrek 2 hilariously made use of puppet strings to carry out the mission.

One of the most important parts of a heist scene has to be the background music which contributes to building the viewers’ anticipation. Therefore, in order to take things to the next level, Shrek 2 brilliantly used the theme of Mission: Impossible during the breakout.

Another Iconic Moment Makes it to Shrek 2

If the remake of the heist wasn’t enough for you to fall in love with Dreamworks’ sequel, then this next scene just might.

When discussions go on about iconic scenes from Hollywood, there is no way you can miss out on mentioning the upside-down kiss from Spider-Man (2002) between Tobey Maguire ’s Peter and Kirsten Dunst ’s Mary Jane.

“I’d do it in two seconds”: Eddie Murphy Still Can’t Believe His Shrek Spinoff isn’t Happening after $484M Puss in Boots 2 Success

In the film, Spider-Man successfully saves the girl from a gang of thugs, and as a thank you, Mary Jane gives him a kiss while he dangled upside-down with his webs. Coming to Shrek 2, Shrek’s ankle gets caught in a trap and he is pulled upside-down after his face gets smeared in mud giving the illusion of a superhero’s mask that hides his identity.

Fiona then comes up to him and they engage in a passionate kiss while Shrek remains upside-down, giving yet another nod to an extremely popular pop-culture moment. Clearly, the team for the animated film knew how to bring in a wide audience!

Stream Shrek 2 on Peacock Premium, Mission: Impossible on Paramount+, and Spider-Man on Disney+.

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