MovieChat Forums > Mission: Impossible II (2000) Discussion > Anybody else unapologetically like this ...

Anybody else unapologetically like this movie?

posted 13 years ago by BelmontHeir
60 replies | jump to latest

I rewatched it last week and found that it's aged remarkably well, considering that it has long been criticized as a Cruise vanity project. The fact is, nobody makes action movies like this anymore - give me Tom Cruise over Sam Worthington any day. John Woo has style to spare. The 'sports car love scene' may be ridiculous on a certain level but it's flawless from a technical standpoint.

I really enjoyed the well executed action sequences; to my eyes Cruise and Thanide Newton had decent chemistry; and Lord knows that Woo filmed Newton as flatteringly as humanly possible. I also enjoyed the way Dougray Scott's character was set up as a dark double of Ethan Hunt.

[–] leighburne 13 years ago

I've always liked this film for what it is. It was never going to win any Oscars (not until there's a "best slow-motion shootout" category at least), but it entertained me. I also liked how it wasn't just a duplicate of the first film, but it went off in a different direction. I certainly preferred this to the third film, which to me seemed like a mash-up lost somewhere between the intelligence of the first film and the action of the second.

My only regret is the studio had to butcher John Woo's initial cut, which I'd love to see one day.

[–] BelmontHeir 13 years ago

"My only regret is the studio had to butcher John Woo's initial cut, which I'd love to see one day."

Ah, definitely. It was supposedly 3 and 1/2 hours long, if I'm not mistaken, and it pushed the rating to an "R." Sounds like heaven to me. I doubt many people could handle a 3 hour cut of M:I2 but I say 'bring it on.' I can only imagine it would help plug some of the minor plot holes and unanswered questions, like what the hell happened to Brendan Gleeson's character.

[–] leighburne 13 years ago

I think maybe the full 3 1/2 hours might be pushing it slightly, but I totally agree that the film would benefit from being padded out a little; from what I've read, plot hole-filling is exactly what a lot of the extra stuff achieves.

To be honest, I'm not sure a load of violence would really be appropriate in a Mission: Impossible film... but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't love to see some of that too :)

[–] BelmontHeir 13 years ago

"To be honest, I'm not sure a load of violence would really be appropriate in a Mission: Impossible film... but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't love to see some of that too :)"

Definitely. I mean, I'm not expecting hardcore, "Hard Boiled"-style violence. But a few of the scenes would have more impact if they weren't as edited. For instance, the moment where Tom Cruise snaps a guy's neck with his legs, they actually had to take the neck-snapping sound effect out so it comes across as a little silly. Also, the scene where Dougray Scott shoots his henchman who he thinks is Tom Cruise - they cut away quickly from the bullet to the knee and there's really no blood. That moment would be even better if the violence had more impact.

My only real problem with the film, besides some occasionally weak dialogue, is the pacing. Much like Woo's other American flick "Hard Target," there's about an hour or more of pure plot set-up and romance...then suddenly the last 40 minutes are nothing but one non-stop chase and action sequence. I could have done with a decent action sequence during the first 70 minutes instead of suddenly cramming it all in there at the end.

[–] leighburne 13 years ago

I freaking love Hard Target. Plus it's one of the rare exceptions where we in the UK get the uncut version while the US has to settle for the censored R-rated version!

[–] MovieMaster95 12 years ago

100% agree with this. I'm still hoping that someday, Paramount will release the original 3 hrs cut, digitally restored for fans. I'm not really one who can sit through films with such a long runtime but it would be interesting to see what got cut out. Plus it would give fans a chance to make their own cuts of the film.

The same can be said for Hard Target. I know the original cut can be found but it's in such poor quality. Universal needs to dig it up and give it a proper release for John Woo and Van Damme fans.

[–] GeneticSugarKane 13 years ago

I just saw this for the first time and really loved it. Such a fun movie. Great action set pieces.

[–] Browncoat_26 13 years ago

I loved this movie and I am not ashamed to say it. I own it on VHS and then I bought it on DVD.

[–] bd007h 13 years ago

M:I 2 is one of my favorite movies, not just in the M:I series, but all-together. Don't understand why so many fans of the M:I series think this movie is so bad.

[–] McQueen1980 13 years ago

i unashamedly LOVE this movie!! my fb pic is TC on the bike go figure!!!!hahahaha

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[–] nemkes-1 13 years ago

nobody has to apologize for loving this movie(or any film really).
i also love this film,it has a certain style to it,couple of scenes are legendary:climbing,first time ethan and naya meet,scene where ambrose kills the wrong guy while ethan is running out with M:I theme,knife-eye scene and i thought scenes with tom and hopkins were top notch.but it is weakest of all 4 because pace is so weird.we have 40 minutes in the middle when nothing really happens and that is its major flaw.
as for hard target i think it is best movie from woo.i *beep* love it,and i have to say the pace in that film was perfect,its amazing

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] spasek 12 years ago

I agree. I never get tired of watching this movie.

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[–] koffeenkreame41-1 10 years ago

M:I 2 is one of my favorite movies, not just in the M:I series, but all-together. Don't understand why so many fans of the M:I series think this movie is so bad.

Agreed, me neither. Awesome film in an awesome series. 

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[–] grneyelady 9 years ago

I loved this movie. Why do MI fans think it's the worst of the series?

I thought it was fantastic. Sure, a few plot holes, but overall this was great fun, and loved the set pieces. And there's plot holes in almost every movie....

I will admit though, the Agent Masking and Un-masking is enough. It's about time for new and different reversals from MI.

[–] ryoko_the_spacepirate1 13 years ago

I love this movie still gets me hype.

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[–] masked_loser 13 years ago

You make good points, but I disagree. The movie was overly stylized (such as the ridiculous overuse of slow motion) and just comes off as a relic of the immediate post-Matrix action era at the turn of the century. I'm glad you enjoy it (I loved it as a teen during its theatrical run) but in 2012 it just seems dated to me.

[–] Dukeking3 13 years ago

I thought this movie was pretty good!! I don't like it as good as the first one, but I thought it had its own unique style to it! Each one of the Mission Impossible movies are different because they all have different directors directing them. I really didn't see anything wrong with this film, except maybe too much slow motion action sequences. It is my least favorite of the Mission Impossible movies, but I'd give it an 8 out of 10 though.

[–] fireyhope 13 years ago

I enjoyed it a lot, sure it might not be a true MI movie but it is still a fun action movie and probably the epitome of a highly stylized adrenaline pumping fun action movie.

[–] jsum-351-139598 13 years ago

Yes this an 4

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[–] FrankBooth_DeLarge 13 years ago

I saw this in theaters when I was 11 and it was my favorite movie for about a year afterwards. A couple of years ago I caught the last third on HBO and it's still entertaining. I'll need to watch it again to see how the rest holds up by my current standards, but at age 11-12 I loved this movie. I do remember it being very over the top and unrealistic, but well made in terms of stunts and action scenes. I'd love to see John Woo's cut of the movie.

In recent years I've seen some of John Woo's Hong Kong films such as The Killer and Hardboiled, both of which are masterpieces.

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[–] DendelionBlu 11 years ago

You do realize that The Matrix was inspired in great part by John Woo's films, and that although MI:II came out after the Matrix, it is simply John Woo continuing on elaborating his style, except many people didn't know about slo-mo fight sequences until they'd seen The Matrix

You do realize that don't you?

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[–] Kawada_Kira 13 years ago

I like it. Except for just now tonight, the only time I saw it was 7 or 8 years ago, but I loved it then and i've always had the urge to buy it in the back of my mind. Just did that and watched it again tonight, and loved it just as much as last time. I'm generally not much for action flicks, but this one I really like.

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[–] RuRiK_87 13 years ago

It's a good action film but a very bad Mission: Impossible film, for me it's the worst of the 4 and I think it would have done a lot better if it wasn't part of the franchise.

[–] texasgal1976 12 years ago

I enjoyed this film and accepted it for what it was.