Read Mixed User Reviews for Mission: Impossible II

6

JPKJul 9, 2019

It’s Okay
Though it has crazy stunts from Cruise and great action, MI2 isn’t as good as the first film.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

HabibiehakimMar 17, 2023

The follow up to the 1996 Mission: Impossible which is one of the most exciting and one of the best spy movie i've seen, Mission: Impossible II is one of the worst sequel and one of if not the most boring action movie i've seen, it's aThe follow up to the 1996 Mission: Impossible which is one of the most exciting and one of the best spy movie i've seen, Mission: Impossible II is one of the worst sequel and one of if not the most boring action movie i've seen, it's a disaster, a 2 hours of boring romance with cheesy unexciting mission, with a pretty convincing villain played by Dougray Scott, Tom Cruise, and Anthony Hopkins just being there for no reason, the whole movie was never impressive until the last hour of the film that fills with super boring action, bad score, it just doesn't work, it felt cheesy as hell, while the Brian De Palma one felt serious and engaging and exciting, this one is just so boring, unimpressive, unexicting, it's pain, i hate it, Mission: Impossible II is a surprisingly awful disaster.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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6

ColginatorAug 21, 2015

Just like the first "Mission: Impossible" film was entirely different to the TV show it was based on, "Mission: Impossible II" is nothing like it's 1996 predecessor. The slow, tension building pace Palma used in the first film, has beenJust like the first "Mission: Impossible" film was entirely different to the TV show it was based on, "Mission: Impossible II" is nothing like it's 1996 predecessor. The slow, tension building pace Palma used in the first film, has been replaced by John Woo's love of fast paced action and insane shootouts. Woo draws from the auteurist action movies he made in the east like "The Killer" in order to bring his own brand of high octane action to western filmmaking.

If anyone doubted how different Woo's style would be, he immediately distances his style from the first film in the first 5 minutes. Whilst "Mission: Impossible" had its agents receive missions in stylish way that resembled a Bond movie, with a cassette tape being delivered on a plane before detonating in a puff of smoke, that approach was apparently not extreme enough for the generation that made films like "Bad Boys" a hit. So instead the mission is delivered to Hunt as he climbs a cliff, with a helicopter firing down the assignment in a missile containing a pair of sunglasses, which he listens to before they explode in a ball of flame. It's completely pointless and serves no purpose to the plot. But it's still an awesome introduction to the film, and sets the tone for the ludicrous and enjoyable action to come.

To match ridiculous action sequences like this, the plot is similarly as ridiculous and over the top. This time Ethan's mission is to retrieve and destroy a genetically engineered disease called 'Chimera', before a group of terrorists led by formal IMF agent Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott) get a hold of it and release it to the public. To get close to him Ethan is told to recruit Sean's ex- girlfriend Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton) so she can seduce him. But of course as the typical American action hero, Hunt falls in love with her and thus must both stop the terrorists and save the girl.

Coincidentally, just like the first film had a heavy Hitchcock influence through its visual style and slow pacing, this film has a plot that is heavily inspired by Hitchcock's "Notorious". However unlike Notorious where there was a genuine connection between the two leads, here Cruise and Newton share no such chemistry. They hardly even spend any time together, having only a short amount of screen time with a little flirting, a short car race, and a single night of passion. But for the action movie formula, this is apparently enough to justify them being madly in love.

This wouldn't be a problem if this film did the same as the first "Mission: Impossible" and spent minimal time on character and story. But here a great portion of the film hinges on Cruise worrying for her and it doesn't work since no real connection is established between the pair. There's also several plot holes and continuity errors, with characters just showing up in random places with no explanation whatsoever. Although in the films defence, supposedly the original cut was intended to be over 3 hours long, but had to be cut down for a cinematic release which would explain most of these problems.

Regardless, it's easy to look past this weak plotting, because as always Woo's real strength relies on his action sequences. And as usual he's on top form. He transforms Cruise from the stealthy espionage spy he played in the first film, into an all American action hero similar to the likes of John Rambo.

Hunt fights through seemingly unbeatable odds, gunning down terrorists and blowing up cars, all whilst hardly gaining a single scratch because he's just that deadly. And of course Woo throws all his usual trademarks into the mix, like Cruise constantly dual wielding pistols, the gratuitous but cool slow motion and of course random doves being thrown into the climax.

But even for a director like Woo who made his name through over the top sequences like the one take hallway sequence in "Hard Boiled", this still feels a little overdone. For example, at one point in the film when Cruise is breaking into a terrorist hideout, a door blows up and a dove literally flies through the flames. Moments like this are so ridiculous that they end up feeling less like a genuine action movie and more like a flat out parody.

Even with these moments that go a little too far, it can't be denied that nobody does action quite the same as Woo does it. If his brand of insane violence didn't appeal in his previous work like "Face Off" or "A Better Tomorrow", it won't appeal here. But if you do enjoy his adrenaline fuelled style, then you'll likely enjoy it here. And whilst it may not be the strongest of the series, it's nonetheless another fun outing for the "Mission: Impossible" franchise.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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5

TheDude-Aug 2, 2015

Your cranium may crave more substance, but your eyes will feast on the amazing action sequences.
Mission Impossible 2 gets a 6/10
C+
2.5/5 stars.........

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5

grandpajoe6191Dec 26, 2011

Sadly, John Woo's poor direction on "Mission Impossible 2" even makes the action crappy.

5 of 19 users found this helpful514

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6

MovieLonely94Nov 4, 2010

I got so bored, but Tom Cruise wasn't so bad.

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

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5

MonkiReviewsMay 29, 2017

I didn't enjoy it, at all. The characters felt empty somehow. The plot was worse than the first, and very boring. I don't understand the good reviews.

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

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4

ThatCooperGuyJul 24, 2015

What the hell? What is this? Is this supposed to be an improvement? This is so boring, but I will admit it's got better action than the first movie and Tom Cruise is awesome in it, but this is such a stupid & cliché written sequel. I don'tWhat the hell? What is this? Is this supposed to be an improvement? This is so boring, but I will admit it's got better action than the first movie and Tom Cruise is awesome in it, but this is such a stupid & cliché written sequel. I don't care for any of these characters, there's so many slow-mo shots, the chemistry between Cruise and Newton is terribly forced, and it's SOOOO BORING. God damn it. That's 2 hours of my life I'm never getting back...… Expand

3 of 14 users found this helpful311

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4

EssenceOfSugarFeb 5, 2012

I think my high hopes were shattered for this film, because I felt disappointed that it did not live up to the previous film's well-crafted plot and intertwining cool action sequences. This I felt, lacked the former and added more of theI think my high hopes were shattered for this film, because I felt disappointed that it did not live up to the previous film's well-crafted plot and intertwining cool action sequences. This I felt, lacked the former and added more of the latter. The beginning was strong, but as it neared the end it went downhill, and the only thing that stopped this from hitting rock bottom was Tom Cruise's ability to pull off cool action stunts - specifically the fight between him and Ambrose added a little more drama, although any other fighting was purely for showing. Thandie Newton failed to add anything to the film, merely just a manipulative prop. In the end, the only thing that saved the film was Tom Cruise himself, but eventually it just ended up being a fun-of-the-flair cheesy mega action flick. My favourite part, though, was in the pharmaceutical lab.… Expand

1 of 13 users found this helpful112

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5

jwt7000Aug 6, 2012

John Woo doesn't do enough good action and better stunts with this movie and the drama, same old boringness. I wished this movie had improved to its better standards, but it did not.

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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4

pgmarkDec 16, 2010

The Hollywood milk it dry theme.... There has to be more creative scripts out there to throw money at. I guess the bond theory is in play tho. Average and I watched it. Good to have on when you are doing something else at the same time andThe Hollywood milk it dry theme.... There has to be more creative scripts out there to throw money at. I guess the bond theory is in play tho. Average and I watched it. Good to have on when you are doing something else at the same time and want a distraction in the background.… Expand

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5

hoops2448Feb 2, 2012

Mission Impossible 2 has flaws, many many flaws but its main problem is John Woo brings his signature stylised action but overdoes it. From the unnecessary twirling during gunfights to his signature doves itâ

0 of 16 users found this helpful016

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6

NikolayGJul 20, 2018

Far and away the WORST of all the Mission Impossible movies. The jokey opening scenes which go on for a good half hour fall flat. The whole opening act is just off and utterly lacks suspense because they try to turn the movie into a comedyFar and away the WORST of all the Mission Impossible movies. The jokey opening scenes which go on for a good half hour fall flat. The whole opening act is just off and utterly lacks suspense because they try to turn the movie into a comedy romance which is NOT why I watch Mission Impossible movies. The action especially in the first portion is overdone and tedious. Fans of John Woo (the director of this one) are rabid cult members who will call anything he makes the "best" so disregard those reviews. The movie does pick up in the latter half and isn't bad, not great but not bad, and Thandie Newton is a very sexy co-star at her most beautiful in this movie. But overall this movie is too long and the opening half hour is bad. Mission Impossible III, IV, and V are all great. V is a little old-school, feels a bit like an old movie, which I loved but some may not. Mission Impossible I is good but not great. And the word is that Mission Impossible VI is the best of all. But Mission Impossible II is at the bottom of the list. Skip it and come back to it after you see them all, if you're still dying for more.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

SpangleDec 16, 2013

Great action sequences complimented by a boring plot. Action movies should keep you on the edge of your seat waiting for what happens, but with the predictability and lack of intrigue packed into this one, it's a slow two hours.

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5

MovieGuysFeb 9, 2014

"II" is not a particularly good sequel, but don't worry:"Tis' but a flesh wound" on the M:I series. The third and fourth are much better, especially the fourth. So enjoy this one for what it is, and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

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6

BoogeeFilmGuyAug 8, 2015

Its the worst of the Mission: Impossible franchise, but that doesn't make it bad, its just... okay. Tom Cruise is still great in this film though, as always.

0 of 12 users found this helpful012

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5

BarneyOnMTMay 28, 2016

WHAT I LIKED: Mission: Impossible returns, and it's just as gripping as before. This time the anti is upped thanks to the addition of some (albeit cheesy) character development and a higher-stakes story. It's big, brash and exciting stuff,WHAT I LIKED: Mission: Impossible returns, and it's just as gripping as before. This time the anti is upped thanks to the addition of some (albeit cheesy) character development and a higher-stakes story. It's big, brash and exciting stuff, and is exactly what we will come to expect from this franchise (especially where the first 3 movies are concerned.)
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It's also just as confusing and ridiculous as the last movie, thus it feels like it asks us to take it a little too seriously when it's so cliched. Style over substance describes this one in particular down to a tee.
VERDICT: Mission: Impossible is always just a bit of fun, but it is a confusing and cheesy bit of fun. This time around is nothing new, but it's still pretty enjoyable too.… Expand

0 of 8 users found this helpful08

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5

ViniciusBritoJul 28, 2018

A scientist creates a virus named Chimera together with it's antidote, turns out that it got stolen by some terrorists that are led by an ex-agent. Ethan Hunt with his team need to develop a plan, to find out where the guy is and recover theA scientist creates a virus named Chimera together with it's antidote, turns out that it got stolen by some terrorists that are led by an ex-agent. Ethan Hunt with his team need to develop a plan, to find out where the guy is and recover the virus, while the terrorist is planning to spread the virus around the country and then the whole world, for finally he can be able to sell his antidote and get a millionaire man. Directed by John Woo.
The premise of this movie is very cliche and nothing exciting, the structure in this one is very conventional. The story of the movie is very simple, and is very purchasable, you can believe in what is happening, the main plot is one that sustains itself, but isn't special in any part, wich would depend of the development of it to become somethings really nice, but overall it is very silly, the villain until some point make sense, but at the very end it just become ridiculous, like they did forgot something. At the beginning they trie to force a relationship that it was way to fast and not very nicely done. They even keeped the same kind of team from the previous movie, a guy in a helicopter and other in a van with the computer, it wasn't bad, but definely not the best thing. The villain is completely unilateral, he didn't had different aspects or layers he is just one thing. The movie got some plot twists involving the masks, but also was very used in the first movie, i personally didn't bough those twists, but i can't lie that some of them were pretty cool, i just can't imagine how they have a mask of everybody that exists, it felt wrong, but it was nice. There are some good sequences, some fun moments with the right suspension of disbelief or even not. There is one sequence wich is a fear of getting cough that they worked with it very well, cameras, sounds and the right amount of subtleties.
I believe that the actors delivered very well what they had in their hands. Tom Cruise was able to maintain the Ethan Hunt that he first created a few years ago, he could still be sarcastic with those random smiles and also could be serious and demonstrate concern. Thandie Newton also did a good job, she could convince as a thief credited, she expressed confidence and cleverness in her voice, even that in some dramatic moments it didn't convinced me that much, she did a good job. Dougray Scott had one job, be a unilateral villain that wanted to be rich doing bad things, it wasn't the better of the characters, but he did what he could. Ving Rhames is back as Luther, he wasn't so nice as in the first one, but he was very functional and gave me some nice laughs, he convinced in doing his things and gave some nice dramatic partis with his concern in his voice. John polson was more of a relief comic, he worked, gave me some laughs and was the conveyor for the group. Anthonny Hopkins is also in this movie, he doesn't have much to do, but the few time that he is in, i gotta say the he worked considering what he had to do.
The action in this movie was just awful, i hate when they start to make the character do some acrobatics fights just to make it look cool, because it looks ridiculous mostly of the time, when someone needs to punch the other to knock him down, and instead of just do it, he does a back flip first and then strikes him, for me that is terrible. In some moments they use a slow motion to put some drama in the action, but for me it didn't worked out every time, in some moments it just feels ridiculous. They had some decides in the action scenes that i really couldn't understand, it had some really nonsense scenes that was simply ugly, i didn't liked how it was shooted, to much cuts, it couldn't let me feel the sequence, there somethings with cars and motorcycles that was really breathtaking in some moments, but not in the good way. There was some ok moments of gun fire, or a invasion moment, but still, everything is so unrealistic that feels out of place considering how did the first movie make.
The cinematography lost that tense aspect, that was using dutch cameras for discovery and unconfortable moments for the character, a camera that really talked to us, in this one that almost never happens, the movie use some zoom in moments, wich work, so as some slow motion moments that mostly of the time felt goofy.
The soundtrack in this one had a little change, the main theme is pretty much the same, but now, they put it in a guitar, wich sounded great, and it combined with the more accelerated style of the movie. This movie have some many flaws in the story, it is a simply and silly one. The action scenes aren't good and there is so many bad use of resources here. But even with that you can find some nice moments, it is that bad movie that can make you smile sometimes.… Expand

0 of 9 users found this helpful09

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5

ahmedaiman9999Aug 3, 2018

With a heavy-handed dialogue that includes a lot of repeated lines, excessive use of slow motion technique, awkward romantic scenes, cringe-worthy melodramatic moments, tons of clichés, sequences that exist for nothing but manipulating,With a heavy-handed dialogue that includes a lot of repeated lines, excessive use of slow motion technique, awkward romantic scenes, cringe-worthy melodramatic moments, tons of clichés, sequences that exist for nothing but manipulating, familiar plot, clumsy resolution, and nonsensical decisions. John Woo's MI II is more like a cheesy 007 movie that hasn't aged well. Even the "impossible mission" here lacks the tension the original has. Adding insult to injury, it is followed by a long boring scene that I almost fell asleep during it.

On the bright side, the last 20 minutes of the movie feature some of the best over-the-top action sequences I've seen in the this century. I'm not kidding, the action set pieces are staggering that I was about to forget how silly this movie is!
Also, the opening scenes that came before opening titles were kinda promising, and showed some cool technological equipments and devices.
It goes without saying that Tom Cruise is charming as ever specially with this Magnolia long hair.

(5/10)… Expand

0 of 13 users found this helpful013

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4

JacobMay 25, 2015

Mission Impossible II is a big dumb action movie done in the big dumb way that is only possible with Jon Wu. The direction in itself leading to tons of crazy gunfire, chases, explosions, slow motion, and doves in itself prevents this filmMission Impossible II is a big dumb action movie done in the big dumb way that is only possible with Jon Wu. The direction in itself leading to tons of crazy gunfire, chases, explosions, slow motion, and doves in itself prevents this film from being particularly good but its frustrating when it is taken into consideration how smart the first film was. The original film restrained the action scenes, minimalized the use of CGI, and a t no point was a gun fired. In this film there are gun fights galore, the film rehashes the iconic scene from the first film except with more CGI, and overall the film lacks any sort of restraint or intelligence in regards to the action scenes that the first film had. The one interesting action scene involves Ethan Hunt being stealthy and for a moment the film was remotely engaging but then it goes back to the big dumb action Jon Wu is known for. Excessive time is spent delving into an excessive romance that lends itself to a plot straight out of Hitchcock’s Notrious that is uninteresting although the love interest is kind of hot. Unless you like dumb Wu action this is a skip as it sh*ts all over what made the first film so good. At the very least though this film provided a cool take on the M.I. theme.… Expand