Here we have the classic question...can the sequel out do the original? Usually the answer is no, but this does not apply to the MI series. The reason that most sequels fail is that they try too much to be like the original films, but not MI-2. While Tom Cruise's character Ethan Hunt remains the same, the film makers did not try to make it connect to the first one, but rather they concentrated on making a new story. The action sequences are one of a kind from the master of action John Woo.
Despite the fantastic action scenes and the fairly solid story line, the film did have a few low points. First on all, that love story seemed quite out of place. I mean it was a change but it seemed a little forced. Then there was that constant use of those masks that were made famous from the first flick. I mean how many masks could they possible have!!??!! And last but not least...I know that John Woo is famous for his remarkable action sequences and that his technique is to put portions of it into slow motion and then speed it up at the last second, but it was just used far to much in this film. I understand that sometimes it is a good effect so that the audience can see exactly what is happening, but this time it was just overkill. The movie would have been shorter if all these slow motion scenes were eliminated, because with them, it just seemed to drag on a little too long.
In spite of the minor problems that the film has, it will still make millions, because of Tom Cruise alone, but Thandie Newton did a wonderful job, playing opposite the star and Dougray Scott, who was last scene in Ever After, portrayed an excellent foil for Cruise's character. Fans of both Cruise and the original television series will enjoy this flick, but first time MI viewers will enjoy it because you did not have to see the first one to understand what was going on in the second one, as is the case with most sequels. All in all a good action-packed movie, well worth the money and definitely a big screen movie. Don't miss this one at the theaters if you are into the big summer action movies. I give MI-2 a 8 out of 10.
Despite the fantastic action scenes and the fairly solid story line, the film did have a few low points. First on all, that love story seemed quite out of place. I mean it was a change but it seemed a little forced. Then there was that constant use of those masks that were made famous from the first flick. I mean how many masks could they possible have!!??!! And last but not least...I know that John Woo is famous for his remarkable action sequences and that his technique is to put portions of it into slow motion and then speed it up at the last second, but it was just used far to much in this film. I understand that sometimes it is a good effect so that the audience can see exactly what is happening, but this time it was just overkill. The movie would have been shorter if all these slow motion scenes were eliminated, because with them, it just seemed to drag on a little too long.
In spite of the minor problems that the film has, it will still make millions, because of Tom Cruise alone, but Thandie Newton did a wonderful job, playing opposite the star and Dougray Scott, who was last scene in Ever After, portrayed an excellent foil for Cruise's character. Fans of both Cruise and the original television series will enjoy this flick, but first time MI viewers will enjoy it because you did not have to see the first one to understand what was going on in the second one, as is the case with most sequels. All in all a good action-packed movie, well worth the money and definitely a big screen movie. Don't miss this one at the theaters if you are into the big summer action movies. I give MI-2 a 8 out of 10.