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Mission: Impossible (1996)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jon Voight Director: Brian De Palma
Mission Impossible DVD Collector's Set (1996)
Mission Impossible 2 (2000)
Starring: Tom Cruise Director: John Woo
Visually stunning, and a likely must for John Woo aficionados, the second Mission: Impossible outing from megastar Tom Cruise suffers from an inconsistent tone and tired plot
devices -- not only recycled from other films, but repeated throughout the film.
Despite remarkable cinematography and awe-inspiring, trademark Woo photography, the movie offers a tepid story from legendary screenwriter-director Robert Towne (Chinatown, Without Limits) and a host of other writers, most uncredited.
It is, regrettably, as forgettable as the first big-budget, big box-office MI in 1996, and it's clear (as Towne confirms) that the plot was developed around Woo- and Cruise-written action sequences.
The film combines equal elements of romance and action, and is best when it features the stunning allure of Thandie Newton as Nyah, a master thief recruited by the sinewy charms of Ethan Hunt (a fit Cruise).
Deeply in love after a passionate night, the couple must then combat MI nemesis (and Nyah's former lover) Sean Ambrose (Ever After's Dougray Scott).
Ambrose holds hostage a virus and its cure, and offers them to the highest bidder.
Woo's famed mythic filmmaking is far from subtle, with heroic Hunt frequently slow-motion walking through fire, smoke, or other similar devices, replete with a white dove among pigeons to signal his presence.
The emphasis on romance is an attempt to develop character and a more human side to superspy Hunt, but still the dreary story proves a distraction from the exciting action sequences.
John Polson (as an MI team member) is an Aussie talent to keep an eye on.
Mission Impossible 2 (2000)
Encoding: Region 1 (US and Canada only)
Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby
Studio: Paramount Home Video
DVD Features:
Commentary by director John Woo
15-minute "Behind the Mission" exclusive cast and crew interviews
Five-minute "Mission Incredible" stunts featurette "Impossible Shots"
Exclusive interviews with John Woo, Tom Cruise, stunt coordinator Brian Smrz and others
Metallica's music video of "I Disappear"
Alternate title sequence
MTV Movie Awards show parody, "Mission Improbable" with Tom Cruise, Ben Stiller and John Woo.
Widescreen anamorphic format
Other Formats: VHS, VHS subtitled in Spanish |
Mission Impossible DVD Collector's Set (1996)
Encoding: Region 1 (US and Canada only)
Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby
Studio: Paramount Studio
DVD Features:
Number of discs: 2 |
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