Mission Impossible 2

Starring:Tom Cruise, Thandie Newton
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
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.

Customer Reviews:

Terrible.......2007-06-28

All the karate BS in this movie really made me want to throw up in my mouth. The slow motion action seens are so gay and cliched that I became enfuriated that I spent my money on this. Why oh why?

Better than I remembered........2007-06-21

I remember when this film was first released. I didn't get a chance to see this film in theaters nor did I really care to. I had seen the first M:I, and although I thought it was a fairly decent film, I didn't think it was anything to brag about. When I saw previews for M:I-2, it really had me at confusion. The film didn't seem to resemble anything of the first film. While the first one was more targeted towards adults, this one was clearly aiming for a younger audience. Naturally, I thought this movie was going to be dumb and that is exactly what I thought when I finally saw it. I was 13 yrs old, I really did not understand anything that was going on-just something about a disease and all the action scenes that were already overplayed in the tons of commercials I saw for the movie. After I saw it, I told everybody from that point on to ignore this one.

That was back in 2001. Its 2007 and I am now 19 yrs old. M:I-3 has now been made which I thought was an incredibly awesome movie. Not that long ago one of my friends and I were having a conversation about all sorts of movies. We just happened to come accross this one. I told him how M:I and M:I-3 were really good, and M:I-2 was bad. He on the other hand admitted that he actually liked the 2nd one. Seeing is how it was yrs since I saw M:I-2, I didn't really remember much except what I mentioned above. So I started checking up on it again. I saw the trailer on youtube and to my surprise, it looked pretty good. Not long afterwards, the movie came on TNT. Obviousely I watched and surprisingly enough, I enjoyed Very Much!! While it does not live up to M:I-3, it definetly earned a spot on my favorite movies list. Here's the plot.

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is called into action when a fellow IMF agent Sean Ambrose (Douggray Scott) has gone rogue. Ambrose has stolen a deadly biologically engineered virus known as Chimera, a virus that kills your red blood cells if infected. There is a cure called Valeraphon which can only save a persons if treated within 20 years. However, after 20 hours, nothing can save. Hunt with the help a thief, Nyah Nordaf Hall (Thandie Newton) they must infiltrate and find out what Ambrose's plans are for the virus. Hunt must also at the same time dig deeper into discovering the truth about why this disease was created in the first place.

That basically says it. Just to add a few more things, although I actually like this movie now, I stil believe its the weakest of the M:I's. It surprises me very much that of all of them, this was grossed the most money. I think the real problem with this film is the very fact that it tries too hard to be "cool". First lets start off with the ridiculous concepts- Tom Cruise rock climbing with no gear except powder for his hands, his mission being assigned through sunglasses, the car chase with Thandie Newton (there was no suspense and the characters appear to be having fun). Then theres the action scenes. I know John Woo has his style but I think it was a bit overdone. Too many quick cuts and overuse of explosions. Then theres all the rock music in the film, I do not think that was necessary. And then there's Tom Cruise's look with the long wavy hair. I really think his hair was like that to make this movie seem "cool". I am sure the original M"I series would never have had these elements. I really think this film would have been alot better if it were its own movie rather than an M:I. Well anyway, I still suggest. But if anyone has a chance, definetly check out M:I-3. THAT ONE WAS FRIGGIN AWESOME

The first movie was MUCH better.......2007-06-07

As others have mentioned, there was no Mission Impossible Team, except for Ving Rhames, and Anthony Hopkins, the boss, (Interesting, we got to see the face that goes with the voice on the tape that introduces the case.)

I thought the worst was the agonizing slow motion flips and kicks (often while shooting a gun in midair, upside down).

Can we say plagiarism?.......2007-06-05

I was watching this on TV recently after having seen it only once before when it first came out and it dawned on me that it has the same basic storyline as Hitchcock's Notorious with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman (1946). But the result is vastly different. Notorious doesn't rely on high-tech props or unbelievable stunts - just pure good acting and suspense like only Hitchcock can do it.

they get one more star for including the Ben Stiller spoof, "Mission: Improbable.".......2007-03-19

I think it took me two seeing to realize how yucky this movie was; there was so much that was wrong. I think the first thing that we notice is that this is not about the Impossible Mission Force, but Tom Cruise. So, aside form the name, the music, and the jargon, this has nothing to do with the classic show.

This was a let-down. Leonard Nemoy in "I Am Spock" mentioned that he loved the teamwork aspect of the series. I agree: there was something about Mr. Phelps and the IMF all piling into the getaway van and the classic Mission: Impossible recessional theme that let you know that there was a job well done because each member did his part. Like the guy said, "The greatest temporal and spiritual blessings which always come from faithfulness and concerted effort, never attended individual exertion or enterprise."

Another problem was the physics. The cycle-jousting forgets that when two objects traveling at 50 mph a piece collide, the cumulative force felt by them is not 50, but 100 mph. Talk about being jelly! And the gun in the sand: how does kicking it forward make it go one and half meters vertically into the air?

This film has plot, in the sense of having action, or a series of events. But did I mention the plot holes? How did Cruise happen to have a Richard Roxburgh mask so handy? I guess it was next to the handy duct tape. And how did they change clothes so quickly?

Yes, there is conflict: Cruise versus the Aussie, and Cruise versus the supermodel supertheif. The theme is not so obvious. There are messages about courage, duty, and self sacrifice. These are helpful, but seem to be mere distracting tinsel.

Being John Woo, this film is essentially about style. This is good for artists who have plot, theme, and characterization, and would like to perfect their craft. As a standalone attribute, however, this film leaves something to be desired. Anyone who has been on a date knows that looks only go so far. And the same applies to movies.

*

The transfer is perfect, and they get one more star for including the Ben Stiller spoof, "Mission: Improbable."

Mission - Impossible II (2-Disc Special Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

Mission - Impossible II (2-Disc Special Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Brendan Gleeson , Thandie Newton , John Polson , Ving Rhames , and Rade Serbedzija
Director: John Woo
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

Action & Adventure | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Mission - Impossible (Special Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl [Blu-ray]
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto [Blu-ray]
Casino Royale [Blu-ray]

ASIN: B000O59AFW
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Mission Impossible Collector's Set (Mission Impossible / MI-2)

Average customer rating:

MI 1 & 2
Mission Impossible Collector's Set (MIssion Impossible/ MI-2
Nice set of two solid thrillers

Mission Impossible Collector's Set (Mission Impossible / MI-2)
Starring: Tom Cruise , Jon Voight , Emmanuelle Béart , Henry Czerny , and Jean Reno
Director: Brian De Palma , and John Woo
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Mission Impossible III (Widescreen Edition)
The Da Vinci Code (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
King Kong - Extended Cut (Three-Disc Deluxe Edition)
X-Men - The Last Stand (Widescreen Edition)
Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000EQ5TSS
Release Date: 2006-04-11

Description

Giftset includes Mission Impossible Special Collector's Edition and Mission Impossible 2 (2 disc set).

Customer Reviews:

MI 1 & 2.......2007-02-12

MI 1 has a story line that hangs together. It is a little fantastic, but that's what Mission Impossible is, so some stretching of likelihood doesn't bother the viewer. This movie is entertainment, pure and simple. It does not pretend to be other than that.

MI 2 is a different kind of movie. A bit fantastic too, but you expect a little fantasy; so it does not disturb you. The cinematography here is much better than that of its predecessor. The use of light and shaddow is quite artistic. The story is good until near the end where the production deteriorates into preposterous chase scenes that go on and on and on and on. Those are followed by an even more preposterous fight scene that never seems to end; the hero and villain never seem to tire from the exertion, and do not deteriorate from the dastardly blows they rain back and forth upon each other. A lttle fantasy is expected, but the chase scenes and the fight grow immensely tiresome and unreal and ruin the movie. The movie ends like an overdone steak.

Mission Impossible Collector's Set (MIssion Impossible/ MI-2.......2007-01-12

Everthing about the shipment was perfect. I received it on time, it was in excellent condition, I couldn't have asked for better from a vendor!!!!

Nice set of two solid thrillers .......2006-05-07

Beyond the basic concept the "Mission: Impossible" films have little to do with the original TV series. In fact this is a recreation for an audience brought up on high octane action films. De Palma's film reinvents the popular TV franchise although many long time fans were probably upset that Jim Phelps was played by Jon Voight and that he's killed in the first 15 minutes of the film. Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is accused by his own agency of engineering the death of his IMF team to protect his identity as a traitor. Hunt suddenly alone must assemble a team (Ving Rhames, Jean Reno)of his own to help clear his name.

The updated transfer looks marvelous here with richer, bolder colors and an anamorphic high definition transfer that improves on the previous DVD. This also features some decent extras although they have less to do with the history of the show and translating it to the big screen than with Cruise and Brian De Palma's attempt to update it for a new audience. There's also a preview for MI3 included as well as a ticket for free theater admission to MI3 until 5/14/06.

"MI2" plays much more like a cross between a Bond film and a Hong Kong action movie. That's good in a way because it's every bit as different from the first as the third is from the second. Director John Woo keeps "MI2" a fresh adventure. This time Ethan Hunt is directed by his boss (Anthony Hopkins in a nice cameo)to discover who stole the dangerous Chimera virus and its antidote. This nasty virus is 100% lethal and if the cure isn't given within a certain time frame it's worthless. Hunt discovers and tracks down a disgruntled IMF member (Doug Ray Scott who was originally to play Wolverine in "X-Men" until he was injured on this film)but the clock is ticking as Chimera may fall into the wrong hands.

This edition is the same as the first with the exception of the second disc which has some promos for the third installment as well as some featurettes not included on the previous single disc edition. The transfer and extras on the first discs is the same though.

If you don't own either film this is a worthwhile set to get but if you own the second film already I would purchase the first remastered edition separately. Both films are entertaining and have top notch supporting cast, direction and writing. The script for the first film was rewritten by Cruise's buddy legendary screenwriter Robert Town ("Chinatowne")as was the second film although it's based on a story by Ron Moore and Brannon Braga ("Star Trek: First Contact").

Average customer rating:

Terrible
Better than I remembered.
The first movie was MUCH better
Can we say plagiarism?
they get one more star for including the Ben Stiller spoof, "Mission: Improbable."

Mission: Impossible II [Region 2]
Starring: Tom Cruise , Dougray Scott , Thandie Newton , Ving Rhames , and Richard Roxburgh
Director: John Woo
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Mission - Impossible (Special Collector's Edition)
Mission Impossible III (Widescreen Edition)
Mission Impossible (Special Collector's Edition) [HD DVD]
Minority Report (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
Ocean's Eleven (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000056SZN

Customer Reviews:

Terrible.......2007-06-28

All the karate BS in this movie really made me want to throw up in my mouth. The slow motion action seens are so gay and cliched that I became enfuriated that I spent my money on this. Why oh why?

Better than I remembered........2007-06-21

The first movie was MUCH better.......2007-06-07

Can we say plagiarism?.......2007-06-05

they get one more star for including the Ben Stiller spoof, "Mission: Improbable.".......2007-03-19

Average customer rating:

The BEST of Mission Impossible...
A Classic Action Flick
Great as is all of Tom Cruise's movies
The best of the three
Bastardized!!

Mission: Impossible [Region 2]
Starring: Tom Cruise , Jon Voight , Emmanuelle Béart , Henry Czerny , and Jean Reno
Director: Brian De Palma
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Mission - Impossible II (Widescreen Edition)
Mission - Impossible II (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)
Mission Impossible III (Widescreen Edition)
Minority Report (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
X-Men - The Last Stand (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00004TVWI

Amazon.com essential video

A flashy, splashy summer-movie blockbuster that's fun and exciting without being mindless? That's the impossible mission accomplished by director Brian De Palma, star-coproducer Tom Cruise, and the crack team of Mission: Impossible. Based on the '60s TV show and an almost impenetrably complex (but nonetheless thrilling) original story by David Koepp (Jurassic Park) and Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List), with a screenplay by Koepp and Robert Towne (Chinatown, Shampoo), Mission: Impossible begins with veteran agent Jim Phelps (Jon Voight) and his expert crew embarking on a mission that goes horribly, horribly wrong. But nothing is what it seems. The nail-biting set piece--always a signature of director De Palma (Carrie, The Untouchables)--in which Cruise is lowered from the ceiling to retrieve information from a computer in a high-security vault--is an instant classic. But perhaps even more impressive, at least in retrospect, is a flashback sequence in which two characters attempt to reconstruct a series of events from multiple points of view. It's pretty daring and sophisticated stuff for a big-budget spy movie, but brains were always what put the Mission: Impossible team ahead of the competition, anyway, no? --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

The BEST of Mission Impossible..........2007-04-12

It keeps you guessing and figuring it out as you go. Just the type of mystery I like! You can't go wrong with this Mission Impossible.

A Classic Action Flick.......2007-02-11

Many of the special effects are classics in their genre, and seem somewhat cliched after being copied (or improved) by numerous other films. Tom Cruise was still a credible actor when he did MI-1. Something weird happened to him on the way to the top, but when he did Mission Impossible 1, it hadn't occurred yet. The plot is typical cloak-and-dagger stuff, with a few twists, updated for the early computer age. The technical quality of the DVD is excellent, and the movie is very entertaining, even if you barely recall the storyline a week later. If you like action movies, you NEED this one!

Great as is all of Tom Cruise's movies .......2007-01-30

Heart stopping action the whole way thru it kept me on the edge of my seat.

The best of the three.......2007-01-20

Great action and story line; it really keeps you guessing...

Bastardized!!.......2006-10-03

Mission:Impossible, the TV series, told the adventures of the Impossible Missions Force -- an elite team of covert operatives who were sent to overthrow mob kingpins, foreign dictators, terrorists and others who threatened the security of the United States. Rather than engage in James Bond-like shoot outs, the IMF team worked together to covertly neutralize threats, leaving little or no trace of their involvement. Although the IMF had a leader (Steven Hill as Dan Briggs and Peter Graves as Jim Phelps), there was no star of the group -- just a bunch of individuals working together to achieve its objective. A truly groundbreaking show.

Along comes Brain De Palma's catastrophe of a remake, starring that couch-jumping Scientologist Tom Cruise. Within half an hour of the film starting, the entire IMF team, save for Cruise, is killed off, Jim Phelps (Jon Voight) is exposed as a double agent and basically the entire concept of the original Mission:Impossible is shot to hell. Granted, Ving Rhames and Jean Reno are present as Cruise's new team, but Mission:Impossible is quickly bastardized as yet another Tom Cruise vehicle where he preens and postures. Making a film called Mission:Impossible into a star vehicle goes against the spirit of the original TV series. It's obscene what Tom Cruise's ego has done to Bruce Geller's original concept. This is just another action film with Mr. Cruise flashing his toothy smile and saving the world all by himself. See the original TV series and skip this piece of bastardized trash.

Average customer rating:

Mission: Impossible II [Region 2]
Starring: Tom Cruise , Dougray Scott , Thandie Newton , Ving Rhames , and Richard Roxburgh
Director: John Woo , and Brian De Palma
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000069RDI

Average customer rating:

Mission: Impossible [Region 2]
Starring: Tom Cruise , Jon Voight , Emmanuelle Béart , Henry Czerny , and Jean Reno
Director: Brian De Palma , and John Woo
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00005O6PT

Charlie Rose with George Stephanopolous; J.J. Abrams (May 2, 2006)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with George Stephanopolous; J.J. Abrams (May 2, 2006)

Manufacturer: "Charlie Rose, Inc."
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Guest host George Stephanopoulos of ABC News speaks about President Bush's sagging approval and the outlook for the midterms with Katrina Vanden Heuvel, publisher and editor of The Nation, Jonathan Alter of Newsweek, Republican strategist Ed Rollins, and Adam Nagourney of The New York Times. Then, a conversation with J.J. Abrams, director of the film Mission Impossible III and creator of television's Lost and Alias.

Average customer rating:

Terrible
Better than I remembered.
The first movie was MUCH better
Can we say plagiarism?
they get one more star for including the Ben Stiller spoof, "Mission: Improbable."

Mission: Impossible II [Region 2]
Starring: Tom Cruise , Dougray Scott , Thandie Newton , Ving Rhames , and Richard Roxburgh
Director: John Woo
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Mission - Impossible (Special Collector's Edition)
Mission Impossible III (Widescreen Edition)
Mission Impossible (Special Collector's Edition) [HD DVD]
Minority Report (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
Ocean's Eleven (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00005216D

Customer Reviews:

Terrible.......2007-06-28

All the karate BS in this movie really made me want to throw up in my mouth. The slow motion action seens are so gay and cliched that I became enfuriated that I spent my money on this. Why oh why?

Better than I remembered........2007-06-21

The first movie was MUCH better.......2007-06-07

Can we say plagiarism?.......2007-06-05

they get one more star for including the Ben Stiller spoof, "Mission: Improbable.".......2007-03-19

Average customer rating:

The BEST of Mission Impossible...
A Classic Action Flick
Great as is all of Tom Cruise's movies
The best of the three
Bastardized!!

Mission: Impossible [Region 2]
Starring: Tom Cruise , Jon Voight , Emmanuelle Béart , Henry Czerny , and Jean Reno
Director: Brian De Palma
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video