Starring Tom Cruise, Thandie Newton, Ving Rhames, Dougray Scott, Richard Roxburgh, John Polson, Brendan Gleeson, Rade Sherbedgia, Anthony Hopkins. Directed by John Woo. Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is on vacation when he's called on a new mission by his superior (Hopkins). A doctor friend from Ethans' past is killed for a serum the doctor is carrying, an antidote to a deadly manufactured virus named Chimera. A wicked form of influenza, anyone who gets it in the bloodstream has 20 hours to get the antidote or a horrible death results. The man who stole the antidote syrum is Sean (Scott), an ex-U.S. intelligence agent with a bad attitude who has stolen the syrum to sell to the highest bidder in the neighbourhood of $30 million. Nyah Hall (Newton), a jewel thief with interpol and several countries after her, is to be recruited by Ethan for the mission. In the recruitment process, Ethan gets up close and personal with Nyah, and hot and sweaty. Again, Ethan's trusty and cranky old pal Luther (Rhames) is along for the ride. The superior informs Ethan that Nyah's job will not involve her thieving skills, but her getting close to Sean. She was recruited because she was Sean's girlfriend months before, and her mission now is to get into his home and find out where the antidote is. Neither Ethan nor Nyah is too crazy about the idea, but they go along it. Not surprisingly, everything doesn't go according to plan. Another film with an outrageously expensive budget, Mission Impossible 2 delivers the goods. Director Woo, specializes in spectacularly choreographed action, and M:I2 is a continual treat. Beginning with Cruise scaling the Grand Canyon cliffs, moving to an adrenalin rush of a car chase through the mountains where Ethan and Nyah meet and bond hanging over a cliff, and later to a bungee cord drop 21 stories down a building shaft, the action is well paced and exciting throughout. But an added bonus is the convincing touch of romance - Cruise and Newton are both great looking, and their is noticeable chemistry between them. The film doesn't work towards creating suspense, but it doesn't really need any. It is only interested in pulsing action, flashy explosions and snappy fight scenes. The stunts are beautifully filmed, with breathtaking scenery and appropriate use of slow-motion and closeups. Woo seems to have an obsession with fire, utilizing it not just for explosions but at parties and during saint burning festivals in Spain. Normally, I'm not that impressed with action for the sake of thrills, but the story here is well-plotted and the actors deliver with conviction and style. Not that there is total believability. How many times have we seen life-threatening diseases timed down to the exact hour - I don't think virus cells carry watches to know when exactly they are supposed to kick in. The soundtrack utilizes a hard rock version of the Mission Impossible Theme, and artists such as Limp Bizkit and Metallica aren't there for their sensitivity. This movie rocks, in more ways than one. Unlike many action flicks, the two leads and the supporting cast are solid actors. Newton, after providing accomplished work in Beloved and Besieged definitely cleans up well. She is not only beautiful, but believable and occasionally moving. Cruise, underrated as an actor and probably the rightful winner of the Oscar for his work in Magnolia, is totally believable as an action star, deftly handling fight scenes, motorcycle racing and numerous stunts. And he acts as if he has a brain. Rhames is his usual interesting self. With Gladiator, that's two action films in a row that are worth seeing (I skipped Battlefield Earth), and a hopeful start to the summer season of blockbusters. If you would like to respond, please click the E-Mail Press Here To Go To The Review List Page