|
Directed by: John Woo
Cast:Tom Cruise,Anthony Hopkins,Thandie Newton,Ving Rhames,Dougray Scott.
From the star of 'Top Gun' and the director of 'Broken Arrow' and 'Face Off', this movie is a sequel to the immensely popular 'Mission :Impossible' released three years ago (directed by Brian De Palma) and is well on its way to become the biggest box-office smash of the year.
Cruise is back in his role as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, teaming up once again with sidekick Ving Rhames and a new-found ally in petty thief Nyah (Thandie Newton). The funda of the movie is as follows:
Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott), a renegade IMF agent ,obtains a deadly man-made virus, Crimera, by means of 'chal-kapat', and threatens to wreak havoc on the helpless junta around the world by releasing the virus in the atmosphere. This dastardly deed could work out to his advantage as he is in possesion of the only known vaccine to the virus.
Hunt is helped by Nyah (Thandie Newton), Ambrose's ex-girlfriend, whom Hunt has fallen in love with and vice-versa and has even managed to get into bed with her within half an hour of the movie's duration!!!
How Hunt succeeds in this mission and how once again the world is saved from the clutches of this unforseen terror forms the crux of the story.
On its own, the movie works very well as a testosterone charged, high octane, fundoo action flick, but the problem is when thou shalt start comparing it with the original MI - that movie was a classy action thriller with a better star cast and much more complex storyline (which some people actually didn't like).
Also, John Woo has seen better days with classics like Face off, A Better Tomorrow and Hard Boiled.
On the plus side there is Tom Cruise in almost every frame of the movie (drool all you gals and gays!) - small wonder since he is the producer of this movie. The action scenes are few and far in between, but when they do arrive on the screen ,it is classic John Woo all the way (trust me buddy, this guy can make a gun fight look as aesthetically appealing as a ballet!!). To be noted are a-thrill-a -second car chase on a mountainous terrain and a phataka of a climax involving Cruise and Scott going for each other's throats on high speed Mobikes. The movie's punch is diluted severely when the romantic angle is introduced between Hunt and Nyah.
By the way, I wonder why Ethan Hunt would waste his time and energy (all various forms!!) on a woman whose beauty is, er... not conventional!! A major disappointment is the presence of the veteran cool dude Anthony Hopkins for two scenes only. Of special mention is the movie's sound track consisting of rock, rock and more rock. Performed by guys with weird names and eclectic musical talents like Metallica, Foo Fighters, Godsmack, Rob Zombie, Buckcherry and Limp Bizkit. The music fits the mood of the movie to the T.
All in all, this is a cool movie when just hanging out with friends. Avoid comparisons and you will not find it difficult to enjoy.
Rating - ***
|
