Mission: Impossible 2

It's easy to write this sequel off as a mindless special effects extravaganza (even easier as time goes by), but I still feel that this film is a respectable sequel. It's definitely not as good as the original, or as monumental as John Woo tried to make it look, but its still decent enough.

Cruise is definitely hamming it up this time around. I have no idea why Anthony Hopkins is in this movie. Basically what I'm getting at here is- the acting and dialogue SUCK.

The action is decent. There's some pretty cool stuff going on, especially when Ethan hunt takes to a motorcycle near the film's finale. But overall John Woo's attempt at making this an artistic and beautiful piece of work really don't blend well with the action. It just makes for a goofy hodge podge of artsy fartsy symbolism and overly dramatic slow mo.

I will have to say that the one thing really working for the film is the music. Not the Metallica or Limp Bizkit tracks on the soundtrack, but Hans Zimmer's soundtrack. While the original film was almost entirely comprised of the original television theme played over and over again, Zimmer manages to create his own atmospheric score that really helps carry the plot along through its slow points.

MI:2 is a decent sequel, even if its unnecessary and self important. Just shut off your brain and watch the explosions.