Episode 124 - M:I Series 2 - Mission: Impossible II (2000) Review

Flick Flops

This week, we continue our Mission: Impossible series!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to a decipher the plot through a haze of doves, motorcycles, and slow-motion stares. Directed by John Woo, Mission: Impossible II (2000) turns Ethan Hunt into a leather-jacketed action hero in a romantic thriller with operatic flair. But is this mission a stylish upgrade—or a self-destructing mess of melodrama and motorcycles?

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🎥 Synopsis

Ethan Hunt is back—and this time, he’s up against a rogue IMF agent, Sean Ambrose, who has stolen a genetically engineered virus called "Chimera" and its cure, "Bellerophon." Tasked with stopping a global outbreak, Hunt must recruit Nyah Nordoff-Hall, a thief and former lover of Ambrose, to get close to him. As romance blooms and betrayal thickens, Ethan must stop the villain before Chimera unleashes a pandemic.

🧑‍💼 Main Cast & Crew

• Director: John Woo (Face/Off, The Killer)

• Writer: Robert Towne (story by Ronald D. Moore & Brannon Braga)

• Producer: Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner

• Music: Hans Zimmer

• Cinematography: Jeffrey L. Kimball

Starring:

• Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt

• Dougray Scott as Sean Ambrose

• Thandiwe Newton as Nyah Nordoff-Hall

• Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell

• Richard Roxburgh as Hugh Stamp

• John Polson as Billy Baird

• Brendan Gleeson as John McCloy

• Rade Šerbedžija as Dr. Nekhorvich

💣 Interesting Details

1. John Woo’s Signature Style: Expect dual pistols, slo-mo shots, fluttering doves, and balletic violence—this is a Woo film through and through.

2. Delayed by Cruise’s Hair: Production was pushed back to allow Cruise to finish Eyes Wide Shut—which meant he could grow out his now-iconic flowing locks.

3. Dougray Scott’s Tough Break: Scott was originally cast as Wolverine in X-Men, but delays on MI:2 caused him to drop out—paving the way for Hugh Jackman.

4. The Soundtrack Was Wild: Limp Bizkit remixed the Mission: Impossible theme, and the soundtrack included Metallica’s “I Disappear”—which led to Metallica suing Napster.

5. Massive Box Office Hit: Despite mixed reviews, it grossed over $546 million globally and became the highest-grossing film of 2000.

6. Stunt Over Substance?: Critics were divided—some loved the style, others felt it lacked the brainy twists of the first film.

🔍 Quick Plot Summary

Ethan Hunt must stop a former IMF agent turned terrorist from releasing a deadly virus. With the help of a skilled thief—and emotional complications—he must outmaneuver his rival before time runs out and Chimera goes viral.

🧨 The Heist

The key infiltration occurs at Biocyte Pharmaceuticals, where Ethan must steal the last remaining sample of the Chimera virus. It's less “heist-y” and more full assault, blending stealth and explosive combat.

💥 Main Action Sequences

• The car flirtation scene on a coastal cliffside road (because nothing says courtship like near-death).

• The lab infiltration and destruction at Biocyte.

• The motorcycle chase and final beach brawl, with Ethan and Ambrose duking it out hand-to-hand amid slow-motion dust and fury.

🧗‍♂️ Tom Cruise’s Stunts

• Free solo rock climbing in the opening scene (no harness in wide shots, though rigging was used for safety).

• Did all the motorcycle stunts, including the dramatic face-off and wheelie slide.

• Performed his own wire jumps and fight choreography, including a spinning mid-air gun grab.

Confirmed Mask Uses:

1. Sean Ambrose disguised as Ethan Hunt – At the beginning, Ambrose uses an Ethan mask during the hijacking of the plane carrying Dr. Nekhorvich.

2. Ethan Hunt as Dr. Nekhorvich – Ethan wears a mask to impersonate the scientist when confronting Biocyte CEO John McCloy.

3. Ethan Hunt as Sean Ambrose – During the Biocyte heist escape, Ethan fakes his death using an Ambrose mask and a body switch with Hugh Stamp.

Total film unmaskings: 3

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