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Mission: Impossible / Mission: Impossible II Blu-ray
Paramount Pictures | 1996-2000 | 233 mins | Rated PG-13 | Mar 17, 2009
Mission: Impossible / Mission: Impossible II Blu-ray ReviewEnjoy two films with radically different styles.Reviewed by Martin Liebman, March 18, 2009 What a difference a movie makes. 1996's Mission: Impossible is a smart, crafty, and stylishly-intense Thriller that relies on brains over brawn to sell its bill of goods. Directed by legendary filmmaker Brian De Palma (Scarface), the film is a case study in how to successfully translate a fan-favorite small-screen series into a big-screen delight. While keeping with the themes of mystery and intrigue, the film brings a smart, slick plot that asks viewers to do more than check their brains at the door, inserting action sequences logically into the story rather that simply filling a quota by offering explosions and gunfire once every 20 minutes. The sequel, Mission: Impossible II, is absolutely nothing like the first film. In fact, it takes the completely opposite approach, offering a ho-hum plot and surrounding it with relentless, flashy, and exhilarating action. M:I II is filled with gunplay, explosions, hand-to-hand combat, and fast chases, playing in stark contrast to the deliberate yet engrossing game of espionage that defines the first entry. It's sleeker yet grittier, with a louder, more in-your-face attitude that makes it barely recognizable as the successor to the first entry. At first glance, that might be a bad thing; many fantastic films have seen the devolution of their series over time thanks to painfully inferior successors that seem to forget what made the original a quality film. Fortunately, M:I II does not succumb to that stigma. Although it is no match for the smarts of the first film, its often mesmerizing and highly entertaining action sequences make it a fun if not slightly disconcerting watch, particularly when viewed in close proximity to Mission: Impossible.
Mission: Impossible Rating: 4/5 The Impossible Missions Force (or IMF for short) is assigned the task of shadowing and ultimately apprehending the buyer and seller of one half of the NOC List, a highly classified document that contains both the code names and actual names of undercover agents. IMF veteran Jim Phelps (Jon Voight, Deliverance) as well as master of disguise Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise, A Few Good Men) lead the team. Though the entire team works smoothly in tandem, inching ever so close to their objective, a series of mishaps and tragedies seemingly kills each member but Hunt before the night is over, leaving the agent shaken and confused at the precision of the retaliation against the team. Hunt is finally able to meet with IMF Director Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) and learns that the entire mission was a set-up to oust a mole in the agency, and now that the team has been eliminated, Hunt becomes a prime suspect. He manages to escape to a safe house before he is apprehended and begins to track down both the buyer of the list and the identity of the true mole. Hunt and Phelps's wife Claire (Emmanuelle Béart), herself a member of the team and surprise survivor of the botched mission, recruit former IMF agents Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames, Saving God) and Franz Krieger (Jean Reno, Ronin) to aid in the theft of the NOC list from the source at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia and reveal the true threats to the security of agents around the world. Mission: Impossible is the sort of movie that requires viewers to be alert and glued to the screen to allow the film to work its magic. Thankfully, the effort audiences put into it will be rewarded with a story that slowly but surely unravels with small clues and fine details scattered about that hint at what the plot has in store for the thrilling final act. One aspect that sells the finely-woven script is the wonderful performance of the entire ensemble cast. Clearly, the film is headlined by megastar Tom Cruise as the lead in the first of three Mission: Impossible films, the actor's only foray into a bona-fide franchise. His portrayal of Hunt is generally exceptional, creating a character that is both physically capable of daring stunts that mostly stay within the realm of possibility, but relying more on intellect, instinct, and cunning to get the job done rather than brute force and limitless ammunition. The character remains firmly grounded in the realm of "hero" rather than becoming some sort of immortal superman, and given both the tone of the film as well as the covert yet dangerous nature of his profession, Cruise's performance couldn't have been any better. While the film also features standout efforts from Ving Rhames, Jean Reno, Henry Czerny, Vanessa Redgrave, and Emmanuelle Béart, veteran actor Jon Voight steals the show with his fascinating portrayal of Phelps, a key figure in the film's intricate plot. Voight's performance is one that rewards multiple viewings; his mannerisms in practically every frame -- the way he glances about, his body language, and his dialogue delivery -- subtly hint as to his place in the film. In a career filled with standout performances, Voight's effort in Mission: Impossible ranks near the top. Keeping everything together is the steady -- and oftentimes mesmerizing -- direction of veteran Brian De Palma (Carrie). He often utilizes cockeyed angles in frames that reveal extreme foreground information that contrasts with background details that often make for an intriguing juxtaposition of elements and generally fascinating filmmaking. Such frames often reveal some sort of imminent peril or offer an explanation to a shot or scene simply by the turn of a character's head in the background or the revelation of a detail that ties a scene together. Meanwhile, the director showcases glimpses of varied styles throughout the film, notably the film's noir-ish first act. Viewers will see characters lurking in shadows, dense fog that diminishes visibility past the foreground, and only glimpses of color protruding from the midnight blue and black backgrounds, generally in the form of human faces that offer a distinct contrast to the shroud of darkness that besets the frame. Through this style, De Palma is able to nicely set the tone for the film's portrayal of the clandestine, confused, and dangerous world of spies; elevate the level of tension during this particular mission; and set a somewhat dark tone for the remainder of the film. It takes something of an auteur to pull off such angles and objectives so precisely, and De Palma shows why he is one of the better pure filmmakers of the past quarter century with his effort in Mission: Impossible.  Mission: Impossible II Rating: 3/5 Tom Cruise (Top Gun) returns as Impossible Missions Force operative Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible II, this time charged with an assignment that could quite literally save the world from an outbreak of a deadly pathogen. When a top scientist for the Biocyte Corporation attempts to transfer the virus in his own body, rogue IMF agent Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott, Ever After) has him killed and leads an effort to secure the virus, known as "Chimera," and its antidote, "Bellerophon" for his own profit. IMF tasks Hunt with bringing the full extent of Ambrose's scheme to light, using the agent-turned-criminal's former girlfriend, Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandie Newton, Norbit) as bait. Along with quirky Australian pilot Billy Baird (John Polson) and former co-worker and computer wizard Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames, Dawn of the Dead), Hunt must use more than the guile that got him through his last mission if he is to succeed -- and survive -- an encounter with a determined and intelligent enemy. More than any other factor, it is the presence and influence of Director John Woo (Face/Off) that makes M:I II so vastly different than its predecessor. The film marks the famed Hong Kong filmmaker's third major American motion picture, and it his unique style and eye for progressive and dazzling action -- more so than even the script -- that molds the film into the final product on display. Woo's trademark style is seen in all its glory here; M:I II sees a tremendous amount of slow-motion action sequences, punctuated by acrobatic stunts and practically impossible maneuvers that turn ordinary action into a finely-tuned ballet that is nothing short of an Action lover's delight. Actor Tom Cruise seems to fully embrace the style of the filmmaking and the approach to the series. Long gone is the svelte, clean-cut agent Hunt of the first film. Taking his place is a longer haired, more muscular, somewhat less serious, and seemingly much more deadly agent that often turns to his Beretta first and asks questions second. Granted, the story line lends itself to more gunplay, but the character is certainly a completely different animal this time around. About the only thing that connects him to the Ethan Hunt of the first film is his name and the presence of colleague Luther Stickell. Ving Rhames once again plays his under-utilized role wonderfully. The only price that is paid by the influx of action into the film is its radical departure from the themes and style of the first entry. Not only does intellect take a back seat to the guns-blazing approach, but there is a decidedly lighter tone to parts of the movie, too. Several scenes border on comedy, with a few visual gags and several doses of lighthearted banter between the characters, particularly early on, occasionally taking the foot off the accelerator before it's floored for an explosive final act. In the midst of the action, M:I II does manage to offer viewers a bit of character development, though once again the radically different style somewhat dampens the effect. It's difficult to add to the mythos of the Ethan Hunt seen in the first film when the character is practically the same one in name only in this film. This is not a complete re-imagining of the character, but it often seems like it may as well have been. Nevertheless, Woo and Cruise make for a fine one-two punch. Although they have taken the series in a completely different direction, their dedication to making it work allows for a generally smooth transition between styles. Video  Mission: Impossible Rating: 2.5/5 Mission: Impossible comes to Blu-ray with a 1080p, MPEG-2 encoded transfer framed in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The picture quality is rather uninspiring from most every angle, with only an average amount of fine detail, mediocre color reproduction, and little-to-no 3-D "pop." Much of the finer details of the film seem lacking, not necessarily scrubbed away but certainly not offering the lifelike imagery of the best high definition transfers. Still, there is a nice cinematic look to the presentation; a bit of grain is seen over the entirety of the image. Also, plenty of black and white speckles appear over the print throughout the course of the film. Colors are slightly dim and flesh tones tend towards the red side of the spectrum in some scenes, appear normal in others, and in still others appear somewhat pale. Much of the image is soft, which seems to be a culprit in the absence of the finer details. Blacks are decent, and some of the film's intentionally hazy and foggy scenes don't feature any bothersome pixelation. Mission: Impossible easily falls into the lower tier of Blu-ray releases, offering acceptable-at-best high definition imagery. Mission: Impossible II Rating: 3.5/5 Mission: Impossible II comes to Blu-ray with an MPEG-2 encoded 1080p transfer framed in its original 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratio. The most striking aspect of this transfer is its level of detail that is far superior to that seen in this film's predecessor on Blu-ray disc. Up-close shots of human faces, for example, reveal fine textures and nuances that seem dull in Mission: Impossible. Colors are more vibrant and pleasing in this outing as well. The print is fairly grainy and noisy in spots, but does not see the abundance of speckles that were prevalent on the previous disc. However, a hint of edge enhancement is to be seen in places. Blacks occasionally take on a dark shade of blue in many shots with a slight bit of pixelation in some of the darker corners of the screen. Flesh tones also fluctuate in the film, ranging from a nice natural shade to featuring a slightly red tint. Overall, Mission: Impossible II offers a sharper, more pronounced image than its predecessor on Blu-ray, but it is not without its own set of drawbacks. Audio Mission: Impossible Rating: 2.5/5 Mission: Impossible fails to intrigue with its rather pedestrian Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Mission: Impossible's famed opening theme plays nicely over the credits but doesn't create a sense of a live performance; it's strong and acceptable for a lossy mix, though no doubt a lossless offering would have benefited this and other aspects of the track. Oddly enough, one of the finest moments of the soundtrack comes in chapter eight as Hunt breaks into the heavily protected computer room. The near-silence of the sequence, punctuated by the faintest of hums of the running equipment in the room, makes for a fascinating listen, a rarity in any movie to feature an extended quiet period. On the opposite end of the spectrum are a few pronounced effects, such as explosions, but most lack the power and oomph that may have elevated the track above the level of "bland." Save for a few moments of percussion-heavy music that creates a nice bit of thumping in the track and the film's climax, there is not much to become excited about. The chase atop a speeding train is easily the highlight. Sound travels effortlessly across the soundstage, generally from front to back, with a fine level of authority and realism; listeners may practically feel the chill of the rushing air is it seemingly blows past. Considering it accompanies the film's one true, extended action sequence, it's presentation, sonically, is befitting the moment. Dialogue reproduction is sufficient throughout. All in all, Mission: Impossible is mostly bland from a sonic perspective. Mission: Impossible II Rating: 3.5/5 Once again, Paramount brings a Mission: Impossible film to Blu-ray with no lossless audio option. M:I II offers a more pronounced and efficient track than that which was heard in the previous film's Blu-ray presentation. It's generally explosive and a well above-average effort in the world of lossy soundtracks on Blu-ray. The track is often dynamic, with excellent directional effects and atmosphere, those of both a subdued and aggressive nature. Quieter scenes offer impressive atmospherics; the subtle rolling waves as heard briefly in chapter eight help to create what seems like a virtual environment that places the listener in the midst of the locale. Bass is more robust and satisfying both in the presentation of the music and hard-hitting sound effects. Of course, as a more action-oriented film, M:I II features plenty of more opportunities to sparkle, and it rarely disappoints during shootouts and vehicle chases. While not quite as robust and clear as such scenes may have been with a lossless presentation, they are generally engaging and exciting. Furniture often rattles and gunfire erupts with a nice bit of punch throughout. Dialogue discernment is never a problem. M:I II delivers a fairly good listen, all things considered. Supplements  Mission: Impossible Rating: 2.5/5 Paramount delivers Mission: Impossible to Blu-ray with a lengthy list of supplemental features. Mission: Remarkable - 40 years of Creating the Impossible (480p, 11:26) takes viewers into the storied history of the franchise and focuses on Tom Cruise's desire to play the lead character, the differences between the television show and the films, the cast and crew discussing their favorite scenes, the development of the stories, and a look at the progression of the series in the two sequels. Mission: Explosive Exploits (480p, 5:09) looks at Tom Cruise's physical performance in the film and his insistence on performing the stunt work. Mission: Spies Among Us (480p, 8:40) looks at the hypothetical work an agency like IMF might perform, the roles of real-life spies, and the process of intelligence gathering. Mission: Catching the Train (480p, 2:39) takes a brief look at the creation of the film's climactic action sequence. Mission: International Spy Museum (480p, 6:31) features host Peter Earnest, Executive Director of the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., guiding viewers through some of the museum's highlight exhibits. Mission: Agent Dossiers allows viewers to analyze agent profiles for Ethan Hunt, James Phelps, Sarah Davies, Claire Phelps, Jack Harmon, Hannah Joan Williams, and Luther Stickell. Excellence in Film (480p, 9:15) is the tribute played for Tom Cruise's receipt of the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film. Generation: Cruise (480p, 3:36) is the tribute played when Cruise was presented with the first-ever MTV Generation Award. Concluding this supplemental package is a photo gallery and Mission: Marketing, a collection the film's teaser (1080p, 1:11) and theatrical (1080p, 2:01) trailers, in addition to nine TV spots (480p, 3:52 combined runtime). Mission: Impossible II Rating: 2.5/5 Mission: Impossible II offers viewers the chance to gather behind-the-scenes data on the film via several supplemental features. Headlining the package is a commentary track with Director John Woo. Woo provides an informative, engaging track where he shares the history of his involvement in the film, lending to the film a more modern appearance, the film's budget constraints, its themes of love and action and his desire to tone down the body count while keeping the level of action and excitement high, the difficulties of shooting certain scenes, his love for slow motion, and more. Woo delivers a fine track; he's occasionally difficult to understand, but context clues will fill in any gaps. Behind the Mission (480p, 14:28) is a basic making-of piece that features cast and crew interview snippets with a look at the challenges of producing the film, the contributions of Director John Woo and Screenwriter Robert Towne, the running themes of the film, a look at the characters, the action, and more. The piece relies on plenty of movie clips to move it along. Mission Incredible (480p, 5:12) looks briefly at the amazing action sequences and stunts as seen in the film. Impossible Shots (480p, 34:17) examines the ideas behind and making of 11 of the film's most important scenes. Next up is a music video by Metallica, entitled I Disappear (480p, 4:33), followed by an alternate title sequence (480p, 0:37). Concluding the supplements are two features that also appear on the first film's disc, Excellence in Film (480p, 9:15) and Generation: Cruise (480p, 3:36). Final words Both Mission: Impossible and Mission: Impossible II make for an intriguing juxtaposition of styles. The former is more of a throwback to the "less is more" approach to filmmaking, offering a smartly crafted script packed with twists and turns and only inserting the action when necessary. It's stylishly directed by the masterful Brian De Palma who lends his unique sense of camera placement and quirky angles that actually enhance each scene rather than simply coming off as a gimmick to grab audience attention. Mission: Impossible is quite simply fascinating filmmaking, chock-full of brain-titillating suspense that is sure to both engage and satisfy viewers willing to give it their utmost attention. On the other hand, Director John Woo takes the series in a completely different direction with Mission: Impossible II, creating a more muscular, adrenaline-packed adventure that is reflected in the physical appearance of its star. Louder, more violent, and filled with awe-inspiring visual effects, the film plays nothing like its predecessor, and it's barely recognizable as a Mission: Impossible film, at least when viewed back-to-back or at least within close proximity with the first. Nevertheless, both are fine films in their own right, with the original offering more intellectually stimulating entertainment and the sequel appealing more to the physical senses. Paramount's Blu-ray release of each film is satisfactory. While Mission: Impossible doesn't feature the most eye-catching high definition transfer, its sequel makes for a more satisfying visual presentation. Unfortunately, neither film offers a lossless soundtrack, and the supplemental packages fall into the realm of "average." Still, fans of both films should not be hesitant to add them to their Blu-ray collections, though anyone looking at the complete trilogy may be more inclined to purchase the films separately or in the Ultimate Missions Collection. 
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