Paramount Pictures | 1996 | 110 min | Rated PG-13 | Region free
| May 22, 2007
Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt, a secret agent framed for the deaths of his espionage team.
Fleeing from government assassins, breaking into the CIA's most impenetrable vault, clinging
to the roof of a speeding bullet train,...
Paramount Pictures | 2000 | 124 min | Rated PG-13 | Region free
| May 22, 2007
The world's greatest spy returns in the movie event of the year, M:I-2. Top action director John
Woo brings his own brand of excitement to the mission that finds Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise)
partnering up with the beautiful Nyah...
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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 twosequels. 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).
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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