Mission: Impossible II

REVIEW
Perhaps Cruise's Mission series will follow the lines of the Alien movies, with each sequel radically unlike the previous. Unfortunately, instead of Aliens for a second film, Woo has given us Mission: Resurrection. This stylish misfire at least has a comprehensible plot, as our hero Ethan Hunt (Cruise) tracks down a deadly virus being exploited for cash (or stock) by villianous entrepeneur Scott. Hunt's pilferous recruit Newton provides a romantic complication for both. Woo provides his usual operatic grandeur: flying doves, showering sparks and general slow-mo badassness. But his moves, and even the nascent franchise, have become so predictable that even the villain knows what will happen during a would-be set piece. There's nary an original move until, finally, a thrilling motorcycle chase over 90 minutes into the movie. Still, Woo's flourishes worked well for Chow Yun-Fat and tales of betrayal; for a simple good guy-bad guy story, it all just seems too over-the-top.