After watching “Mission: Impossible II” (2000) in theaters soon after its release date of May 24, 2000, I decided not to see anymore then promised to return once the franchise was on its last film. Time to pay the piper and (re)watch the existing entire franchise, seven movies, before “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (2025) is released on May 23, 2025 (or more specifically before my screening on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. First, “A Minecraft Movie” (2025) and now this! What I do for the love of the game! I’m probably the only person not into this franchise.
“Mission: Impossible II” (2000) is the second of eight movies that reboot the television series. I remember mostly enjoying this movie, and twenty-five years later, my opinion has not changed. Director John Woo understood the assignment leaning on Tom Cruise’s cool factor, Thandiwe Newton’s serene beauty and subtle acting style and Dougray Scott’s fearsomeness. Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is finally on a mission with a team of three with one yet to be recruited, thief Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Newton), to retrieve a live virus called Chimera from a rogue agent, Sean Ambrose (Scott), Nyah’s ex. Will Ethan be able to save Nyah and complete his assignment?
Cruise is at 10.0 Cruise movie star legend strength in “Mission: Impossible II.” He performs crazy stunts, looks great doing it (tan, athletic, no baby fat from the first film, and medium length hair) and for the first time in the franchise, actually seems attracted to his leading lady. Apparently, Nicole Kidman suggested Newton before Nyah was fleshed out as a character so best wife ever. Woo also knows how to shoot Cruise and Newton, so their interactions seem intimate whether in a car chase, in a crowd of people, etc. Some directors make slow-mo boring, but with Woo, it feels like seasoning to really bring out the flavor of the scene. The fight scenes are gorgeous and live up to the Cruise brand name. Woo is considered one of the greats for a reason, and he seems to understand this franchise in a way that De Palma did not.
I stopped watching the franchise because the stories have a prurient fascination with women spies’ willingness to have sex to achieve their goals as a plot point. Only an actor like Newton could make Nyah come out of the scenario with her dignity intact. Newton brings out tenderness in Cruise’s Ethan, and he really seems already in love and broken up over telling the new love of his life to hook up with her ex to save the world. Nyah reaches heroic, selfless status because she is willing to do it for love (don’t try this at home, ladies) and to save the world. Newton is such a slight woman, and Scott depicts such a brutal man who hurts his friends, so the stakes feel genuine for the first time in the franchise. Also points to Woo who creates sensual scenes, but does not ogle her, so Nyah is implied to be naked, but Newton acts as if she is completely at ease in the situation. Newton lost a chance to be in “Charlie’s Angels” (2000) to be in “Mission: Impossible II” so while this sequel is better than the “Charlie’s Angels” reboot—“Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” (2003) is the best of the two or maybe of them all—maybe it was not worth the financial sacrifice. Only Newton knows.
“Mission: Impossible II” has a great villain. Scott lost the chance to play Wolverine in the “X-Men” franchise, but his loss is our gain. It is one of his best performances. Scott is the perfect foil for Ethan. Writer Robert Towne and Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga, who came up with the story, created the anti-Ethan: willing to kill or hurt anyone, cruel and selfish with vast appetites for money and sex. When “Shadow Force” (2025) tried and failed to set up a dynamic where the villain is obsessed with having a relationship with the hero, Sean is the measuring stick that this archetype is measured against. Even before Nyah became an issue, he seems to gain pleasure from imitating Ethan with that silicone mask.
Sean’s right-hand man, Hugh Stamp (Richard Roxburgh), is also a memorable character that is stronger because he is not hammered out. He could be Sean’s buddy who is sick of watching his friend drink from the same well expecting a different result. Without any homoerotic overtones, he also could be jealous of the attention that Sean gives Nyah because she is a distraction from the plan. Roxburgh is one of those character actors that is rare to recognize, but he is in everything and just disappears into the role. William Mapother plays another henchman, and while this role is not a standout for his long-storied career, as bad men, it is worth noting that Mapother is Cruise’s cousin. Even looking for Dominic Purcell, who is best known for playing the brother in “Prison Break,” I did not notice him. Brendan Gleeson, who plays McCloy, the man engaged in business with Sean and regretting his life choices, is a superb actor, but he is totally wasted here.
Besides Nyah, the rest of Ethan’s team is Luther Strickwell, who first appeared in “Mission: Impossible” as tech support, and Billy Baird (John Polson), a backup field agent. Luther is beginning to take shape as a character who has expensive tastes, but his job is ruining them. Billy is forgettable and made no firm impression. Maybe it is because Anthony Hopkins is too busy acting his ass off in a couple of scenes as IMF Commander. It is disgusting how Hopkins is just so good. Presence! Acting! Fun fact: Ian McKellan turned down the job, which meant that he was able to do “The Lord of the Rings” and “X-Men” franchises!
“Mission: Impossible II” has the best soundtrack, and I probably own it. There is a flamenco scene, and the guitar on that score will make you forget one of the most famous theme songs of all times. Also, when Cruise first appears on screen free soloing, Zap Mama’s song “Iko Iko (Suca Mama) plays, which has different words, but is like The Belle Stars’ “Iko Iko” from “Rain Man” (1988), which is one of Cruise’s crown jewel movies. The music does what it is supposed to do. It sounds good on its own and is a perfect way to underscore the theme without overwhelming it unlike the first film.
“Mission: Impossible II” is the measuring stick against which I’m going to judge the remaining movies that I’ve never seen. It holds up to scrutiny twenty-five years later and is better than a lot of today’s action movies. It gets a little tedious in the middle, but the performances hold it up. Favorite Cruise films for context (not in a particular order or an exhaustive list): “Interview with the Vampire” (1994), “Magnolia” (1999), “Collateral” (2004) and “Edge of Tomorrow” (2014). To be fair, I tend to stay away from spending money on anyone who owns an island (among other reasons), but he is entertaining.
