Impossible Mission Force (IMF) Agent, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) returns for another "impossible mission" where he must destroy a German-made virus that would brutally kill a human being in approximately 30 hours. In the process, he meets up with Nyah (Thandie Newton), a thief who could lead them to the villain who was using the virus. Through a series of encounters, the conditions become more serious as Hunt's time for completing the mission successfully is running out.

Speechlessness and slight bewilderment were partly my first impressions of the this movie. When I compare 1996's Mission: Impossible with 2000's Mission: Impossible 2, or more widely known as M:I 2, I can't help but notice that there are little to no similarities. Of course you have Tom Cruise's character return with Ving Rhames' character, and the high-tech stealthy break-ins, but that is where all similarities end. The music went from the professional and slick from genius composer Danny Elfman to the odd composing of the usually excellent Hanz Zimmer. Although it didn't really seem out of place (except for the occasionally annoying female hums and moans), the music had more of an "MTV" music video feel than the theatrical feel of the first film. In fact, M:I 2 could probably be best compared to one feature-length music video concept.

The direction was completely different, too. Where the first one had an overall darker tone and more of a secret agent premise, the original short-haired spy, Ethan Hunt, has been replaced with the kick-butt, longer-haired, spin-kicking Ethan Hunt. While the idea seems purchasable, when you ponder it, you realize the bizarre nature of this "modification." When exactly between the first film and the second did Ethan become a superhero?

With all that aside, let me say that this movie sure has its moments. While director John Woo did get carried away with the corny long gazes between Ethan and Nyah as they flirted, he at the same time delivered some incredible action sequences and stunts that you can't help but exclaim a genuine "Wow!" to. From the amazing motorcycle stunts (which Cruise did all himself!), to the fighting scenes, M:I-2 has a lot to watch.

Like the first one, but maybe more so in this one, there's a lot of violence and intense sequences. In one bloodless scene, the villain roughs up his friend and threatens his pinky finger with a cigar cutter. While although we see the pinky in the object and the intensity of the matter, no detailed cutting action or blood is scene, however, he does apparently lose the very tip in which we see him scream and later have his finger bandaged. We also see Hunt get his face cut with some blood and at the end, a character is shown being shot and we see some bloody holes in their clothing. Bullets fly in this film and we often see people getting shot with bloodless results. But there are also a lot of explosions and crashes.

Language is pleasantly benign, about the amount of a PG film, but contains 2 "S" words, and a couple other more minor ones. Although Ethan does sleep with Nyah, as does the villain, we don't see any nudity or sexual actions explicitly. We do see Ethan and Nyah under the covers, but that is all-- and rather brief. Ambrose makes Nyah change in front of him, which he ogles her lustfully as she does it, and then he stops her from putting a shirt on and it's implied they sleep together. Also, there a few verbal references to having sex (especially Ambrose's appetite for it), but they're rather benign as well.

Decent, but far from perfect, M:I-2 is an entertaining sequel, but rather detatched from its predecessor, unlike the Indiana Jones movies, Star Wars movies, and Back to the Future movies. Too much violence to be for the younger audience - it's not a kid's movie, and not a family movie - M:I-2 is for the action fan who can't stand lots of blood and cursing (like this reviewer).