Top Secrets Unveiled: The Jaw-Dropping Secrets Behind Mission: Impossible 2

The Mission: Impossible franchise, which has been around for nearly thirty years, continues to grow and improve with each new installment. With the recent release of Dead Reckoning Part One, the action series has become more exciting than ever. Despite the upcoming eighth film, Mission: Impossible II stands out as the most peculiar entry in the franchise due to its distinct style and over-the-top action.

Renowned Hong Kong filmmaker John Woo, one of the five directors involved in the franchise, directed the second film and infused it with his own unique combination of dangerous stunts, intense shoot-'em-up gunplay, and thrilling fight sequences. Of course, Tom Cruise, the star of the series, delivered an exceptional performance that made the movie even more exhilarating. However, what truly sets this sequel apart from the other Mission: Impossible films?

What is Mission: Impossible 2 about?

Mission: Impossible II centers around Ethan Hunt, an agent of the IMF, as he investigates the actions of a rogue IMF agent named Sean Ambrose. Ambrose has stolen Bellerophon, a cure for the deadly Chimera virus, from Dr. Vladimir Nekhorvich, a renowned bio-genetics scientist and a close friend of Hunt. Tragically, Ambrose kills Nekhorvich in his quest to profit from the cure and the virus.

To infiltrate Ambrose's world and uncover his sinister plans, Hunt enlists the help of Nyah Nordoff-Hall, a skilled thief and Ambrose's former lover. With Nyah operating undercover, Hunt receives support from his trusted ally, Luther Stickell, a brilliant computer hacker, and Billy Baird, a skilled helicopter pilot. Together, Hunt and his team strive to locate and eliminate the virus samples, thus thwarting Ambrose's lucrative deal with Biocyte Pharmaceuticals, the company responsible for coercing Nekhorvich into creating the Chimera virus.

Mission: Impossible 2 is a time capsule for the late 90s

Despite future sequels amplifying the intensity of the storylines and showcasing Cruise's audacious stunts while reducing the emphasis on romantic subplots, Mission: Impossible II strongly evokes the style of 90s action films by incorporating a mix of romance and stylized, violent sequences. This installment also boasts an invigorating rock-themed soundtrack and a sweeping, epic score composed by Hans Zimmer, known for his work on iconic 90s action movies such as True Romance, The Rock, Crimson Tide, and John Woo's Broken Arrow.

In terms of plot, Mission: Impossible II bears similarities to its 1996 predecessor as the protagonist once again confronts renegade members of his agency. However, unlike the first film and subsequent sequels where he is falsely accused of murder and corruption, Hunt's job is not at risk in this sequel. The film also draws parallels to Pierce Brosnan's James Bond films from the 90s, specifically Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough, where 007 engages in combat with former agents who seek to unleash destruction upon the world, featuring intense gunfights, physical confrontations, and explosive set pieces. Reflecting the conventions of 90s action movies, the male hero bravely saves the woman he loves from the clutches of the villains.

John Woo's fingerprints on Mission: Impossible 2

What sets Mission: Impossible II apart from other films in this franchise is director John Woo's unique and exhilarating style of action. The intense shootouts and fight scenes in the film showcase Woo's signature blend of gun-fu, bullet ballet, and Mexican standoffs, reminiscent of his iconic Hong Kong action films like The Killer, Hard Boiled, and A Better Tomorrow. Adding to the excitement are the slow-motion sequences and Western-inspired settings, particularly the desert. These elements are prominently featured when Hunt battles Ambrose's army and engages in explosive high-speed car and motorcycle chases.

Building upon the established concept of IMF agents and villains using face masks to disguise their identities, Woo masterfully incorporates this theme in Mission: Impossible II. Drawing from his previous film, Face/Off, where heroes and villains exchanged faces, Woo seamlessly integrates this concept into the second installment of the franchise. We witness Hunt assuming the disguise of Dr. Nekhorvich to extract crucial information from John McCloy, the CEO of Biocyte, regarding Ambrose's illicit business deal and the whereabouts of the Chimera and Bellerophon samples. In a surprising twist, Ambrose masquerades as Hunt, eliminating Nekhorvich and stealing Bellerophon at the beginning of the film. Furthermore, Ambrose cleverly uses his impersonation of Hunt to deceive Nyah, exposing her true allegiance to Hunt and the IMF as they work together to bring him down.

How does Mission: Impossible 2 end?

In Mission: Impossible II's thrilling conclusion, Hunt embarks on a daring mission to save Nyah from the deadly Chimera virus. He steals samples of Bellerophon from Ambrose, who had previously injected Nyah with the virus. As time runs out, Hunt engages in a fiery battle with Ambrose's men, followed by an adrenaline-fueled motorcycle chase. In the vast desert, the two adversaries engage in a fierce hand-to-hand combat.

Although Ambrose manages to land a few powerful blows on Hunt, the determined IMF agent prevails by delivering even more devastating punches and kicks, ultimately defeating the villain. In an act of self-defense, Hunt shoots and kills Ambrose, ensuring his own survival. With an injection of Bellerophon, Hunt successfully cures Nyah of the virus. Thanks to her invaluable assistance to the IMF, Nyah's criminal record is cleared, and she and Ethan enjoy a well-deserved vacation together in Sydney.

Mission: Impossible II stands out in the series for its excessive action sequences and its similarity to action movies of the 90s and early 2000s. Despite this, the sequel retains the signature elements of the Mission: Impossible franchise, including daring stunts, intense fight scenes, elaborate disguises, captivating settings, and spy storylines. While later films in the series surpassed it in terms of plot and character development, this sequel raised doubts about Tom Cruise's ability to lead a major action franchise. However, after nearly thirty years, the resounding answer is a definite yes.