REEL CRITICS

Lots of noise, little entertainment

This may be the shortest movie review I’ll write this year. Why?

Because this is the lamest movie I have seen this year.

Lest you think this is because I’m a woman, I saw this film with my

husband and two of his male friends--and we all thought: “What a stupid

movie.”

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to not see “Mission:

Impossible 2,” or, as seen in the ads, “M:I-2.”

Tom Cruise, who plays Ethan Hunt, is the star again. Joining him from the

first movie is Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell. The newcomers are Thandie

Newton as Nyah Hall and Dougray Scott as Sean Ambrose. Anthony Hopkins

shows up in a cameo as Hunt’s boss.

The story starts with a scientist injecting himself with some sort of

virus. He sends an SOS to help him travel from Australia to what we

assume is the Center for Disease Control office in Atlanta to deliver the

cure. Unfortunately for him, he never makes it.

Unfortunately for the audience, the film goes on, with the bad guys

stealing the antivirus but neglecting to get the original virus.

Hunt is called in to find the bad guys, learn what they plan to do with

the antivirus and destroy the original virus.

On his team is Stickell, a computer expert; and Hall, the woman who once

scorned Ambrose, the leader of the bad guys. She has been recruited to

find out what Ambrose has and how Hunt can get it.

The rest of the film is a blast-fest, with everything and anything being

destroyed that can get shot at, blown up, lit on fire, crashed or

mangled. Included in the mayhem are cars, boats, buildings, people,

motorcycles and heavily reinforced scientific labs. With all the

explosions, it’s a wonder the city of Sydney wasn’t wiped off the map.

The performances are boring. Cruise couldn’t have been more wooden and

hollow. The love scenes between him and Newton are forced, without any

chemistry. Even the bad guy is at best boring and dull.

If it weren’t for the explosions, I’m sure many in the audience would

have fallen asleep. Even the high-tech gizmos can’t save this film.

You can save yourself some money and not see “M:I-2.” But if you must,

bring earplugs and at least save your hearing.

HEIDI BRESSLER, 35, is a hair stylist and Costa Mesa resident.

Right way to start action-packed summer

You’ve seen it for months: Tom Cruise falling off a steep cliff, catching

hold of a shallow ledge, holding on for dear life hundreds of feet in the

air.

It seems like an impossible mission for him to get back to safety, but

it’s merely a day of vacation for Impossible Mission Force agent Ethan

Hunt (Cruise).

“Mission: Impossible 2” is the epitome of action-adventure films. Adding

director John Woo (“Broken Arrow,” “Face/Off”) to the mix guarantees that

all eyes will be riveted on the screen from the moment the scenes start

till the credits roll. It’s a thrill a minute and tons of fun.

The stunts are spectacular, from car chases to brilliant fight sequences.

In Woo’s hands, action movies are art.

That said, there are some things to remember before seeing this movie.

First, being an impossible mission, this story is not always believable;

to enjoy the film, bring your imagination.

Second, this is not a high-tech tale. It’s a story of love and betrayal.

Hunt must save the girl--and the world--from a deadly virus. The film is

mostly a battle between good and evil, one on one.

Cruise sparkles on-screen, but the supporting cast is just as great.

Dougray Scott is a wonderful villain, the right mix of smart and stupid.

Ving Rhames is back, and in top form. As the smartly dressed technology

expert, Rhames is just the man to keep order and provide comedy relief in

tense situations. Anthony Hopkins makes a brief appearance, stealing most

of the amusing lines, but doesn’t leave much of an impression. It’s a

waste of a wonderful actor.

Summer is finally here, and “M:I-2” is a great way to begin the fun. It’s

a total action flick; there are some rather disturbing moments of

violence, but they pass quickly.

It’s not the twisty tale the first movie was. Fast-paced action has

replaced complex story turns, and “M:I-2” turns up the heat, which makes

you enjoy the air conditioning a bit more.

See “M:I-2” and begin the summer right.

MELISSA RICHARDSON, 18, is a Costa Mesa resident and a freshman at

UCI.