Mission: Impossible - 2 Combined Solo HD DVD And Blu-ray Disc Review

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Title: Mission: Impossible II (M:I-2) HD DVD And Blu-ray Disc

Blu-ray Region: A

HD DVD Region: N/A

Genre: Action/Thriller

Stars: Tom Cruise, Dougray Scott, Thandie Newton, Richard Roxburgh, John Polson, Brendan Gleeson, Rade Sherbedgia, and Ving Rhames

Writer: Robert Towne

Based On A Story By: Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga

Based On The Television Series Created By: Bruce Geller

Director: John Woo

Feature length: 123 minutes

Extras: "Behind The Mission" Exclusive Interviews, "Mission Incredible" Stunts Featurette, "Impossible Shots" Amazing Stunt Sequences, Commentary By John Woo, "I Disappear" Music Video By Metallica, Alternate Title Sequence, Generation Cruise and Excellence In Film Montages

HD DVD Languages: English French, and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Plus Surround Sound

Blu-ray Disc Languages: English French, and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Subtitles: English Subtitles For The Deaf And Hearing Impaired and English, French, and Spanish Language Subtitles

HD DVD Packaging: Elite Red HD Case

Blu-ray Disc Packaging: Blue BD Case

Chapter Stops: 17

HD DVD Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Plus Surround Sound

Blu-ray Disc Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Year of Theatrical Release: 2000/HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc Release: 2006

Theatrical Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Home Video Distributor: Paramount Home Entertainment

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

Tom Cruise is back as IMF Agent Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible II. This time around, Hunt must stop another IMF agent turned rogue from releasing a stolen super virus for which only he has the only cure in a bid to make billions in stock options after taking over the pharmaceutical company equipped to manufacture the cure exclusively and in large quantities. Mission Impossible II co-stars Thandie Newton as a thief employed by Hunt's IMF team who also becomes Hunt's love interest and the movie also features the return of Ving Rhames as computer genius Luther Stickell, the only other surviving character from the first film to appear in this sequel. Dougray Scott is the villain and Sir Anthony Hopkins appears uncredited as Hunt's IMF Boss.

Under the screen direction of John Woo, Mission: Impossible II is a completely different motion picture from the original feature film. Here the center of most of the action is on Tom Cruise, who proves to be a capable action star in this entertaining film. While the stunts and action are amazing, the film lacks the espionage thriller feel that the first feature film had and it also lacks the team participation that made the television series so exciting. While neither of the feature film adaptations are perfect, they both are entertaining though I everything considered, I think I like the first film more than I do the second one. The majority of the action in Mission: Impossible II takes place in Australia with a small post opening credit sequence set in Spain while the first film took the viewer from Eastern Europe to Langley, Virginia and back to Europe again. Some of the stunts John Woo employs seem too cliché now and just do not stand the same test of time as does the often parodied sequence where Cruise has to get access to the CIA computer while being suspended from the ceiling in the first film. That scene alone qualifies as an impossible mission.

The picture quality for both the HD DVD and the Blu-ray Disc versions are simply flawless and too close to tell. The color saturation and contrast on both high definition optical disc media is about equal too. Mission: Impossible II is presented in a widescreen (2.35:1) aspect ratio that preserves the manner in which the film was exhibited theatrically for home video users as close as possible. Ironically, I also found little difference between the English Dolby Digital 5.1 Plus Surround Soundtrack on the HD DVD version and the English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack on the Blu-ray Disc version. They both do a great job of using the surround sound speakers to create an enveloping home theater sound environment. French and Spanish Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Plus Surround Soundtracks are encoded onto the HD DVD while the Blu-ray Disc features the standard French and Spanish Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtracks. Both discs feature English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired and English, French and Spanish Language Subtitles encoded as options. The extra value features on both versions are identical too. John Woo's audio commentary is scene specific and interesting, though it may take a few moments to get adjusted to his accent.

There are three featurettes included and all are presented in a (1.33:1) aspect ratio. "Behind The Mission"(14:27) features cast and crew interviews. In hind sight, Cruise has remained true to his desire to make every film in the series different from each other so anyone who did not enjoy the first or second film might at least find the third film interesting and I definitely think I enjoyed Mission: Impossible III more than Mission: Impossible II though I’ll discuss that film in my review of both the HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc versions now available in stores. “Mission: Incredible” (5:12) is a short behind the scenes look at the action stunt sequences in the film. "Impossible Shots" is the longest of the three featurettes and focuses in more detail on how eleven of the film's stunts were created and executed successfully. These can be examined individually or through a “Play All Feature.” Sadly the MTV Movie Awards spoof "Mission: Improbable," which starred Ben Stiller, Tom Cruise, and John Woo was not carried over to the HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc release. Instead one gets the same montages honoring Tom Cruise’s contribution to motion pictures that appear on the Mission: Impossible HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

An alternate title sequence (: 37) and the Metallica Music Video for "I Disappear" (4:37) wrap up the Extras. Sadly, there are no theatrical trailers present on either the HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc. The ROM features found on the original DVD that included Agent Dossiers on three of the main characters from Mission: Impossible II, an examination of the locations used for the film, the tech tools, and even data files on the Greek Legend of Chimera as well as its relationship to the storyline in the film have not been converted to and carried over for either the HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc either. All of the menus are full motion and well rendered as well as easy to navigate. Technically, there is no difference in quality between the HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc versions of Mission: Impossible II. They are truly equal in every way and will be available on HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc separately at retailers on and offline courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment on Tuesday, May 22, 2007.

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Buy Either The HD DVD Or Blu-Ray Disc Editions By Clicking On One Of The Respective Icons Below!