double j abrams again makes a competent film that doesn't really stand out at all, but it served its franchise right. he's like the ultimate franchise revivalist. also, turns out i remembered this a bit better than i thought... or is the plot almost exactly the same as the first installment? ... nah, my memory rocks. between Punch-Drunk Love and this, i'm beginning to think PSH should have been a staple on villianous roles.

one word review: dated.

undoes every single good thing about the original and replaces it with dull car-chases, explosions, over-the-top action scenes and yep, even more dated 2000's action movie clichés. if de palma made a neo-noir disguised as an espionage flick, woo made a loud and dumb action movie that makes it clear it's just that. amazing that this franchise actually survived this installment.

The best episode of Narcos I have ever seen.