 | |  | | Media: | HD DVD | | Country: | USA | | Studio: | Paramount Home Video | | Cert: | PG-13 | | Discs: | 2 |
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Screen captures are for illustration purposes and may not originate from the item reviewed. | | Mission: Impossible 3 Two Disc Collector's Edition Review| HD DVD review written by Simon Crust, published 1st November 2007 | Supplied for review by  | Welcome to another in the small season of shorter reviews of older discs that have been on the shelves now for some considerable time, but help to fill the back catalogue HD material.
There is no I in Team. But there is in Tom Cruise. At least that is how the first two Mission Impossible films played out. Pretty much ignoring the spirit of the TV show upon which it is based the films played more to Cruise’s ego than anything else. Gone was the espionage, gone was the complicated scenarios for pitting enemies against themselves and, most importantly, gone (as already alluded to) was the Impossible Mission Team. Instead we received a Tom Cruise action fest, big on budget small on stature, some might say like Cruise himself. However both films, even Woo’s dire effort, were huge successes paving the way for another instalment. With numerous production delays and crew changes, principally directors, Cruse finally decided upon Alias (2001-2006) and Lost (2004-????) creator/writer/producer and director J.J. Abrams to helm the film. Under his direction MI III took a very different direction to its predecessors by reinstating the ‘team’ element. It’s not quite back to the TV origins, but it has closed the gap.
The plot revolves around Ethan Hunt (Cruise) being forced back from retirement when his protégé agent is caught on a mission. Securing her release, but unable to save her life, she manages to cast some serious doubts on the higher echelons of the IMF, a claim Ethan takes seriously. With revenge on his mind he and his team, against express orders, capture Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman), an international gangster, but after he escapes Ethan realises the corruption goes higher than he anticipated. Captured by Davian, Ethan is then forced to do his bidding, this time to save his wife, while desperately attempting to uncover the truth.
The various plot twists described above are a drop compared to the ocean presented in the film proper. Abrams directs as he presents one of his TV shows, with twists and turns coming out of left field, but does manage to keep things on an even level and remain within the realms of possibility. He even starts the film as he has many of his TV shows with a shock opening which then turns to flashback leading back that situation. Personally I’m not a fan of this, I find it lazy, even if it does throw you into the film. However there is much to praise, in resurrecting the ‘team’ element and utilising them in actual missions much of the excitement that was the driving force of the TV show is restored. There is a group dynamic and group peril that when reduced down to the personal level, such as Ethan and his wife, remains edge of the seat stuff. There are some outlandish set pieces, all of the IM stuff, the release of Davian etc. with the typical explosions and gun toting of every action film out there, but seemingly under the IM banner it works well. After the (in my opinion) poor outings of the IM franchise so far, I was mightily impressed with this film. It was exciting and engaging and restores a faith that was hitherto entirely lacking. Seems there can be an I in Team after all.
Movie score : 7 | | 567 word review written by Simon Crust. |  | To comment on this review, click here and post a reply.
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