Fat Ninja

I suppose for some it’s difficult to divorce the social oddity that is Tom Cruise from his movies. Personally, I don’t get everyone’s obssession with the guy and his beliefs. People think it’s strange that he’s into Scientology and that he has the mother of his child go through silent labor, but I find it much more unusual that people would actually care enough about Cruise’s private life to discuss it in fevered gossip circles. At any rate, I’m sure some individuals out there have allowed the media sensationalism that surrounds Tom Cruise to flood their better judgment and drown their common sense; and now in some perverse boycotting of that which is not like them, they have opted not to see Mission Impossible III (MI3).

I’m likewise certain that this general mistrust and misunderstanding of that sociological rift that exists between Tom Cruise and the rest of America has somehow wormed its way into the movie review community. Several reviews I’ve read have hinted at a lack of substance, or an overindulgence in action sequences. The notion that these are marks against this sort of film would be akin to discounting Titanic for its sappy love story. As the driving force behind MI3, it simply is not possible for the film to exist without relying upon the conventions of concussively loud and equally blinding action scenes. Is it formulaic? Of course. It’s a franchise, and as such it needs to rely just as much on elements found in its predecessors as it does on adding a few new flavors to the stew. Audiences go into these movies with certain expectations; expectations that are heavily influenced by their experiences with previous entries in the series.

Cruise returns as the intrepid Ethan Hunt

I know I had certain expectations. For instance, I knew that there would be some sequence involving Tom Cruise, a great height, gravity, and a very strong section of rope. I was not disappointed in this respect. It is, in fact, the very existence of a loose pattern between originals and sequels that makes them enjoyable to me. Sure, I like the occassional meandering for the purposes of growing the franchise, but anything too drastic runs the risk of alienating me.

In these respects, MI3 got it right on the money. With Mission Impossible II offering a marked departure from the subtle nature of the first film in the series, MI3 is a perfect fit in the evolution of the franchise. Upping the ante in the action department, MI3 is a chaotic string of shoot-outs and acrobatic stunts tied together well enough by a fairly solid plot. I know a lot of critics want to point out obvious loop-holes and all of that, but I personally didn’t walk into Regal Cinemas expecting a film grounded in realism. I am not suggesting that MI3 is not without its head-scratching moments, because it isn’t. But in that same token, I’m not looking to hold it accountable for omitting tidbits that really have no bearing on my capacity to be entertained by the film. I never asked to be convinced of the film’s plausibility, because such a demand is as ludicrous as asking Monty Python to suddenly make sense.

Having established this, I can tell you that I enjoyed MI3 quite thoroughly. It offered a perfect reprieve from reality. Tom Cruise plays a convincing action hero, seldom dropping below 90-miles-an-hour in his portrayal of Impossible Mission Force (IMF) agent Ethan Hunt. No longer an IMF field operative, Hunt has since taken to providing consultative and training services for the agency. He’s also become engaged and is finally finding comfort in civilian life. Still, when one of his most promising protegés goes missing on an operation, Hunt is quick to go in and rescue her. However, when things go wrong and Hunt is unable to extract himself from a personal vendetta with a ruthless killer named Owen Davien (played brilliantly by Phillip Seymour Hoffman), Hunt’s former life begins to threaten the new life he’s found.

Never have I hated a villain so…

Accompanying Cruise and Hoffman is a talented cast of actors and actresses. Ving Rhames returns as Ethan’s oft-quipping sidekick, Luther Stickel. Rounding out Hunt’s team are Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and new-comer Maggie Q, while Billy Crudup and Laurence Fishburne also turn in well-played portrayals as Hunt’s superiors. With a star-studded cast, excellent performances are expected, but none are so well delivered as that of Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s cold portrayal of Owen Davien; a performance that once more proves his versatility as an actor.

One of many action sequences

Final Thoughts 

Regardless of casting, dramatic performances are not what generate MI3’s inertia. That responsibility falls to a blistering onslaught of action. Almost entirely from start to finish, MI3 hurtles along at supersonic speeds, propelling the audience to the inevitable showdown between hero and villain. And while the intellectual in me may think otherwise, I absolutely loved this latest entry in the Mission Impossible series. If for nothing else, I loved it for reminding me why we need movie theaters; and in that same token, why it’s worth paying $8+ to see movies on the big screen.

Overall Rating: Primetime Ticket Worthy

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