Mission: Impossible III.

Review #1109: Mission: Impossible III.

Cast: 
Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Owen Davian), Ving Rhames (Luther Stickell), Billy Crudup (John Musgrave), Michelle Monaghan (Julia Meade), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Declan Gormley), Keri Russell (Lindsey Farris), Maggie Q (Zhen Lei), Simon Pegg (Benji Dunn), Eddie Marsan (Brownway), and Laurence Fishburne (Theodore Brassel) Directed by J. J. Abrams (#009 - Star Trek, #150 - Super 8, #665 - Star Trek Into Darkness, and #769 - Star Wars: The Force Awakens)

Review: 
It is interesting to look back at the first three Mission: Impossible films and look at how each stand out clearly from the previous one despite being popcorn spy flicks. It's also interesting to see the gap between these films, in that this one was released six years after the previous film (with this year's release of the new film being the sixth in the franchise that has spanned 22 years). I try to not make it a habit to compare a film sequel to the one before it every single time, but it is pretty obvious that this one is an improvement in nearly every single way from the earlier one, and it manages to improve in aspects from the first installment. Perhaps it is the infusion of different writers in Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci & J. J. Abrams, with the former two previously being responsible for their work on The Island (2005), while Abrams had created television shows such as Felicity, Lost, but most importantly Alias, which Cruise had watched episodes of prior to offering the directorial job to Abrams. The opening scene certainly helps spark interest with the tension that it inspires from Cruise and Hoffman, that's for sure. The parts with Cruise and Monaghan manage to come off well together, having a bit of refreshing nature to them that is different to the conventional elements in its spy nature without becoming a cloying detriment nor becoming something overtly cliche. As one would expect, it is nice to see Cruise again in the role, with a clear confidence and clear action look that you would expect from before while also seeming fresh and welcome. Hoffman proves to be a serviceable adversary for the moments that require it, with his motivation being at least somewhat clear to breeze through. The group of Rhames-Rhys Meyers-Maggie Q are fairly useful to watch paired up with Cruise in the plot, being capable in any scene (action or small moments of interaction) for comfort. Monaghan does fine for the part written. Crudup plays his role quietly, but it serves the job alright. Russell and Pegg each don't have much time, but they make fair impressions ultimately. Fishburne rounds out the cast with a fairly watchable chief role that cuts the corners you would expect. While the film may not have the highest of stakes to it, it never gets bogged down by complicating its plot or pretending to be anything that it isn't. At 125 minutes, the film runs itself at a fine pace with its action and plot by making sure that neither gets lost too far in its own excitement, being a fair piece of entertainment.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.