Well, I'm a student and I'm a big fan of music...Not necessarily popular music, but I like it :-)
Well, I'm a student and I'm a big fan of music...Not necessarily popular music, but I like it :-)
Member since:02.08.2001
Reviews:47
Members who trust:4
As I have said, Mission: Impossible 2 was a poor film, and as I mentioned in that opinion, its predecessor is far better. I thought I might elaborate upon that.
Just for a bit of background, M:I began as a series in the sixties where the IMF (Impossible Mission Force) were sent on many...erm...Impossible Missions. Of course, they weren't impossible as they nearly always managed to complete the mission. The team was lead by Jim Phelps (played superbly by Peter Graves), and the team consisted of many different operatives (some of the more notable ones being played by Martin Landau and Leonard Nimoy). The missions often involved elaborate stunts - at least for the time - which often had to be taken with a pinch of salt here and there. However, for the most part it was well scripted and enjoyable viewing, at least for the fantastic theme tune (which was later used in an advert with a squirrell running in time to it...).
M:I the film was made in 1996 and contained none of the original characters apart from Jim, but aimed to make a blockbuster on the theme of the original series. Now I personally found this offputting, especially when I found out Tom Cruise would play the lead role. My impression was that it'd be probably a brainless film with a lot of Tom Cruise. This turned out to be the sequel. The original film was fantastic.
The plot for the film is very complex, and involves a "mole hunt" in the IMF, where it was believed that there was a "bad apple" in the team. This betrayal culminated into the release of the NOC list into the free market - a list of all the real names and aliases of spies. Of course, it is imperative for the IMF and the US government that the NOC list is recovered, as otherwise all of their spies are under threat. I will say no more as I don't want to spoil the film, but there are many twists along the way and many revelations that make you want to watch the film again, not least to understand second time through exactly what is happening while you're watching.
The acting in the film is fantastic. Tom Cruise puts in a great performance, as the character is shown as more of a clever, loyal teamworker rather than a stupid have-a-go hero. The supporting cast is full of big names, such as Venessa Redgrave, Jon Voight, Jean Reno and Ving Rhames. Despite this, they all portray their characters very realistically, instead of trying to steal the show at any point.
The action sequences may not be as impressive technically as in the sequel, but I feel they were more enjoyable as they were slightly more realistic (maybe apart from the end helicopter chase). The characters were made to look like professionals rather than superheros, which really added to the credibility of the film for me.
In short, I would strongly recommend the film as its a very clever picture which grabs your attention for its one-and-three-quarter hours. For me this film really shows how action adventure films can be more than mindless chases and fight sequences.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2004 - Action/Adventure - Director: Jon Turteltaub - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Jon Voight, Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Loved this film.... I agree the 1st is much better than the 2nd one.... MInd you it is hard to make a good sequal to something of such good quality the first time though!.... Lynn-Marie
Plissken 07.08.2001 20:27
I agree with you mostly, but I couldn't help wishing the movie could have been a little more 'cheesy', like the ultra-cool TV show. Didn't you find the plot overly complex? I thought the stand out action sequence was the Cruiser dangling round in that white room...edge of the seat stuff! Plissken (is back!)
Mission: Impossiblewas one of the best action blockbusters of the 1990s, deriving a ... more
quality unique amongst its peers from the tension between Brian De Palma's directorial stylisation and the overriding presence of its star and producer, Tom Cruise. Cru...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Mission: Impossiblewas one of the best action blockbusters of the 1990s, deriving a ... more
quality unique amongst its peers from the tension between Brian De Palma's directorial stylisation and the overriding presence of its star and producer, Tom Cruise. Cru...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Fast pacy spy adventure, with great music and some equally great stunts. Disadvantages: Stunts a bit far fetched - but you expect that with this sort of film.
![Mission: Impossible/The Sum Of All Fears/The Core [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78493357.jpg "Mission: Impossible/The Sum Of All Fears/The Core [DVD]")
![Mission Impossible [1996] [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78525007.jpg "Mission Impossible [1996] [DVD]")
![Mission: Impossible - Special Collectors Edition [DVD] [1996]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78484317.jpg "Mission: Impossible - Special Collectors Edition [DVD] [1996]")
Aug 7th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
