This J.J. Abrams directed Mission Impossible entry is the best one of the first three. It watches less like a star vehicle for Tom Cruise and more like a team mission with other characters contributing. Oh sure, Cruise's character Ethan Hunt does a lot of things on his own, but he'd be screwed without his band of spies, primarily Luther played by Ving Rhames. Not all of his cohorts were killed during the mission so there was no predicting who would be dead meat before the movie ended. There are a number of thrilling action sequences and a couple of surprising twists which you'd expect from Abrams, the creator of the "Lost" TV series.
JJ Abrams seems to be the man to call when you want to give your dead in the water franchise a kick up the arse and after the dire M:I-2 it’s just what the doctor ordered.
Tom Cruise is back in action with the IMF but this time he’s joined by credible villain Philip Seymour Hoffman. You can feel the menace dripping off of him, especially in the Vatican scenes.
Perhaps the hastily done love story with Hunt getting married was surplus to requirements (notice how in the next film it’s quickly axed…) but all in all this was a return to form as a genuinely enjoyable popcorn thriller.
http://benoliver999.com/film/2017/05/19/missionimpossible3/
This was some action packed fun! It mixes what worked in the first two films with a more modern, grounded approach. While the movie is outlandish and over the top at times, it's never done in a way that feels impossible or improbable. The acting is certainly well done, although a couple characters are provided with some more serviceable actors rather than impressive ones.
Unfortunately, for those who are happening to watch this film for the plot, the ending will likely be disappointing, not in what occurs, but with what you are told, which makes the espionage based plot feel poorly thought out, so the film loses points on that front, but the film is otherwise not particularly marked by many flaws, which is most certainly a welcome change for this iteration of the franchise.
Mission: Impossible (film series)
1 Mission: Impossible (1996) https://trakt.tv/movies/mission-impossible-1996
2 Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) https://trakt.tv/movies/mission-impossible-ii-2000
3 Mission: Impossible III (2006) https://trakt.tv/movies/mission-impossible-iii-2006
4 Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011) https://trakt.tv/movies/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-2011
5 Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) https://trakt.tv/movies/mission-impossible-rogue-nation-2015
6 Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) https://trakt.tv/movies/mission-impossible-fallout-2018
7 Mission: Impossible 7 (2023) https://trakt.tv/movies/mission-impossible-7-2023
8 Mission: Impossible 8 (2024) https://trakt.tv/movies/mission-impossible-8-2024
Fast-paced action thriller
Well, this was straight to the point. Good old Cruise returning as Ethan Hunt is what you will see here. Action consisting of explosions, clever bombs, helicopter chases, flashbacks to True Lies without spoiling too much, evil villains, heartbreaking stunts and a pretty okay script is what you can expect.
Some predictable scenes, but the fast paced action made the effort worth it with some very welcome ideas. You also got to love the scenery. Berlin, Vatikan and China is refreshing to see.
007 look out, hard to match this one!
Long time since I had such fun at Home. 7/10!
The movie starts with a bang and is a fun ride all the way through. Tom Cruise is doing his thing with some great stunts and some good fake running. Philip Seymour Hoffman really makes this movie so much better, finally a decent villain (even though he isn't written very deep). Not enough Keri Russell. This is the best so far and the franchise only gets better.
TC and JJ? Two of the best! Bonus -this is my favorite IMF team in the series. #MissionImpossible week continues!
With J.J. Abrams directing this film, it is no wonder that Mission: Impossible III is excellent in every way. J.J. Abrams knows how to make a good television show and film. It was because of J.J. Abrams great work that I instantly became a fan of the Mission: Impossible franchise. The story line was perfectly balanced out with the action; which is a big improvement over the second film. Even though as a person Tom Cruise is a joke; when it comes to his acting there isn't anything to joke about. I enjoy how this guy does his own stunts and he does them well; this adds to the film experience, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman was an excellent choice to play the villain. Great story line, great cast, great acting, and above all else - great action scenes; all and all Mission: Impossible III was a welcome sequel to the franchise.
"What is the Rabbit's Foot?" Writer/director J.J. Abrams delivers the most action-packed and intense Mission: Impossible yet in the third installment of the series. This time Ethan Hunt and his team go after a notorious arms dealer who's attempting to acquire a deadly biological weapon. The writing is especially good; making the missions elaborate and thrilling. The casting is also impressive, and includes Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Maggie Q, and Ving Rhames. Hoffman in particular does a fantastic job, and creates a deadly and formidable villain that's full of intrigue. And, the action sequences are dynamic and suspenseful. Arguably the best of the series, Mission: Impossible III is a smart and well-craft action film.
M:I III is probably the movie in the series where the franchise finds it proper pacing and style. It's not just a tv-series adaption like the first one (which still is the best one in the series IMO). It's not overly "actioned out" like John Woo did with the second. It's just the right amount of action and stunts mixed in with the spy-thriller stuff.
A solid action thriller that deserves a watch even if you didn't care for the first two in the series. Recommended!!!
i absolutely loved this. much like the first one, the time flew by and i was constantly captivated. the twists surprised me and the action was brilliant. i never expected to enjoy the mission impossible movies but i absolutely love them. two was bad, but one and three have been brilliant. this was visually a beautiful film and brilliantly acted and directed.
The vatican sequence is so damn awesome!!
The reviver of the franchise after a dreadful MI:2. Great action and pacing.
I consider this the movie that established the "Mission Impossible" movies that we know today. The fourth one may be the one that really sets the tone but this one has a very different feeling than the first two.
I like the intense opening, the introduction of Benji, Philip Seymour Hoffman is a great villain and it has great action (but misses an iconic stunt scene like we see in M:I 4 onwards).
I love J.J. and I love Michael Giacchino but I can't say there was much of the soundtrack that really stuck with me.
It was interesting to see the more personal life of Ethan and I had a great time with this movie. I can't wait for the even greater sequels.
the intro sequence throws you directly into the high stress and suspense situation, this movie is the true start of the mission impossible saga for me, not to diminish the quality of the first two, they're great in their own way, but mission impossible 3 is where its truly at, and where it all truly begins for me;
the Italy road rage scene was just amazing
and the airplane interrogation scene & dialogue, plus Ethan just snapping then & there, AAAAAAH
bridge action scene, the way their world gets put on it's head and their prisoner escapes unexpectedly, and at the end where he says to his wife "you have to kill me or i'll die".
also, that run / sprint? i love this man so much.
seriously love this film so much.
Okay no.
So Tom Cruise liked some of J.J.'s work on the show Alias which basically lead to Tom giving this complete film amateur the director's chair for the third entry of this franchise and ... well, what a mess.
I don't think J.J. Abrams is a good director. His two Star Wars entries both have a lot I like but only because of the worldbuilding and characters - NOT because of J.J.
This is the most mid-2000's movie I think I've ever seen and I mean that in all the bad ways - the style and look are horrifically dated. I also hated the ways they tried to make Ethan human and introduce a literal wife to the picture - Brian De Palma & co. nailed the character in the first movie (very clearly a vulnerable human but also obviously not that relatable since he's a highly skilled secret service spy) but the problem here is that the script almost feels like it's trying too hard at this humanizing thing; it falls completely flat.
And boring.
And forgettable.
At least John Woo's crack at the franchise had iconic moments; in fact, this film makes Mission: Impossible II look like a masterpiece.
Mission Impossible really did get saved in 2011 huh.
Thank God.
Better than 1 & 2 felt more like a spy action movie. Took itself more seriously
Among the first three films, it is undoubtedly the most generic and forgettable, yet the best executed. Despite the predictable plot twists and a finale that can only be described as anticlimactic, the pacing and intensity of the action scenes have taken remarkable leaps forward, thanks not only to the ten-year gap since the first film but primarily to the direction. This is the first installment in the saga that genuinely lives up to its reputation for over-the-top convoluted plans that constantly leave the protagonists on the edge of getting killed.
Did they hire Michael J Fox as a cameraman? I'm getting motion sickness during the dialogues.
JJ Abrams birthed the modern day Tom Cruise run. Philip Seymour Hoffman rocks in this but then his villain potential is completely undercut by the reveal of the true big bad, he becomes an after thought.
A very nice bounce back after MI2, Abrams’ energetic direction breathes some new life into the franchise. The smart choices made by the script are also where Mission Impossible truly found its identity. It’s a little tropey, but it outsmarts a lot of spy content from around that time period. For example, I love how the film acknowledges that the Rabbit’s foot is just an unimportant plot device, a macguffin. The introduction of Ethan’s personal life was another great choice, it’s that little character arc that seperates him from other action movie protagonists. Philip Seymour Hoffman gives a tremendous performance, he’s not even in it a lot and it’s a highly memorable villain. Simon Pegg is a great addition (though underused), and Laurence Fishburne is just here to deliver some weird lines. The set piece in Rome is a lot of fun to watch and very tense (still love the bathroom scene), so is the stuff in Shanghai to a slightly lesser extent (that extended running shot!). I’m not a fan of the Berlin sequence, however. It’s easily the most conventional set-up, it does little for the story and there’s some messy directing in it. That brings me to the biggest problem with the film, which is the presentation. I don’t have much of a problem with Abrams’ use of lens flares or shaky cam, but he overuses close-ups here. Much of the action would look better if he cut to a wide shot more often. That being said: I still like the distinct lighting and colour palette.
6.5/10
"You can always tell someone's character by the way they treat those they don't need to treat well."
From the very first scene you can already see the drastic change in quality from Mission: Impossible II, the acting, the suspence, the stakes, it's no longer cheesy... Ethan Hunt actually has some charm in this one for a change, we get characters that are interesting and the action sequences are intense and look great. My favorite aspect is the spy gadgets, I want more, more, more! The effects and switching actors between Cruise and Hoffman for the mask scene was flawless. Like the score it's very fittingly spy-ish, the Ethan/Julia romance works well, Maggie Q is a great addition, Philip Seymour Hoffman killed it as the villain, Laurence Fishburne gets some clever out of place dialogue, I felt the runtime and I didn't like the twist. Some nice action sequences and set pieces but nothing really memorable.
The third "Mission: Impossible" film is a step in the right direction after the questionable second installment. The tone is a bit more serious, and, above all, the film is less unintentionally funny. However, the suspense is somewhat lacking. The plot seems like standard spy fare, including a MacGuffin hunt, and the characters are almost all generic. Only Philip Seymour Hoffman as the villain Owen Davian really delivers. He has a truly menacing presence. Looking at the action, there is a lack of highlights; it is staged competently at best. Director J.J. Abrams uses too much shaky cam, though. All in all, "Mission: Impossible III" is quite enjoyable, but nothing more.
Mission Impossible III is a fantastic comeback for the franchise after the underwhelming second installment. The film delivers on all fronts, with great action, suspense, and acting that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The action sequences are top-notch, with director J.J. Abrams bringing his trademark style and energy to the film. From the opening sequence to the thrilling finale, the action never lets up and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Overall, Mission Impossible III is a great entry in the series that showcases the franchise's strengths while introducing new elements that keep it fresh and exciting.
Mixed feelings about this one. On one hand it was (so far) my favorite of the M:I films, yet on the other hand it was (speaking only for myself) kind of difficult to follow from start to finish. There were so many plot twists and weird turns that it was difficult to keep up with who was doing what. Again, that's speaking only for myself; for anyone else, maybe it was a bit clearer. I did like (most of) the action sequences although at certain points they reached eyeroll levels. But this is a Mission: Impossible film and these are the kind that you disengage your brain and just enjoy. Even though Tom Cruise stars here in M:I:III this is not "a Tom Cruise movie"; in other words, he's surrounded by plenty of star power that helps in not only supporting Cruise in his role but also helps equalize the balance. Everyone plays an important role, in other words: This isn't a one-man show. (One of the things that got tiresome about the James Bond movies.) Some people may disagree (and that's what opinions are about, isn't it?) but I found this particular film enjoyable and fun even if a bit outlandish at times. For those who are willing to disengage your brain for a couple hours and just kick back with a high-octane action film, I would definitely recommend this one.
These movies continue to disappoint. I remembered two being horrible, but I don't remember this one being so bad. Maybe I skipped it after how pathetic two was.
As has been said in other comments, where are the actual missions, with competent people, and agency support? These movies really have nothing interesting to offer.
Philip Seymour Hoffman can elevate any mediocre piece of movie.
Takes itself too serious. Story is meh but action is fine. Heist was great.
This one’s got to be the movie with the darkest tone in the franchise. I wasn’t expecting this, even more after Mission: Impossible 2.
The action improved a lot but it’s not that dynamic yet. There’s some shootouts scenes where there isn’t a lot of content and objective, just pointless and generic shooting making it boring to watch. I was surprised when I saw J.J. Abrams’ name on the initial credits, I didn’t remember that. He does a good job.
Although Philips Seymour Hoffman doesn’t have a huge screen time, he is a great villain nonetheless. He fits the tone of the move and make his presence and threat be felt. Even with his reduced scenes, he is super scary. He could’ve been more utilised and lasted longer as well. Ethan’s confront with him had more potential and his death is a little abrupt.
I would say that this is the best entry in the franchise so far at the time of its release, but the next movies would surpass this movie in every aspect and I’m glad they did.
"Who are you? What's your name? Do you have a wife? A girlfriend? Because if you do, I'm gonna find her. I'm gonna hurt her. I'm gonna make her bleed, and cry, and call out your name. And then I'm gonna find you, and kill you right in front of her."
Mission: Impossible III is a step up from John Woo's sequel and worth watching alone for Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance as the bad guy alone. So intense.
Best scenes? The shoot-out at the bridge, I enjoyed the Vatican scene and the scene were Ethan Hunt (Cruise) steals the Rabbit's Foot. Which they never damn explain what it is.
Anyway when it was just released I thought this is peak Mission Impossible. 15 years later, I enjoy the original more and the sequels surprised everyone. Still Mission: Impossible III is a solid entry in this amazing franchise.
The late Phillip Seymour Hoffman was good at making you hate him. His villain is easily steals the show.
J.J Abrams is to copy and paste from other movies. In this case a lot of the movie is done as if it was an episode of Alias. Which he had a lot of involvement with.
Which does at least work better than Mission Impossible just be a stunt show, like part 2. Alias was at least a well made spy show.
Spoiler: While the end feels like a Mentos commercial. “Hey look I can be married and be a spy at the same time.” Mentos!
MI series getting worse as we go which is usually my reaction to sequels. This one is again too predictable. #ShiftvW8
A very fast paced action thriller about an international criminal trying to sell a weapon of mass destruction to an eastern buyer. Ethan Hunt has to prevent that but everything gets out of control when Hunt's wife is taken hostage because Hunt's Boss turns traitor.
Very entertaining and so much better than the 2nd M:I flick!
Review by Just Another Movie NerdVIP 10BlockedParent2016-01-13T06:58:26Z
This instalment, the third movie, in the Mission Impossible series is better than Mission Impossible II although it has to be said that this is not that difficult as far as I am concerned. The movie is more balanced in pace and the stunts and action scenes are not so totally over the top and ludicrous as in the second half of Mission Impossible II. Having said that there are still lots of pretty outrageous action stunts. This movie also has a real bad-ass villain that would not have been out of place in a classical James Bond movie.
The plot is as uninspired as one can expect from a Hollywood action movie. Hero crosses bad guys path and acquires something that the bad guy wants. Bad guy gets pissed off and grabs good guys wife to force him to get the stuff the bad guy wants. Big show-down at the end and bad guy bites the dust. Throw in a traitor in the mix just to mess things up at regular intervals. Nothing to write home about in other words.
The entertainment value of this film, as of the two previous ones, comes entirely from the various, more or less contrived, stunts, tricks and action sequences in the movie. As one can assume from the movies budget the film delivers well in these areas.
What I find annoying is that Ethan, again, finds himself alone and without support from the IMF team as well as having to deal with a traitor within. I find that kind of stuff tiresome to say the least. While I am in ranting mode I can also say that the silly idea of “dying” and then getting kick-started again, especially given that the time between “dying” and being kick-started again suffered from the usual lack of the concept of actual time elapsed so often being shown by Hollywood directors, was pretty silly.
As I wrote, it is a decent enough action movie but I would really like to see a “true” Mission Impossible movie where the team gets a mission and executes it with the full force of IMF behind them.