Mission Impossible III

[Markgway]

3/5

Lots of explosive action, an OK plot, but not as stylish or suspenseful as its predecessors.

Cruise gives the best performance in the film; others are there for their paycheques, including a wooden Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Some spectacular stunts, but physical action not on a par with Pt. II, in which Cruise looked like a convincing martial artist. even with a bomb on the brain it hardly looks convincing watching the podgy Hoffman kick the athletic Cruise's ass

The drama is at its most personal this time round, and the maguffin, which doesn't even warrant an explaination from the writers, plays second fiddle to vendettas and revenge. That's not a problem as such, just an observation.

Maggie Q has a supporting role and does fine with it; she looks hot in that red dress.

No strong language or adult content, but the violence is loud and occasionally brutal so I personally wouldn't take an under '12'.

[bradavon]

So it's not as good as MI2 action wise. How does it compare to MI as a spy thriller?

I loved MI2 and preferred it to MI but these films are so far removed from the original TV series.

No strong language or adult content, but the violence is loud and occasionally brutal so I personally wouldn't take an under '12'.

Isn't it 12A so the BBFC would agree? Is 12 used any more for the cinema?

including a wooden Philip Seymour Hoffman.

I didn't know that was possible. I'll be checking it out this w/e.

* X-Men 3 is out in a few weeks too, great stuff.
* X-Men 3 is out in a few weeks too; great stuff.
* X-Men 3 is out in a few weeks too: great stuff.
* X-Men 3 is out in a few weeks too. Great stuff.

Mark pick one

[Markgway]

So it's not as good as MI2 action wise.

Right. See the 2nd Unit director is Vic Armstrong and he's the best. But the main director (J.J. Abrhams) isn't a visual stylist in the way John Woo or Brian DePalma are. Thus it's visually the least interesting of the three films.

How does it compare to MI as a spy thriller?

Has it's moments, but the first film was more taut, unpredictible. A pre-credits sequence signals exactly where the film is headed and it's a case of waiting until it gets there.

I loved MI2 and preferred it to MI but these films are so far removed from the original TV series.

There was a series...?

Isn't it 12A so the BBFC would agree? Is 12 used any more for the cinema?

You're right, it's 12A for cinemas.

I'd say the film was closer to a 15 than a PG put it that way.

* X-Men 3 is out in a few weeks too, great stuff. Mark pick one

I saw Pt 1 on DVD. That was enough.

[grim_tales]

I've heard Cruise is actually the weak link in the film, and its difficult to care for him.
I'm still going to see it though

[Markgway]

I've heard Cruise is actually the weak link in the film, and its difficult to care for him.

He's the whole show really.

If you don't like Cruise I wouldn't bother.

His performance was the best in the film, but I didn't say it was great.

[grim_tales]

I didn't mean I don't like Cruise, he's fine - its just I've read in some reviews how they don't really care what happens to him or the search for his wife in the movie, its like [YiLong]a Ken barbie doll[Yi Long] and theres little emotional complexity.
But that never stopped a good popcorn film
I'll still go see it.

[bradavon]

I saw Pt 1 on DVD. That was enough.

Mark you REALLY can't compare X-men to X-men 2. X-Men 2 is sooo much better in every way.

I agree the first is a bit dull but X-Men 2 is anything but dull. It's great superhero fun.

[bradavon]

Just to piss Romero off a review:

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=61435

[IronMonkey]

Just got back from seeing Mission Impossible III and it rocked!

I loved it - thats now 3 great action films in the series. I think for overall style & action I prefer the second movie - the Biocyte shootout is just pure class, with the music drowning out the gunshots and the lovely Thandie Newton just generally looking fine all the time.

But my god Maggie Q looked AMAZING in that red dress! Does anyone have a high-resolution image of her getting out of the sports car in the red dress (seen in the trailer so I haven't just given you all a spoiler)? If not, I'll just have to wait until I get the DVD then I'll do a capture & use it as my PC wallpaper!

Its a great popcorn action flick! I'd give it 4/5.

[Markgway]

Mark you REALLY can't compare X-men to X-men 2. X-Men 2 is sooo much better in every way. I agree the first is a bit dull but X-Men 2 is anything but dull. It's great superhero fun.

Hmm... Might watch it when it's on TV then.

I must admit I've heard the sequel was an improvement. Not that I disliked the first one, just that it didn't inspire me to see more if you know what I mean?

But Part 3 is directed by Brett Ratner for Christ's sake!

[Markgway]

I didn't mean I don't like Cruise, he's fine - its just I've read in some reviews how they don't really care what happens to him or the search for his wife in the movie, its like [YiLong]a Ken barbie doll[Yi Long] and theres little emotional complexity.

I'd say that of the second film too mind you. But it was more dynamic and had a panache missing here. Part 3, however, is never less than competant popcorn entertainment and if you go in expecting only that you'll be satisfied for 2+ hours. But I had hoped for something less "product" if that makes any sense?

[IronMonkey]

Hey, for me it was worth the admission price just to see Maggie's legs when she steps out of the sports car in the red dress! Shallow, I know, but I don't care!

[grim_tales]

Yeah that makes sense Mark.
I've been meaning to revisit 2 again at some point maybe (and maybe the first part as well).

[Markgway]

Hey, for me it was worth the admission price just to see Maggie's legs when she steps out of the sports car in the red dress! Shallow, I know, but I don't care!

I get that.

[bradavon]

I hear MI3 is really an extented Alias episode which doesn't bode well. I wan MI not Alias. Sure Alias maybe good (of which I don't think so) but this is not Alias we're being sold.

I must admit I've heard the sequel was an improvement. Not that I disliked the first one, just that it didn't inspire me to see more if you know what I mean?

I do and believe me it's vastly superior. X-Men 2 is up their in the top 5 Superhero flicks for me.

X-Men - 5 out of 10, to much talking not enough action
X2 - 8 out of 10, lots of cool action. Including cool as ice Kelly Hui (who says one word in the whole film )

But Part 3 is directed by Brett Ratner for Christ's sake!

Don't remind me.

[grim_tales]

Brad do you mean Kelly Hu?

[romerojpg]

I hear MI3 is really an extented Alias episode which doesn't bode well. I wan MI not Alias. Sure Alias maybe good (of which I don't think so) but this is not Alias we're being sold.

Come back and say that once you have watched a full season

[bradavon]

It's never going to happen. You've seen snippets of films and that's enough for you. I've seen an Alias episode and that's enough for me, still it's better than the tosh that is:

Sex and the City
Desperate Housewives (except for that Eva lady)
Buffy - Man this is drivel. I've seen a couple of those
Angel - Same

I should check out 24 and Lost though.

Brad do you mean Kelly Hu?

Yep

[grim_tales]

I havent really seen Buffy either (or Desperate Housewives), should check it out. Brad what didnt you like about SATC?

[tom2681]

Buffy rules !

Season 1 = 2,5/5
Season 2 = 4/5
Season 3 = 4/5
Season 4 = 3/5
Season 5 = 3,5/5
Season 6 = 4,5/5
Season 7 = 5/5

[HungFist]

MI3 is exactly like an extended Alias episode, the only difference being that the characters are worse. It's moderately entertaining most of the time, offering pretty good action scenes and some (hopefully intentional) humour. Unfortunately Abrams is neither the visualist Woo was nor the master of suspense that De Palma was. The structure of the film is pretty much a disaster. Starting from the end isn't always a bad thing, but it really didn't work here. If the characters are uninteresting and you know what's going to happen to them, then what's the point (plot wise)?

Thankfully, Hoffman saves a lot. I'm not quite sure why he accepted the role (money, I guess) but he sure does make the film a lot more enjoyable. It's not like it's a memorable role, but at least you can remember what role he played when you leave the theater (I know, short memory...) That's something you can't say about Maggie Q or Laurence Fishburne. But despite all the weaknesses I did enjoy the film. You do feel like you are watching a Big Hollywood film. And that's not a bad thing in my book.

2.5/5

edit: typo of the day; Abrahams (I should read what I write before posting so that I wouldn't post what I write)

[bradavon]

I'm sure the humour is intentional. Yep the director says so:

http://www.empireonline.com/interviews_ ... sp?IID=518

Brad what didnt you like about SATC?

Virtually everything.

Like DHW it's all sooo fake, stupid dumb bimbos (before anyone says that's not a sexist comment, they really are bimbos ), no one and not even Americans talk like they do. It's nothing at all like reality, incredibely annoying, utter drivel and for good measure a big dollop of tosh. Oh and "everyone" is so unrealistically pretty. So what the female characters openly talk about sex. Big deal! If they really wanted to be revolutionary how about show some actual sex but of course that would never happen in America, or here for that matter.

I can't believe all the crap people used to spew about how good SATC was, how ahead of its time it is, how revolutionary it is. Bollocks.

It makes Buffy look like a masterpiece, of which it so isn't. Still that's better than Angel.

Mark Kermode hat one "it's rubbish and everyone else is wrong" . Like I said at least DHW has that Eva long surname lady, oh and Terri Hatcher too of course but yes it's as annoying.

[gasteropod]

Sex and the City did feature sex scenes

And also, I found none of the girls attractive in it.

By the way, I liked the programme.

[Markgway]

I'm seeing a lot of praise for flavour-of-the-month Oscar-winner Hoffman, so maybe I missed something? I thought his character was thin and he look bored most of the time, like he'd rather be doing Capote II. I expect charisma from my blockbuster villains, you know?

[brooce-leroy]

Is the plot really complicated? If I went with someone who's first language was not English, would it be really difficult to follow? If it's a bit like Alias than it may be tough to follow.