06/30/06 Mission: Impossible 3

Mission: Impossible 3 (2006), directed by J.J. Abrams

watched w/ Leslie; theater (Blue Ridge Cinema, Raleigh, NC)

Coming in as the third installment of this franchise starring Tom Cruise as super-agent Ethan Hunt, this one is your typical formulaic action adventure/thriller with blockbuster effects for the summertime movie-going experience. Don't forget to buy a popcorn (for way too much money) before grabbing your seat, because you're going to need it...as this one is the poster-child for a "popcorn flick." I'll have to admit that even I, cinematic snob that I can allow myself to become, will enjoy a popcorn flick every now & again...as I did here. This is definitely better than the second film, and along the same lines as the first one in quality. They basically rent out action directors for these installments, but with fresh-faced TV-show vet Abrams on board here...it's like one long episode of "Alias" with Scientologist intgrigue. Speaking of the famed fruitcake, Cruise is an actor who I can't stand for the life of me...but he does a few quality films in his career, all of which include his over-acting empathetic (uh, pathetic) facial contortions and cackling smile. Aside from his creepy face, we get plenty of well-known character actors as well as up-and-comers (see hot young actresses) in the mix. Hunt's partner in crime Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) is bluntly funny as ever; new teammates Declan and Zhen are decent side-notes; and the explosions, fight scenes and gadget weaponry is as ridiculous as it gets in this genre. There are however four glaringly obvious subjects I would like to point out. 1- Am I the only one who finds it a bit disturbing that Tom Cruise had to "act" with his on-screen love interest Michelle Monaghan, a veritable twin of real-life prisoner (er, I mean partner) Katie Holmes? Maybe he brought her into the Scientology fold too. 2- Kerri Russell (aka Noxema Girl) is in no way believable as a kick-ass secret agent. 3- Why does it seem that good actors who are coming off of Oscar success in a serious role, follow it up with some over-the-top action crap fest (whether that be clever marketing by the studios, or poor career decision-making...see Halle Berry in "Catwoman," Jamie Foxx in "Stealth," or now Philip Seymour Hoffman in this)? Hoffman is good here as a pompous villain, but does he have to pull his face off to reveal that he's actually Tom Cruise pulling the strings? 4- And finally...with all the technological gadgets we see infiltrating society, and in the film...do you expect me to believe that a Kodak disposable camera can have a retinal scan revealing a mini-movie presentation to secret agents that eventually self-destructs and is easily purchased on convenience store shelves? I think not. Oh yeah, there's a lot of murder, mystery and international espionage in the film. Bust out the popcorn.

3 out of 5 stars