Having an ensemble cast was a big asset. The only thing I had a problem with was when they rescued Kerri Russell's character from some bad guys lair. She's dying, but Ethan gives her some kind of pill and she's able to shoot bad guys for 5 minutes before dying? WTF?

This was the only MI film I never liked, sorry. I found the whole emotional angle Cruise was going for came across as forced, self obsessive and a little weird.

I thought the finale, the highly-trained super agent vs out of shape, fat man, was very anti-climactic.

Ethan was dying, did you forget? I kept wanting him to kick Hoffman's ass, but he was very much "on the ropes."

@Satch_the_man said:

Ethan was dying, did you forget? I kept wanting him to kick Hoffman's ass, but he was very much "on the ropes."

No, but I just didn't think it was very exciting. They were really stressing the whole vulnerable hero thing. But I just don't think they did it very well.

@Satch_the_man: Actually, I don't remember that part, but I'll take your word about it happening.

SPOILER BELOW

@PhelpsFan said:

@Satch_the_man: Actually, I don't remember that part, but I'll take your word about it happening.

I'm not totally lucid about what happened myself, but I do recall that his girl had to give him a charge of some kind to revive him, after the fight.

@Satch_the_man Here's an interesting piece of trivia. Do you remember the scene where Ethan was in Shanghai climbing up some building? That scene was filmed at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, California, which had a Shanghai tower look to it. Ever since I read that I've had this little scenario in my mind: a patient calls for the nurse. The nurse goes into the patient's room and says, "how can I help you?" The patient replies, "Nurse, why is Tom Cruise hanging from a rope outside my window?". :-)

@PhelpsFan said:

@Satch_the_man Here's an interesting piece of trivia. Do you remember the scene where Ethan was in Shanghai climbing up some building? That scene was filmed at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, California, which had a Shanghai tower look to it. Ever since I read that I've had this little scenario in my mind: a patient calls for the nurse. The nurse goes into the patient's room and says, "how can I help you?" The patient replies, "Nurse, why is Tom Cruise hanging from a rope outside my window?". :-)

Lol, good one Maria!

I want to bring up the Kerri Russell cameo again. I'd like to hear your opinions about it. It seemed rather ludicrous to me that when Ethan and company were rescuing her, Ethan gave her a pill that gave her enough energy to shoot bad guys for 5 minutes before dying (or at least that's how I remember it. It's been so long since I've seen it that I could be wrong). Anyway, can I get some opinions about this please?

Spoilers

Ha, ha, well I remember finding it a bit morbidly funny when she croaked. I forgot about the pill she was given... so, really, I can't give you a valid opinion!!

@Satch_the_man That whole set up with Ethan going to rescue his former trainee just really seemed dumb to me. I don't know why it was in the movie or how it advanced the plot.

Best Mission Impossible.

The unwanted child of the series, emerging just as Cruise was at the peak of his public insanity, is one of the finest action thrillers ever made. The tension is so brutal it becomes an oppressive and stressful experience, in a really good way.

The opening is one of the most gripping in movie history - a slow countdown to watching your loved one getting shot in the head by a malicious psychopath while you watch, plead and beg helplessly. It's horrifying, it hovers over the rest of the film, adding irony and dread over the subsequent jovial scenes that take place before, and lead up to it. This is Hitchcock-level suspense. A genius game with the audience.

The film almost wants to be the final word on that most nerve-shredding of plot devices - the ticking clock. They pop up throughout the film, from death threats which we know will be honoured to Hunt trapped under a car while a missile races towards him. The film keeps finding new ways to generate tension, Hunt even has to traverse death itself to survive this one.

But there is constant humour and gags to keep us amused in between the near heart-attacks. The charming supporting cast deliver some fantastic lines, especially Lawrence Fishburn's IMF chief and Ving Rhames' returning Luther. Simon Pegg introduces himself as now a series regular. They offset the tension effectively, and remind us that we're supposed to be having fun. Neat gags like brain bombs, lip-reading, and ridiculous latex mask usage are constant delights.

J.J. Abrams is yet another genius pick by Cruise. His camera is constantly moving but, crucially, captures everything clearly, especially the film's star once again doing all of his own stunts (including having a tanker truck skid over him). This is some of the best action cinema ever created, on a par with Spielberg. It's dynamic, propulsive, clear, energetic and full of personality.

The film's ace card is the late Phillip Seymore Hoffman, who is easily the series' strongest villain, bringing the menace of a dozen Bond villains in barely any screen time. However, he highlights the only real problem - whereas the film handles darkness with aplomb, it drops the ball when it shows 'goodness' - Hunt is too squeeky clean here, unlike the young smartass of MI:I or the thrill-seeking cad of MI:II, and his relationship with his wife never feels real, despite Michelle Monaghan's effortless girl-next-door charm. Their scenes are awkward and Cruise especially seems like he's acting in a self-conscious bubble designed to offset his reputation as a real life freak-show.

I feel harsh saying that because I have the utmost respect for Cruise. He always brings his A-game to every project and has far more integrity than the likes of De Niro these days. He's an inspiration in many ways, and it's sad that the he got snagged by a cult, expressed his true self, and the world turned on him. He always seems more credible when he lets his dark side show, and it's a shame there's not a trace of it in his greatest MI film.

The film is like a shot of weaponised adrenaline. It's painful, thrilling, funny, full of hallucinatory overblown colours and a pounding score that thunders and screeches. The whole experience is exhausting. You're supposed to hate this film along with the rest of the world but it won't be long before it taps you on the back at an unlikely moment and you realise you need another shot of MI:III

@Drooch Thank you for your post. It was a very informative and professional review. I like J.J. Abrams as a director. He did a great job with the first two Star Trek reboot movies.

Mission Impossible 3 is an extremely good movie. It's Mission Impossible at its finest.

It erases all the bad taste from the awful Mission Impossible 2.