Review of Mission Impossible (1971) by Peter M — 22 Dec 2011

Although it doesn't do justice to the great TV series, Mission Impossible is a very entertaining, although sometimes convoluted, well directed and well-acted thriller.

The plot starts with the IMF on a mission. But something goes horribly wrong and the mission failed, leaving Ethan Hunt the lone survivor and the prime suspect as a mole. Now, Ethan has to find who set him up and clear his name.

The acting is pretty good. Tom Cruise starts playing his normal character but slowly becomes more dramatic and gives a good performance. Jon Voight is also pretty good as Jim Phelps the team leader. The acting is nothing breakthrough but it works.

My biggest problem is,(SPOILER)like most people, making Jim Phelps the mole. It would have been better if they just didn't use the name and made the person somebody else, but using Phelps is dishonoring the character and doesn't work.

Brian De Palma uses some great camera work and the scene where they break into the CIA building is intense every time I watch it. The climax, which takes place on top of a moving train still holds up 15 years later and is great.

The plot can get a little complicated and hard to understand, but once you get past that, the movie is very entertaing and enjoyable.