Review of Mission: Impossible III (2006) by Brett H — 24 Aug 2015

By far the most adrenaline-fueled entry in the franchise with non-stop action and was a strong return to form after the questionable second film. Tom Cruise really proved himself in this film by performing some truly amazing stunts and giving Ethan some welcome depth and raw emotion as he is desperately trying to save the world and most importantly, his wife.

The new additions to the cast vary from forgettable to great with Simon Pegg, Laurence Fishburne, and especially Philip Seymour Hoffman falling in the latter category. Hoffman's cold-blooded portrayal of an arms dealer who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty is easily the series' strongest villain and further proof of the chameleon-like talent that he could provide.

This film is also the directorial debut of J.J. Abrams, moving from TV to the big-screen with a pretty amazing first time at bat. The story moves at a brisk pace with the team hunting down an elusive MacGuffin known as the Rabbit's Foot, which Hoffman's character is after and in many ways this is like an episode of a TV series and perfectly fit Abrams' talents.

I do think that one of the bigger action moments' special effects are a bit shoddy and the new members of Ethan's team are in no way memorable, but this is a superb installment of the popular franchise that set the bar high and it's been raised with each further film.