Review of Mission: Impossible III (2006) by Michael H — 07 Feb 2014

The team element is better utilized here than in the previous M:I movies, and Hoffman is deliciously evil and scary during his limited screen time. The third act isn't nearly as fun as everything preceding it-- although Tom Cruise Running is always entertaining-- with a climax lifted wholesale from a season one episode of "Lost" (Although, to be fair, not one directed by Abrams), but it's all pretty entertaining.

The Vatican heist and the bridge battle are terrific. The attempts at injecting the story with genuine emotion feel half-hearted, though; this franchise always works best when avoiding anything remotely sentimental (as we all know it'll be back to basics with the next installment, and that's okay).