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Mission: Impossible (1996) More at IMDbPro »

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288 comments in total

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43 out of 63 people found the following comment useful :-
Confusing, But Still Fun To Watch, 29 March 2006

Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

Here's another film I watched when it came out and then later when the DVD was released and enjoyed both viewings, despite the fact I got "lost" several times. It's about time for another look because it's well-worth it and who knows....maybe I'll finally figure it out!

If you get a little confused trying to follow the plot, don't feel stupid. This isn't an easy story to follow but it gets high marks for keeping it interesting despite that problem.

The interesting characters, good cinematography, fun James Bond-like gadgets, just the right amount of action scenes and one very memorable heist scene with Tom Cruise dangling from a wire all make this an enjoyable two hours of entertainment. That scene with Cruise trying to break into this vault-like room remains as the one of the better tension-filled scenes I've ever witnessed on the big screen.

The final action scene with the speeding train and helicopter also is very memorable. John Voight, Emmanuelle Beart, Henry Czerny and Jean Reno make it a fun cast to watch, too. Note: stick with this film and forget the sequel. Despite the confusion, this film is still fun to view.

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25 out of 36 people found the following comment useful :-
At first some may consider it confusing, but its really not that bad, 24 January 2006

Author: observationalist from United States

Again the original is usually the best. And in my opinion, so far, "Mission Impossible" is no different. With a blend of action, mystery and some spy techniques, "Mission Impossible" is actually really good. The whole movie may seem to be too much at once when first viewed for some, but it really isn't. All it is, is an action movie with some decent twists that could easily throw some people off, but they are actually really simple.

Now, I'm not a fan of Tom Cruise and his lifestyle, as a matter of fact I hate to keep tabs on any celebrities life style, it makes me feel depressed that this is what it has come to. But I am a fan of Tom Cruise the actor. I have mentioned this before and sincerely believe that he is a great actor, even if he has starred in more action movies than any other genre, but he has proved that he can be good in other movies such as "Jerry Maguire", or "Inteview With the Vampire".

"Mission Impossible" is really better than most action films out there, because it actually keeps a believable plot without throwing in some excessively strong hero and a country sized army that gets killed with one magazine from a G36K. It is believable, it is memorable, and it keeps you involved and curious as to what is going on. The only problem is I usually like to watch action movies to laugh, but this one actually tried to keep it serious.

Anyway, I enjoyed this one, so if you like action movies see if this is any better.

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25 out of 41 people found the following comment useful :-
Unfaithful to the TV series, but a truly great movie, 6 May 2006

Author: mutty_mcflea from Bristol, UK

Brian De Palma's super stylish adap of the TV series packs a stick of dynamite up the show's butt and blows it wide open, often flying in the face of everything its inspiration was about but avoiding travesty status by working as an incredibly slick, exciting thriller. It's a blinder. It's true to say that most of this classy film's strongest scenes hark back to the show – the opening teaser, the astonishing credits sequence, the vault break-in – but the writers have slotted references and ideas from the series into a clever and often underrated plot, managing a tricky balancing act in paying homage to the show without slavishly adhering to it. Cracking set pieces like the aquarium explosion and the train/chopper finale are masterclasses in how to crank up tension and stage action; this is one of the most skilfully directed and edited films out there. Really. The cast is an interesting international mix, but it's The Cruiser who dominates, looking ultra cool and emanating charisma all over the place. I can see why fans of the series would hate it, but God, what a film.

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20 out of 33 people found the following comment useful :-
Thrilling Thriller, 7 February 2006

Author: no-skyline from Rochester, England

Brian De Palma delivers a kinetic live wire suspense filled espionage thriller to open the Mission Impossible franchise. The camera work is exceptional with De Palma's trademark sense of motion applied to suspenseful heists and an amazing train ride sequence during which you really get the sense of speed and danger. Also created is one of the most iconic images from any thriller of recent times Tom Cruise suspended mid heist inches from a pressure sensitive floor. Cruise lives up to his star billing and for me really nails the Ethan Hunt character, Jean Reno, Ving Rames and the stunning Emmanuelle Beart provide able support.

My one problem with this film and unfortunately quite a big problem is that the twist in the tale can be seen coming a mile off. Which is a real shame as this film is inventive, fun, stylish and everything a main stream thriller should be.

Fun but the twist in the tale doesn't have enough of a sting 7/10

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9 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
Its a Decent Adaptation to the Big Screen, 13 October 2007

Author: mjw2305 from England

Tom Cruise Ethan Hunt, a secret agent framed for the deaths of his espionage team, is on the run from government assassins, as he tries to uncover the shocking who's and why's of his setup.

Cruise performs well in the role, and the support from Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Beart, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames and more is strong and definitely adds plenty of body to the film.

With some good intrigue and tension, a few breathtaking stunts and a strong conspiracy style plot; Mission Impossible is a decent adaptation of the original series, without really being too familiar.

7/10 but should have been better

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17 out of 28 people found the following comment useful :-
Slick and stylish action flick, 30 August 2005

Author: The_Void from Beverley Hills, England

Based on the TV show of the same name, Brian De Palma's stylish thriller stars Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt; a James Bond-esquire secret agent working for a certain section of the government. As the title suggests, many of the scenarios in the film are extremely unlikely; but then again, the film wouldn't be living up to it's title if they weren't. It's one thing to criticise it's stunts for being overblown, but if they weren't, critics would be on it's back and calling it things like 'Mission Possible', so really you've just got to go with it. Brian De Palma makes it easy to just 'go with it' by way of an intriguing plot line, a constant array of high-octane sequences and lots of his trademark style! The plot does get a little too convoluted for it's own good at times, and sometimes it's a little hard to follow; but it gives the film a good basis for all manner of impossibilities, so it serves it's purpose. We follow Ethan Hunt and his team. After a botched mission, Hunt finds himself on the run from his employers after being accused of disloyalty. Hunt must now pull out all the stops to stay one step ahead of his pursuers and get to the bottom of why their mission went wrong.

The film features a number of stunts, the best of which sees Tom Cruise breaking into the CIA via the roof. This sequence is brilliantly executed, with De Palma managing to inject bucketloads of suspense into the scene. This scene fits the tone of the film as it's brooding and cerebral, but the film ditches that idea for it's conclusion, which sees a bullet train, a helicopter and the Channel Tunnel combine to great effect! The problem with all these stunts is that the parts between the action sequences aren't all that interesting, and at times can slow the film down to walking pace. This isn't a big problem, however, because there's always more action around every corner and that keeps the film going. Tom Cruise obviously has charisma and can lead a film, but I often find it hard to buy him in action roles. This one suits him, though, as although his character is still more than capable, he comes off as being quite vulnerable, and lucky at times, and that suits Cruise's persona. On the whole, while this isn't a great film; it makes for good entertainment and if that's what you're in the mood for, Mission: Impossible wont disappoint.

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8 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
Great Fun., 22 January 2004
Author: Meltdown53098533 (Meltdown53098533@aol.com) from london, ont.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Cruise is Ethan Hunt, an agent that is wrongfully accused of betrayal to his organization and must set out to find the mole who was responsible. Great action scenes and suspense while we are given twists and turns aalong the way. No matter what I can't seem to find what everyone is complaining about this movie. i'll never find what they complain about, because the movie is simply and truly a crowd pleaser. I don't care at all of what the original what ever was like. I and many other people saw this movie, I and many others liked this movie, and that's all that matters. *** 1/2 out of ****

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14 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :-
This movie is complete crap!, 13 December 2006

Author: AH_Fan from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

The movie versions of Mission Impossible are complete crap that are nothing like the TV series.

The movie versions of Mission Impossible turned the TV show's hero (Jim Phelps) into a bad guy and made a character (Ethan Hunt) who wasn't even in the TV series into the hero of the movies. It would be like making a movie adaptation of the A-Team with Colonel Hannibal Smith turning into a bad guy, killing the rest of the team, and then having a totally new character not in the TV series be the hero of the movie.

Moreover, the movie versions of Mission Impossible are just another action movie with fancy stunts and big-budget explosions like the James Bond movies. The TV series wasn't about stunts and explosions. The TV series was about cleverly-devised cloak-and-dagger plots to trick the bad guys into turning against each other. The TV series was about outsmarting the bad guys with brains, not beating the bad guys with brawn. In fact, there were probably less punches thrown during the entire TWO TV series than during the Mission Impossible movie.

The producers of the Mission Impossible movie just wanted a way to market Tom Cruise in an action movie with fancy gadgets and big-budget explosions, but there are so many of these similar movies that have already been made. So they called it Mission Impossible to lure in fans of the old TV series.

If you're just looking for a big-budget remake of a Rambo-type movie, then go ahead and see this movie. But if you're a fan of the Mission Impossible TV series, then don't waste your time on this crap of a movie.

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
I Wanted More!, 21 December 2008

Author: g-bodyl from United States

Mission:Impossible is not a bad film if you look at this movie as a whole. If you break it down into pieces, negative things about this movie will unravel. This film is based off the original television series from the 60's. Basically the main character, Ethan Hunt's team was killed and is being targeted as a suspect. He must seek help from other agents to stop him from being targeted. Most of the acting is fairly decent. Tom Cruise was annoying from time to time. Jon Voight and Ving Rhames were the best. The special effects are great, but so are other special-effects movies from the 90's such as Godzilla. I had a few problems with this film. Some of the scenes were boring and pointless. There is hardly any action, just talk. If you want action, I recommend James Bond. This is nothing like the original series, but this film is good to watch and compare anyway. Based of this review, I should have rated this movie 5/10 but I give it a 7/10 due to Rhames/Voight and the special effects.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Just the worst!, 11 May 2008

Author: hjkrentz from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

De Palma was trying to take a great TV suspense series and turn it into an action movie, and fails to be either. The plot is too thick and twisty for an action movie (hence, all the confusion for the people who wanted an action movie), and there's too much mayhem and uncontrolled improvisation to work as a tight, suspense filled caper like the original series. For those who wanted an action movie, I'm told De Palma dumbed down the other MI movies, thus moving it further yet from the spirit of the original series.

As far as an action movie goes, it's got plenty of action, but it's hard not to roll your eyes at Cruise surviving that bomb blast towards the end. Yeah, real good IMF-type planning there, Cruise. You planned on surviving that bomb blast and getting catapulted up to the next car all along, right? But what REALLY blows is the way De Palma ruined the premise of the series by making Phelps out to be the baddie. Don't let De Palma get a hold of "Columbo", or he'll have the lieutenant become a serial killer, with Tom Cruise, his partner, tracking him down in a car chase and killing him in some fiery explosion at the end. Complete waste of time for anyone who likes either genre.

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