Mission: Impossible III (2006)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

J.J. Abrams

Writers (WGA):

Alex Kurtzman (written by) &
Roberto Orci (written by) ...

Release Date:

5 May 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Plot:

Ethan Hunt comes face to face with a dangerous and sadistic arms dealer while trying to keep his identity secret in order to protect his girlfriend.

Plot Keywords:

Rescue | Mission | Sadistic | Vatican | Doctor

Awards:

6 wins & 12 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 18	9:00 PM	TNT
Sun. July 19	5:30 PM	TNT

Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Ethan Hunt
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Owen Davian
Ving Rhames	...	Luther
Billy Crudup	...	Musgrave
Michelle Monaghan	...	Julia
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Declan
Keri Russell	...	Lindsey Farris
Maggie Q	...	Zhen
Simon Pegg	...	Benji
Eddie Marsan	...	Brownway
Laurence Fishburne	...	Theodore Brassel
Bahar Soomekh	...	Davian's Translator
Jeff Chase	...	Davian's Bodyguard
Michael Berry Jr.	...	Julia's Kidnapper
Carla Gallo	...	Beth

Also Known As:

M:i:III (International: English title) (promotional abbreviation) (UK) (promotional abbreviation) (USA) (promotional abbreviation)
Heyday (USA) (fake working title)
Mission: Impossible III (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of frenetic violence and menace, disturbing images and some sensuality.

Runtime:

126 min | Philippines:124 min (cut) | Australia:119 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English | Cantonese | German | Italian | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12A | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:PG | Germany:12 | Australia:M | New Zealand:M | Denmark:11 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Argentina:13 | Brazil:12 | Malaysia:U | Portugal:M/12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42616) | Hungary:16 | Philippines:PG-13 | Canada:14A | Iceland:14 | Iceland:14 (video rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

During the credits, one of the organizations which the producers of the film wish to thank is the Hanso Foundation, a group tied to J.J. Abrams' television series, "Lost" (2004).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Hunt runs at high speed down a flight of stairs to where Julia is being held captive, you can see a brief moment where the guide wire used to support him (in case of a fall down the stairs) is visible to the left of the screen. It evidently was not completely removed during editing with CGI (the line is not fully visible, so it may be that some attempt was made to remove it).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Owen Davian: [to Ethan] We put an explosive charge in your head. Does that sound familiar?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in 2006 MTV Movie Awards (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

A Sunday Kind of Love

Lived Up To The Hype: Very Entertaining

I heard nothing but good things about this movie, so I rented it the first day it was available recently.....and I wasn't disappointed. Oh, it does have a bit too much action and a few politically-correct annoyances but neither are much and overall the movie is a lot of fun to watch.

The action scenes are not only interesting; they're spectacular at times. Overall, the photography is slick. It's a good visual movie. Not only the cinematography, but the director did a nice job with many of these shots. The version doesn't have all the gimmicks the first Misssion Impossible film, but it certainly has the best action scenes. The only bad movie of the three MIs was the second one. This one makes up for that.

All the characters are interesting. Philip Seymour Hoffman, as usual, is excellent as the main villain "Owen Damien." Michelle Monaghan makes for an attractive fiancée of Cruise in this movie, but her role is not a major one. Cruise's "team" is fun to watch: a PC group consisting of a white guy, black guy and Asian woman.

The action is improbable as Cruise's "Ethan Hunt" would have to be Superman to perform the stunts and acrobatics he does here. (I would never claim this movie is credible, or even "intelligent" - just escapist fun.)

Just put your brains on hold, and go along for the wild ride. The name of the game is entertainment, and this movie provides it in spades, hence the good rating.