Mission Impossible III-What the Hell is the Rabbit's Foot?
If you are a big fan of the other Mission Impossible films then you will probably like Mission Impossible III. Personally, I feel that, in general, the films are too light and fluffy for my taste. With MI3 you get more of the same, explosions, gadgets, girls, explosions and guns all wrapped up with a nice dash of backstabbing and double crossing.
The script for MI3 is easier to follow than MI2 and that is a definite plus. At the core of the story Ethan Hunt, played of course, by everyone's favorite couch hopper Tom Cruise, is on a, yes mission, but this time to retrieve his perfect girlfriend played by Michelle Monaghan. She has been taken prisoner, much like Zelda, by a evil genius named Davian, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Davin implants a nice explosive device in Hunt's head and sends him looking for a dangerous object known as The Rabbit's Foot.
There is an abundance of nice chases, explosions, stunts and gun play along the way. The acting by the cast of heavy hitters is consistent and fine. Script devices such as the implantable explosive devices add a layer of fun and complexity to the story and there are some unexpected twist and turns as we see a character die unexpectedly. (Spoiler Alert ahead) However, when all is said and done MI3 pulls a “Pulp Fiction Briefcase” moment and refuses to tell us what is in the suitcase. That is a cheap trick and degrades the overall quality of the script from the Alias team of J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The script is engaging and thoughtful enough but, much like the final two seasons of Alias, fails to live up to its potential or take the franchise in any new or truly exciting directions.
While MI3 plays it safe, the story, action sequences and acting are all a step up from the second installment of the series. Ving Rhames, Billy Crudup and Fishburne all toss in solid performances. In terms of why MI3 was successful it is a no brainer. Much like Batman or James Bond the name recognition and star power of the property make it a sure fire box-office draw. While considered by some to be a financial failure it is important to note that with a budget somewhere around $140-$150 million or more and about $400 million of ticket sales worldwide, MI3 was far from a flop.
Unfortunately, the writing team from Alias failed to take the franchise into any new directions and played it safe. Yet at the end of the day, whether the Rabbit's Foot is explained or not, MI3 was a definite improvement over MI2.
Story C+ (Some nice script twist make MI3 more engaging and coherent than MI2.)
Acting B- (The addition of Hoffman, Crudup and Fishburne definitely helped elevate the whole cast.)
Visuals B+ (Many nice stunts and visual and special effects.)
Originality/Innovation C (Much, much more original and innovative than MI2.)
Enjoyability Grade C+
Home Theater/HD Factor B
Overall Grade C+ (Despite the fact that MI2 pulled in well over a $100 million more at the box-office than MI3, MI3 is the better film. Unfortunately, MI2 and its lack of cohesion and originality hurt the chances of MI3. Overall, a rental or wait for cable.)
|
