A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Mission Impossible: III

Date Viewed: 5/13/06

Details:

Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt)

Ving Rhames (Luther Strickell)

Keri Russell (Lindsey)

Philip Seymour Hoffman (Owen Davian)

Laurence Fishburne (John Brassel)

Billy Crudup (John Musgrave)

Michelle Monaghan (Julia)

Written and directed: J.J. Abrams

Score: +

The Review: Pounding, stunt-filled ramble.

Ethan Hunt (Cruise) has retired from the field to become an instructor of covert agents, but becomes involved in the rescue of one of his students whose op has gone wrong. Containing enough plot elements to outfit two separate TV episodes, m:i:iii jumps from the US to Germany to the Vatican to Shanghai following the trail of the mysterious arms-dealer Davian (Hoffman), and ends up bringing Hunt's home to work.

Some of the previous supporting crew is involved, and it's always fun to watch Ving Rhames. Hoffman makes a good (and smarmy) villain. Monaghan, as Hunt's erstwhile spouse, does a good job of coping with the consequences of her husband's day job without having a clue about what he really does, but shows a disproportionately high amount of suspension of disbelief -- and she's a character! So what's an audience to do?!

Not bad, but it's not True Lies.

Yet another cognitive penalty for staying and watching all the credits, is seeing a connection that you really don't want to see -- groan! At the end of the "special thanks to..." list is the Hanso Foundation. Damn! The Lost mythology is getting way out of control.

(27-May-06)

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