Not for fans of the original

Rating: 5/10 (29 May 1999)

This is little more than a formulaic Hollywood thriller, and if that's what you expect, then it delivers as a visually striking and well-paced movie.
However, if you're a fan of the original, be prepared to be strongly disappointed. The idea behind M:I is that the IMF team and the audience know what's going on, but the villains don't. Here, the script turns this basic principle on its head.
There is another major problem with the Jim Phelps character here. It might have been safer to have called him Dan Briggs and explained the change in team leader in 1967.
These elements combine to make the M:I movie one of the most disappointing and frustrating movie experiences - but only if you have seen the 1960s originals. I can only recommend it to those who haven't seen them, or are unfamiliar with M:I on TV.