Holy cow, this has aged horribly

Rating: 4/10 (27 March 2011)

I remember seeing this movie in the theater. After that, I saw it at least once on VHS, maybe twice. I picked up the blu-ray of this, used from a Blockbuster that was closing. I've been more interested in seeing spy/action movies recently, and it seemed like something I should revisit.
I wish I hadn't bought it.
There are so many problems with this movie, nearly all of which have to do with the script.
First, I don't care about anyone on the team. Cruise doesn't come across as having a personality, and he doesn't behave like a skilled agent. Everyone else in the cast seems to be disposable. Second, the plot had potential to be an interesting story, provided that the story was treated a little more like the A-Team, with them trying to prove their innocence. Instead, we wind up with a story where we aren't positive why Cruise is doing anything, except for some vague idea, and it comes across confusing, because it's hard to draw a line between his actions and his goal. Third, because of the first two, I find myself having no sense of tension or investment in the outcome of the movie. I couldn't care less if Cruise lives or dies.
The movie hasn't aged well. The pacing is strange, and once again, computers are relegated to be magic boxes. And the action sequences seem to be... silly. When Cruise leaps from the exploding fish tank, I couldn't keep from laughing. The big finish fight with the train and the helicopter was not up to the same level of silliness, but it was very, very close.
Now I have to figure out what to do with this blu-ray copy that I really will never look at again.