slick action that doesn't call for much of the viewer

Rating: 8/10 (6 May 2006)

Ethan Hunt has moved from missions, into training new recruits, settling down with girlfriend Julia. Happy with his current status, Ethan is called in by John Musgrave, in a rescue mission for agent Lindsey Ferris, a former trainee held captive in Germany. The mission busts, yet Ethan uncovers a deeper conspiracy. Owen Davian is currently planning to obtain an item coded The Rabbits Foot. Ethan tries to foil Davian's plan, though Davian throws a wild card, kidnapping Julia and will kill her if Ethan doesn't bring The Rabbits Foot to him.
The first Mission: Impossible was an entertain espionage thriller. The second installment was an unfocused action flick, dragged down by its flaws. With the new go to guy J.J. Abrams in the directors chair and part of the writing team; with his television hits Alias and Lost, Abrams injects new life and energy into the franchise.
The production is sleek and highly stylised. The action runs at a constant pace and done of a high caliber; while location jumping around the world. The stand out side of Mission: Impossible 3 is bringing Ethan is reality; trying to hold a relationship while hiding his true profession, and drawing out a fallible side. He isn't as enigmatic as from the previous two films. Though no back story is shown, he's more dimensional and easier to grasp to. Ultimately this development is only a small part of what essentially is an action flick.
Reprising his role as Ethan Hunt, Tom Cruise walks through the numbers, yet does it so well, bringing lots of energy to Ethan. Also reprising his role as Luther, Ving Rhames is good company. Mosty know from the show Felicity; also created by Abrams, Keri Russell takes great stead leaping to the action genre. Simon Pegg, Billy Crudup and Laurence Fishburne don't really bring that much to the table, showing below average performances. Also jumping from the other side of the spectrum; from iconic literate to menacing villain, Philip Seymour Hoffman has fun with his role, yet could have gone all that much further, he's not disturbing for a villain.
Mission Impossible 3 is basically is a highly crafted, action film. It doesn't ask for much, except to deliver and highly entertaining film; which it delivers in spades.