MIssion Impossible: The Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes Story

Rating: 5/10 (7 May 2006)

When I first heard JJ Abrams was directing I said to myself, this is going to be one badass movie. I love "Alias" and Lost", "Alias" being more in the same vein as M.I. Finally, this franchise is going to be kickass. Well, you cant have everything. JJ Abrams does give this flick the kick in the butt its been needing since it started back in "96"...but unfortunately the lack of plot keeps it from being anything more than a loud, crash bang, Tom running around like a lunatic, plane exploding entry( take some advil or tylenol before seeing this) I left with a headache. The plot is simple; Big bad guy has this thing called the "Rabitts Foot" that everyone wants and Ethan Hunt is called in to get it and the bad guy and bring them all in. Thats it in a nutshell and aside from one little twist at the end, thats the plot in a nutshell. When the movie begins you feel like you watching Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes having a bad day at their Scientology Church...then we are shown how it all began....and again, I felt like I was watching the Tom Crusie/Katie Holmes story. The actress eeriely resembles Katie. Look for the scene where Tom and Michelle actually look as if they are competing to see who can keep their eyes from blinking and make themselves cry during a dramatic scene.(you'll know what I'm talking about) What bothers me most about these movies is that, unlike the original TV series, these films cater more to Tom's character than the group as a whole. M.I. was always about the interaction of all agents called in on a mission. Where the women are as able as the men. These movies are all basically about "Ethan Hunt"...One scene that bugged me was a chase scene in which the female IMF agent, played by Maggie Q, could have finally been more than just the pretty face/smart girl. She is shooting through the back window in the backseat of the car at the baddies chasing them. How they get out of this situation and what happens next should have been her key scene but they make it about "Ethan Hunt" as if he the only one who can kick butt and get everyone out of trouble. I guess I'm spoiled from watching Sydney Bristow on "Alias" which is what this movie basically is. If you look closely you can see the Alias counterparts all over this movie even down to the quirky computer guy played very well by the guy from "Shaun of the Dead". The one true badass chick in this flick is played by Kerri Russell, in a cameo performance, showing she is prime for action movies. She looks great and handles herself toe to toe with Ethan Hunt. To bad the part is minor. Her character and this whole scene is what the flick should have been like with all the agents. But alas, as I said you cant have everything. An honorable mention to Phillip Seymour Hoffman who played his part very well and was a great choice for the "Baddie"..And Laurence Fishburn..who plays his part to the hilt and has the best lines in the movie..Now heres a real kick in the pants..for anyone who cares on having closure...You wont get it. What everyone just got killed over or almost killed for is never elaborated on or explained at the end..I guess we would have to be killed if they told us...this movie will self destruct in five seconds....please.