Huge improvement

Rating: 8/10 (11 May 2006)

The original Mission: Impossible was terrific - taunt, thrilling, and intelligent. It proved that an action movie doesn't need stuff blowing up every 3 minutes to be a good action movie. Mission: Impossible 2, though entertaining, was basically your typical BDAM (Big Dumb Action Movie).
This third installment combines the intelligence and style of the first one with the constant, in-your-face action of the second one and it works. Whereas the second one was predictable, this one kept me guessing...I knew somebody in the IMF agency had to be on the wrong side, but I wasn't exactly sure who. The bridge scene where the helicopters are flying around, attacking Hunt isn't great just because of the stunts (which are, by the way, fantastic), it's great because we realize that Ethan is in way over his head. That's exciting. It's exciting to see the hero beaten down...it makes his triumph in the end all the more fulfilling. I loved it when Hunt was taken in and locked up by his own agency. He's all alone in his fight. This essential element was present in the first one...the idea of a rogue agent who must prove himself. But, it was lost in the second one...or at least glossed over.
This movie also tried to provide more insight into the character of Ethan Hunt. Yes, it didn't delve very deeply, but it didn't have to! The purpose of the first 15 minutes or so of the movie is merely to establish where Ethan Hunt currently is in his life, not to provide some deep, profound insight into the character (which I think is rather unnecessary for an action movie. Did the first one have it? Not really). The opening minutes showed Hunt's relationship with his fiancée and that's all it needed to do.
Overall, this movie was great. I think a lot of the reason why this film didn't do as well as expected is because of Cruise's life off-screen. However, I have never let an actor's off-screen stunts affect my judgment of his/her acting. An actor's work and life are separate things and I think Cruise did a great job here...not Oscar-worthy, of course, but great nonetheless..