Mad TV are you warming up?

Rating: 1/10 (9 May 2006)

This film is a tough nut to crack. Why? It is based upon good vs. evil. What is the evil founded? We know terrorism is evil. And, we know it is founded upon hatred for America, "anti-American sentiment." The picture of terrorism is clear and we know exactly why violent crimes occur. But, in MI III, the force behind the evil is not clear, and that diminishes our identification of good vs. evil. Evil takes the form of Davian, none other than a demented man set on grotesque women maiming, as in the case of agent Lindsey Ferris, (Kerry Russell) one of Ethan's newly accomplished students, and Julia, (Michelle Monaghan) Ethan's new bride. Davian's anti-woman charms seem trite, and so does terrorism for that matter, but the sad fact is, neither is extinct from our culture, only a part of it.
Why does Tom have to play such a battered hero? It seems like I just recovered from War of The Worlds. But everyone has different breadth, so to speak, and he uses his to best portray the character he is identifying.
Ethan's first mission is clear, save agent Lindsey, captive of Davian. Unfortunately, Ethan can't intercept, a deadly body implant chip. His second mission proceeds logically, capture Davian. When Davian takes Ethan's new bride hostage, Ethan follows Davian's instruction, for the safe return of beloved, Julia. Suddenly, John Musgrave, (Billy Crudop) Ethan's consultant, admits his own opportunities for steeling the rabbit's foot. Hunt's ultimate mission prevails, save a second woman's life. The first one died. Ving Rhames, as Luther Strickell, delivers a fine performance, under the pressures of his role too. Laurence Fishburne, as Hunt's boss, John Brassel is likewise is good. But for the lack of identity in this rabbit's foot, his role weakens in credibility. It's like choosing to engage in fighting a war, not knowing if the country really has weapons of mass destruction, that will be used to harm others. Almost every country has weapons of mass destruction, but are they threatening to use them to kill millions of people or any people for that matter?
Once Ethan has possession of the bargaining chip, he realizes that even that does not matter. The last mission is clearly to save his wife, whatever the cost, even his own life. It's the one mission that he doesn't fail, the one he wasn't meant to fail. Who restores his lost breadth? His wife of course, pounding on his chest, for any last hope of a heart beat. Undoubtedly, he's got to be ready for that honeymoon. He proved to be an active agent and husband, but at what price?
This script is incredibly weak on depicting reasons to evil intent, which truly detracts from Phillip Seymour Hoffman's character, to one of mere crazed bully, in need of great help, at being healthily and happily integrated, with the female species. In moments, Ethan's resentment towards Davian is equally vicious and crazed. Hoffman is such an excellent actor, but as is the case, his evilness is portrayed at a lesser value, debasing it to incomprehension, unfortunately. A simple point to remember is that, just as much as I want to know why someone is good, I also want to know why someone is evil  the root, lack of love.
There are some great bells and whistles, that inspire the camera, raising our eyebrows in interest  an exotic Asian woman, in a sexy red evening gown, a bright orange Ferrari, that is set for wonderful detonation of self-disposal, and lest one not forget, the modern and vintage downtown landscapes of China. But frankly, for all the physical work Tom had to do, I would have polished him up, in something other than a priest's habit, at the Vatican. In the second half, I might, as well, have been watching War of the Worlds. It was all a little too "Go Army," for me. Yet, the close-up shot of him in the black and white suit, among the green landscape, following Lindsey's funeral was sweet. I had a piano, that photo could sit on top of it. Personally, a little more James Bond portrayal would have been sweeter. So, it's not Hallie Berry coming out of the ocean in a bikini, it's Tom Cruise, in some nice trunks, beaching it with his new wife, sipping on tropical drinks, with little umbrellas in them. Maybe another scene with Tom zipping through tight streets on a moped, rather than an x powered Harley. In this film, he is always in need of a truck, not a motorcycle. If I was him, I'd say put the honeymoon scene in first, and then I'll do the picture. Some men ought to have smarter women dealing for them. That's what I would have pushed. So, I am talking a little less explosive and a little more naturally refined. James Bond meets Ethan Hunt, viola! You have probably near the perfect hero! Every hero has to have some special vulnerability, related to female sensibilities and charms. Bond, as we know, probably has too many, maybe Hunt, too few?
Movies are a chance to shape physical action to the script's story. For the painstaking, if not punishing stunts that Tom performed, both action and story were typical and unmemorable  missing charm, creativity, and most of all opportunity, to captivate an audience in the way that they could be, by more deeply portraying good vs. evil. Maybe the rabbit's foot was really nothing, but a story once told, nevertheless a reason for Davian to say that he must have it. And in the end, the elusive rabbit's foot, could have been quite possibly a story, a folk tale. One woman died a brutal death, and one walked away free, with strength and belief enough, to save the hero's life. And from that lesson and that result, good prevailed, and the love of mankind, and the sanctity of peace and care.