Mission Accomplished!

Rating: 9/10 (6 May 2006)

I just got back from seeing M:i:III, and I'm still breathing hard. This was quite simply one of the best action movies ever made, behind only The Fifth Element and S.W.A.T. for me.
Pace: Perfect. Absolutely perfect. So perfect, in fact, that there's nothing more to say.
Draw-you-in-ness: Also superb - towards the end of the movie I found myself almost throwing Ethan's punches. Cruise captures the character far better than he did in M:i:II, and the villain is chillingly portrayed as pure unadulterated evil.
Suspense: Only in the last few minutes will you finally be able to figure out where everyone's loyalties lie. Every scene throws a new shocker at you, and you'll find yourself wondering which way to turn.
Effects: Things are supposed to blow up in M:i movies, and you won't be disappointed. The effects are nothing special, but when things blow up it looks realistic.
The only reason this doesn't get a 10 from me is the totally extraneous and unnecessary political shot fired in one scene, and the somewhat formula plot. Still absolutely superb, and worth every penny - as long as you don't miss a second of it. If you do, catching up simply isn't happening.