Well done J.J. Abrams!

Rating: 7/10 (5 May 2006)

I just viewed this movie in Orlando after a fun filled day at MGM studios on a vacation. And as such, I would like to compare this MI3 to the Rockin' Roller Coaster. The ride begins going from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds, and apparently, by the time you reach the first turn, the rider is experiencing 3 Gs. The ride is in the dark and you never know which way you are going to turn, and the only clues are the vivid neon lights every so often mimicking California scenery. I experienced vertigo. In the same way MI3 offers a new darker approach and is as fast from the beginning right until the end. There is no way to tell the good guys from the bad and the movie offers political commentary alluding to transitions made that the ends justify the means. Although the approach gives into every cliché of a thriller, how it is all put together is what makes the film refreshingly original. If one can suspend their own personal cynicism of what could conceivably happen in the real world, MI3 allows for a wild ride and is quite enjoyable. The only time to catch a breath during the film is the love story between Hunt and his Fiancé, which is a welcome element of choosing love over saving the world and trying to balance the two. While Cruse performs as... well eccentric and energetic as usual, although commanding, the supporting cast, writers, and director is to be applauded for giving the franchise a welcome element of surprise and a believable enigma of a puzzle for the viewer to solve. Well done J.J. Abrams!