An Improving Sequel

Rating: Null/10 (1 November 2006)

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III **** Improving sequel is taken by a different approach from director- co-writer J.J. Abrams and returning producer-star Tom Cruise and partner Paula Wagner. The story takes on more of 'The Bourne Identity' like, where we have Cruise's Ethan Hunt setting off on a rescue mission for the bulk of the story, and secret mission duties taking second priority. It is to say that this direction right away marks unchartered territory for the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise, making this movie potentially enjoyable as something slightly different. There are break points within the CIA, as some of its affiliated characters aren't whom they appear to be, and Ethan Hunt seeming more emotionally distressed than coolly confident. After rescuing a fellow CIA agent who had been held captive by an evil arms dealer (Philip Seymour Hoffman, sensationally sinister), our crack secret agent has to call on his team of agents to rescue Hoffman's next victim from a dreadful fate. After weighing out the comparisons, I found this sequel to be remarkably satisfying.