Mission Impossible III (2006) --- "Third Times The Charm. The Mission Begins."

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Retired from active duty, and training recruits for the Impossible Mission Force, agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) faces the toughest foe of his career: Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman), an international broker of arms and information, who is as cunning as he is ruthless. Davian emerges to threaten Hunt and all that he holds dear -- including the woman Hunt loves. (1)

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     J.J. Abrams (LOST and Star Trek films) is one of the best directors of his time and his direction here is dynamic in a way that pays homage to Brian De Palma’s Mission Impossible (1996). Mission Impossible 3 (2006) is an intelligent, ruthless, and well-paced action film that brings the audience to the edge of their seat with feelings of hopelessness and unforgiving anguish. This is not to say that the film completely humorless but there is no doubt that the stakes are higher, the theme is grimmer, and the film ends with a more effective conclusion than its predecessors.

Mission Impossible II (2000) --- "Expect The Impossible... Again."

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Plot Summary

Tom Cruise returns to his role as Ethan Hunt in the second installment of "Mission: Impossible." This time Ethan Hunt leads his IMF team on a mission to capture a deadly German virus before it is released by terrorists. His mission is made impossible due to the fact that he is not the only person after samples of the disease. He must also contest with a gang of international terrorists headed by a turned bad former IMF agent who has already managed to steal the cure. (1)

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     Mission Impossible 2 (2000) is entirely different from the 1996 film. The production team wanted to take the second film in a different direction and to do that they hired Hong Kong’s action-film director, John Woo (Red Cliff 1 & 2), to take the helm of this film and writer Robert Towne returns to write the script. The ending result is a 2000 sequel action film that grossed higher than its 1996 predecessor.

Mission Impossible (1996) --- "Only The Mission Matters And Every Second Counts. Expect The Impossible."

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Plot Summary

When U.S. government operative Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his mentor, Jim Phelps (Jon Voight), go on a covert assignment that takes a disastrous turn, Jim is killed, and Ethan becomes the prime murder suspect. Now a fugitive, Hunt recruits brilliant hacker Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and maverick pilot Franz Krieger (Jean Reno) to help him sneak into a heavily guarded CIA building to retrieve a confidential computer file that will prove his innocence. (1)

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     Mission Impossible (1996) is director Brian DePalma's (1983 Scarface) modern remake of the TV series from the 1960’s and 70’s. The series followed the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) and a group of its agents as they attempt to pull off impossible missions with minutes or even inches to spare. The series was well-received and rather successful if its seven seasons are anything to go by. Although I have never watched the original TV series and I doubt that I ever will, so I was unsure as to what I would expect before watching this film. Until recently the only Mission Impossible films I had seen were 2011’s Ghost Protocol and 2015’s Rogue Nation, and after watching the first three films recently I have come to appreciate the newest films even more.

     Mission Impossible (1996) is an entertaining and thrilling film that must be carefully watched from beginning to end because there are some twists that could easily be missed should you not pay attention. The story gets more complicated then it sounds since the writers (Robert Towne, David Koepp, and Steve Zaillian) add just about every twist imaginable, which makes for a clever and  thrilling film. Director DePalma understands how to balance action and suspense in a spy film without making it feel cliché or slowing the pace of the film. Every time you think you might have the film figured out, the writers and DePalma throw in a new twist.

     The film’s biggest appeal is the visuals. Through its use of set-style cinematography, the visuals have an old Hollywood feel to the film which gives the film a personal feel. The film didn’t need expensive or flashy visuals and effects to move the story along nicely. And the music done by Danny Elfman (The Girl on the Train), was great as well.

     The cast was great in their respective roles. Tom Cruise is a reliable hero, Jon Voight (National Treasure) is good, Henry Czerny (Pink Panther) plays another mysterious government figure, and French beauty Emmanuelle Beart is mysterious as Clair. Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible films) and Jean Reno (Pink Panther) play disavowed agents who help pull off the "Mt. Everest of hacks". Kristin Scott Thomas (2018 Tomb Raider) is lovely, Vanessa Redgrave (Atonement) was a nice addition to the cast, and Emilio Estevez (The Breakfast Club) played a small role quite well.

     Overall, Mission Impossible (1996) is a thrilling and entertaining action-spy film that requires you to pay attention to every detail otherwise you might miss something important. The story had a nice pace that blended the action and suspense quite well. The visuals have an old Hollywood feel to them while the cast was great. I highly recommend this film, especially to fans of the series who have yet to give this film a chance. You won’t be disappointed on this thrill ride.

"Zero body count."

- Ethan Hunt

Final Vote

Worth Seeing:  7.5 of 10 star

Worth Buying:  7.5 of 10 stars

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Movies Similar 

007 Casino Royale (2006)

007 Quantum of Solace (2008)

007 Skyfall (2012)

007 Specter (22015)

The A-Team (2010)

The Bourne Identity (2002)

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

The Bourne Legacy (2012)

Fast & Furious 6 (2013)

Furious 7 (2015)

From Paris with Love (2010)

G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)

Jack Reacher (2012)

Jack Reacher: Never Back Down (2016)

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

Jason Bourne (2016)

Knight & Day (2010)

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

Mission Impossible II (2000)

Mission: Impossible III (2006)

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)
Mission Impossible - Fallout (2018)

Salt (2010)

The Tourist (2010)

The Equalizer 2 (2018) --- "There Is No Such Thing As An Equal. But There Will Always Be An Equalizer."

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If you have a problem and there is nowhere else to turn, the mysterious and elusive Robert McCall will deliver the vigilante justice you seek. This time, however, McCall's past cuts especially close to home when thugs kill Susan Plummer -- his best friend and former colleague. Now out for revenge, McCall must take on a crew of highly trained assassins who'll stop at nothing to destroy him. (1)

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WARNING!!! the violence in The Equalizer 2 certainly earns its R rating.

     I enjoyed The Equalizer (2014) immensely; it was a masterful combo of action and thriller. And while it was not necessarily a film begging for a sequel, when I heard a sequel was being made I eagerly anticipated its arrival to the big screen. Let’s just say I was not disappointed. The Equalizer 2 (2018), while not perfect, is an even more entertaining and thrilling action film than its predecessor.

The Equalizer (2014) --- "He Settles Scores And Deals Justice, And His Help Is Just One Click Away."

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Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a man of mysterious origin who believes he has put the past behind him, dedicates himself to creating a quiet new life. However, when he meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a teenager who has been manhandled by violent Russian mobsters, he simply cannot walk away. With his set of formidable skills, McCall comes out of self-imposed retirement and emerges as an avenging angel, ready to take down anyone who brutalizes the helpless. (1)

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     Director Antoine Fuqua is a talented director and has helmed a number of respectable films in his day. To name a few he directed Training Day (2001), Tears of the Sun (2003), King Arthur (2004), Shooter (2007), and Olympus Has Fallen (2013). In 2014 he managed to top Olympus Has Fallen with his most intense and dramatic film yet, The Equalizer. The Equalizer satisfies audiences in the same manner in which all of Fuqua’s previous films have but his talent as a director allows this film to also stand on its own.

Man on Fire (2004) --- “A Promise To Protect. A Vow To Avenge. Sabotage His Work And His Fury Will Be Unleashed.”

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In a Mexico City wracked by a recent wave of kidnappings, ex-CIA operative John Creasy (Denzel Washington) reluctantly accepts a job as a bodyguard for 9-year-old Lupita (Dakota Fanning), the daughter of wealthy businessman Samuel Ramos (Marc Anthony). Just as Creasy begins to develop a fondness for the young girl, a bloodthirsty gunman (Jesús Ochoa) kidnaps her. Now, Creasy must pick off a succession of corrupt cops and criminals to reach his ultimate object of vengeance. (1)

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     Man on Fire (2004) is intense and dramatic, to say the least. Split into two parts and comprised of a complex and sensitive story, director Tony Scott (Unstoppable) and writer Brian Helgeland (Robin Hood) have crafted one of the best crime thrillers I have ever seen. The story is complex so you have to pay attention to them in order to understand the story as a whole. Most films that are broken into two halves don’t always live up to their potential but this film seamlessly combines both halves into a whole film.

Skyscraper (2018) --- "Watch How This Guy Scales The Worlds Tallest Building To Save His Family. But Remember: Don't Look Down."

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Former FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader and U.S. war veteran Will Ford now assesses security for skyscrapers. He's on assignment in China when he finds the tallest, safest building in the world suddenly ablaze, and he's been framed for it. A wanted man on the run, Will must find those responsible, clear his name and somehow rescue his family, which is trapped inside the building, above the fire line. (1)

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     Disaster films and action films go hand in hand but most of the time they center around a natural disaster of some kind - 2012 (2010), San Andreas (2015), Dante’s Peak (1997), Posedion (2006), and more. Skyscraper (2018) is an adrenaline rush and a new twist in the disaster, action film genre with a Die-Hard-style that will hopefully bring in big bucks at the box office.

Man on a Ledge (2012) --- “If You’ve Done The Time, You May As Well Do The Crime.”

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When disgraced ex-cop Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) steps onto the ledge of the highest floor of New York's famous Roosevelt Hotel, more than just his life is at risk; he threatens to bring the city to its knees. There are some very nervous people around with some very big secrets to hide. As police negotiator Lydia Spencer (Elizabeth Banks) tries to talk Nick in from the ledge, she begins to suspect that he has an ulterior motive behind his actions. (1)

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     Upon first glance, Man on a Ledge (2012) may appear to be your typical action flick about betrayal and revenge. Director Asger Leth (Severance) and writer Pablo F. Fenjves (Her Evil Twin) do a great job with this film.

Den of Theives (2018) --- "Sometimes Dirty Jobs Require Dirty Cops. The Ending Will Leave You Speechless."

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Nick O'Brien is the hard-drinking leader of the Regulators, an elite unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Ray Merrimen is the recently paroled leader of the Outlaws, a gang of ex-military men who use their expertise and tactical skills to evade the law. O'Brien, Merrimen and their crews soon find themselves on a direct collision course as the criminals hatch an elaborate plan for a seemingly impossible heist -- the city's Federal Reserve Bank. (1)

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WARNING! This film is Rated R for violence, language, and some sexuality/nudity

     Den of Thieves (2018) might be your typical film about tough guys trying to outsmart one another but rather it is an intense heist film, unlike anything we have seen before. Similar to 1980’s action films, the primary goal for Den of Thieves is to simply be entertaining and that is what this film does.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) --- “An Ant And A Wasp Join Forces To Stop Bad Guys In This Fun Action-Comedy.”

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Scott Lang is grappling with the consequences of his choices as both a superhero and a father. Approached by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym, Lang must once again don the Ant-Man suit and fight alongside the Wasp. The urgent mission soon leads to secret revelations from the past as the dynamic duo finds itself in an epic battle against a powerful new enemy. (1)

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     I enjoyed the first Ant-Man (2015) but the sequel is better in every way. Years ago audiences could watch a superhero film and know that no matter what happened the heroes always win and villains always lose. But if we have learned anything from watching Avengers: Infinity War (2018) then we know that those old rules no longer apply, thus making Marvel films – or superhero films in general – even less predictable and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) takes full advantage of that new perception. Ant-Man and the Wasp is a simple and light-hearted film that is just as important to Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as all the other films in the series.

Ant-Man (2015) --- “Heroes Don’t Get Any Bigger Than This. Find Out What Happens When He Gets Super-Small.”

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Forced out of his own company by former protégé Darren Cross, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) recruits the talents of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a master thief just released from prison. Lang becomes Ant-Man, trained by Pym and armed with a suit that allows him to shrink in size, possess superhuman strength and control an army of ants. The miniature hero must use his new skills to prevent Cross, also known as Yellowjacket, from perfecting the same technology and using it as a weapon for evil. (1)

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     Based on the Marvel Comics character by the same name, Ant-Man (2015) is a highly entertaining addition into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is significantly more humorous than most MCU films with witty dialogue and comedic elements that allow for the film to reach an even wider audience range. Ant-Man turned out better than my expectations despite changing the writer in the middle of the film’s production.

Murder on the Orient Express (2018) --- "Everyone Is A Suspect, But The Ending Will Leave You Speechless."

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A lavish trip through Europe quickly unfolds into a race against time to solve a murder aboard a train. When an avalanche stops the Orient Express dead in its tracks, the world's greatest detective -- Hercule Poirot -- arrives to interrogate all passengers and search for clues before the killer can strike again. (1)

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     I must first point out that I have not had the opportunity to read the book on which the film is based on, so this review contains no comparison between the two different formats. More than 40 years after her death, Agatha Christie’s work still lives with the BBC regularly producing miniseries based on her work. And now within the same year we, as moviegoers, get to see not one but two of her famous books come to life on screen. The first is what Kenneth Branagh's recent interpretation of Murder on the Orient Express (2017), while the second is based on the book Christie considers to be her best and favorite work, Crooked House. This review is based on former of the two.

Crooked House (2017) --- “Curious Thing, Rooms. They Can Tell You Quite A Lot About The People Who Live In Them.”- Agatha Christie

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In this classic Agatha Christie detective story, former diplomat Charles Hayward has returned from Cairo to London to become a private detective. When Aristide Leonides, a wealthy and ruthless tycoon, is poisoned in his own bed, Detective Hayward is invited to solve the crime. As the investigation deepens he must confront the shocking realization that one of the key suspects is Aristede's beautiful granddaughter, his employer and former lover; and must keep a clear head to navigate the sultry Sophia and the rest of her hostile family. (1)

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     I must first point out that I have not had the opportunity to read the book on which the film is based on, so this review contains no comparison between the two different formats. More than 40 years after her death, Agatha Christie’s work still lives with the BBC regularly producing miniseries based on her work. And now within the same year we, as moviegoers, get to see not one but two of her famous books come to life on screen. The first is Kenneth Branagh's recent interpretation of Murder on the Orient Express (2017), while the second is based on the book Christie considers to be her best and favorite work, Crooked House. This review is based on later of the two.

Phantom Thread (2018) --- "Explore The Complex Life Of A Fashion Designer Haunted By His Mother's Ghost And The Women Who Control Him."

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Set in the glamour of 1950’s post-war London, renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville) are at the center of British fashion, dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites, debutantes and dames with the distinct style of The House of Woodcock. Women come and go through Woodcock’s life, providing the confirmed bachelor with inspiration and companionship, until he comes across a young, strong-willed woman, Alma (Vicky Krieps), who soon becomes a fixture in his life as his muse and lover. Once controlled and planned, he finds his carefully tailored life disrupted by love. With his latest film, Paul Thomas Anderson paints an illuminating portrait both of an artist on a creative journey, and the women who keep his world running. (1)

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     Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights), Phantom Thread (2018) is an intimately delicate and beautifully crafted masterpiece that expresses an artist's creative journey through threads of fashion and romance. Through an expansive story, lavish cinematography, epic sound, and a stellar cast the film follows a unique perspective on love, in which sometimes love is used to shape and manipulate a person’s delicate heartstrings in order to achieve someone else’s goal or ideas. At first, the film presents itself as a stylish and romantic look into the fashion industry but as the film progresses we start to see a tense and somewhat crazy world without losing its lightness or romance. Aside from being a romance, this film is also a ghost story as it explores the notion that artists are haunted by ghosts and they use are to quell an inner yearning for something transcendental. Phantom Thread develops a life of its own which allows Anderson to squeeze tension in every frame, further highlighting the notion that this film is haunted.

I Can Only Imagine (2018) --- "We've Heard The Song That Inspired Millions, And This Is The Untold Story."

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Growing up in Greenville, Texas, Bart Millard suffers physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his father, Arthur. When Arthur becomes terminally ill, he finds redemption by embracing his faith and rediscovering his love for his son. Years later, Bart's troubled childhood and mended relationship with his dad inspires him to write the hit song "I Can Only Imagine" as singer of the Christian band MercyMe. (1)

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     I Can Only Imagine (2018) was an interesting, inspiring, and powerful true story behind one of the most popular and inspiring Christian song of the same name by Mercy Me. Sometimes movie trailers have a habit of revealing the entire film but luckily this was not the case for this film. I Can Only Imagine is so much better than the trailer makes it out to be, and the story behind this famous song is probably more inspiring than the song itself. I Can Only Imagine deserves the audience’s full undivided attention as it will not disappoint.

Let There Be Light (2017) --- "Find Out How An Atheist Found God After A Near-Death Experience Challenges His Beliefs."

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For all his far-reaching fame, Sol Harkens, the world's most famous atheist, is a lonely soul and a lousy part-time dad. After a near death experience challenges his simplest assumptions about this world, Sol finds his purpose and re-imagines his life, in a film that will make you laugh and cry and want to stand up and cheer. (1)

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     Directed by Kevin Sorbo, written by Dan Gordon and Sam Sorbo, and produced by Sean Hannity, Let There Be Light (2017) is a faith-based film for the whole family. The film follows Kevin Sorbo who plays the stereotypical atheist making fun of Christians and their belief. But after he has a near-death experience, audiences are taken on a journey from the depths of despair to the glory of Heaven.